Canadian permanent resident vs. citizen is a major debate among newcomers. They often feel the need to understand the differences between the two. Canadian Permanent Residence is for an individual who has chosen Canadian immigration and acquired permanent residency status in Canada.
Gaining permanent residency doesn’t imply that the person isn’t a Canadian citizen but a citizen of a different country.
Canadian permanent resident vs. Citizen – a summary
Many potential immigrants share the desire to become a citizen of Canada. But you must first be a permanent resident of Canada before you can apply to become a citizen. In actuality, Canadian permanent residence is the goal of every program for immigration to Canada (even provincial routes like PNPs or Quebec Immigration).
A PR card is immediately given to you once you are a permanent resident. In essence, a PR card is a Canadian version of a US green card.
- Access to healthcare and other social benefits available to all Canadian citizens;
- The freedom to work, study, and reside anywhere within this country;
- Protection via the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the law;
- The ability to seek citizenship in Canada.
A permanent resident must first become a citizen before applying for citizenship. Here are three key distinctions between citizens and permanent residents of Canada:
1. The capacity to vote or seek office
Many of the social obligations of Canadian citizenship, such as paying taxes and adhering to Canadian laws, are also shared by Canadian permanent residents. Actually, there are just two things that permanent residents cannot do that Canadian citizens can. Permanent residents of Canada are not eligible to vote or run for office. Additionally, there are some limitations on the employment of permanent residents in certain government positions requiring a high degree of security clearance.
2. PR Card vs. Canadian Passport
Permanent residents of Canada are not issued Canadian passports. In order to leave the nation, permanent residents must have a current PR card or Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) as well as their passport from their home country.
PR cards must be renewed on a regular basis because they have an expiration date. However, if your PR card expires, you do not immediately lose your status as a permanent resident. You do need to fulfill some residency requirements in order to keep your permanent resident status.
3. Canadian permanent resident vs. citizen – the capacity to live abroad
You are permitted to reside outside of Canada as a permanent resident. However, you must spend at least two years of each five-year period living in Canada. You risk losing your status if you stay longer outside of Canada. However, there are certain exceptions. For instance, time spent traveling outside of Canada with a spouse, common-law partner, or parent who is a Canadian citizen may be taken into account for determining residency. If a Canadian company assigns you to a job outside Canada, the time spent there can also be counted.
You do not automatically lose your status as a permanent resident even if you don’t fulfill the residency requirements. The only way to lose your position is by following a formal procedure.
Once they have fulfilled specific residency criteria, permanent residents can proceed for citizenship. They are also eligible to apply for a Canadian passport and are free to take part in Canadian politics as a naturalized citizen of Canada. In actuality, there are no distinctions between Canadian citizens who were naturalized and those who were born there.
The fundamental distinction between a permanent resident and a citizen, aside from citizenship’s right to vote in Canadian elections, is how long the former must continue to remain in Canada. As soon as you become a citizen of Canada, you are automatically a citizen. Only renunciation of your Canadian citizenship will result in its loss.
