There has been a big debate for a long time about which one is better, and which should one have to get the maximum benefits of being in Canada. Canada PR vs Canadian Citizenship, what’s the major difference between both of them, which is better when comparing both.
What is the major difference between PR and Citizenship?
Before we jump into comparing both of them, we first need to understand the major difference between a person having PR and a person who has Canadian Citizenship.
Permanent Residency: A person having Canadian PR possesses a person possesses Permanent Residency Card and is eligible to get all the major benefits a Canadian Citizen such as Less Tuition fees, social benefits, healthcare benefits, and more except a few of them which are available to only those who have Canadian Citizenship.
Canadian Citizenship: A person having Canadian Citizenship means that person possesses a Canadian passport that allows them to travel freely anywhere with a Canadian passport and enjoy all the benefits a Canadian Citizen gets.
Canada PR vs Canadian Citizenship
While most of the benefits for both PR and Citizen are the same, here are some of the major differences between both of them.
| Aspect | Permanent Residency (PR) | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Allows individuals to live, work, study and move anywhere and any province in Canada | Grants full rights and privileges of Canadian citizenship. |
| Duration | PR Card is Valid for only 5 years but you can always renew it if meet the eligibility. | Permanent, for a lifetime until you want to renounce your citizenship. |
| Voting Rights | You get the most rights as a Citizen, expect voting and running for politics. | Full rights, including voting, running for office, and a passport. |
| Responsibilities | Need to meet all the legal requirements as of Canadian Citizen. | Obey Canadian laws, participate in the democratic process. |
| Residency Obligations | Must live in Canada for at least 730 days within a five-year period. | No specific residency obligations once citizenship is granted. |
| Travel Documents | Need a Permanent Resident Card or PRTD for travel and re-entry to Canada. | All you need is your Canadian Passport. |
| Citizenship Eligibility | Must meet residency requirements and other criteria for citizenship. | Must be a permanent resident, pass a citizenship test, and meet residency requirements. |
| Loss of Status | Can lose PR status if residency obligations are not met. | Rare, typically only if citizenship was obtained fraudulently. |
Frequently Asked Question
PR Card Renew Eligibility?
To be eligible to renew PR Card, you must meet these requirements:
- Residency Requirement: Must physically live in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) out of the last 5 years before applying for renewal.
- Status: You must still be a permanent resident of Canada and not a Canadian citizen.
- Validity: Your PR Card must be expired or about to expire (within 9 months).
- Compliance: You must not be under a removal order or have certain inadmissibility issues
What is the eligibility of Canadian Citizenship?
Eligibility for Canadian Citizenship is simple, you must have stayed 1,095 days that is 3 years in Canada to be eligible for Canadian Citizenship in permanent residency status which should be valid when applying for Citizenship, you should also be able to take citizenship test and take a oath.
Should I get my Canadian Citizenship?
It depends on person to person, if you love your home country, and want to go there back and forth, it is much better to be on PR status rather than obtaining Citizenship, but if you’re looking to travel around the world and take part in Canadian politics that is something you can only be able to do if you have Canadian Citizenship.
Some countries offer dual citizenship also, you can check that and find the eligibility since Canada does allow Dual citizenship.
