The desire to become a citizen of Canada is shared by many potential immigrants. 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 Québec Immigration).
You are automatically given a permanent residence (PR) card once you are a permanent resident. The Canadian version of a US green card is essentially a PR card.
- The same social benefits, such as healthcare coverage, as any other Canadian citizen;
- The ability to do any of the following in Canada:
- The legal defense under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
- The capacity to submit a citizenship application.
A permanent resident must first become a citizen before they can apply for citizenship. Following are three key distinctions between citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
1. The capacity to vote or seek office
In addition to paying taxes and abiding by Canadian laws, Canadian permanent residents are also subject to many of the social obligations of Canadian citizenship. The only real differences between Canadian citizens and permanent residents are two things. Permanent residents of Canada are not permitted to cast ballots or seek office. A high-level security clearance is required for several government positions, and there are various limits on permanent residents occupying those positions.
2. PR Card vs. Canadian Passport
Permanent residents of Canada are not issued Canadian passports. Permanent residents who want to leave the country can do so with a current PR card or Permanent Resident Travel Document and their passport from their home country.
Since PR cards have an expiration date, they must be renewed frequently. If your PR card expires, though, your status as a permanent resident is not always lost. There are specific residency requirements that must be met in order to keep your permanent resident status.
3. Ability to Live Outside of Canada
You have the right to live outside of Canada as a permanent resident. Nonetheless, a minimum of two years must pass within a five-year span spent residing in Canada. Your status can be lost if you stay longer outside of Canada. Although there are a few exceptions. For instance, time spent traveling outside of Canada with a parent, common-law partner, spouse, or other relatives who is a citizens of Canada may be taken into account when determining residency. If you are hired by a Canadian company for a position outside of Canada, you can also include the time spent there in your total time spent overseas.
You do not necessarily lose your permanent resident status if you don’t fulfill the residency criteria. Only after undergoing a formal procedure can you lose your status.
Once they have fulfilled specific residency criteria, permanent residents can petition for citizenship. They are eligible to apply for a Canadian passport and are allowed 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 such 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.
