In Canada, permanent residents enjoy the same privileges as citizens, including the ability to live, study, work, and invest in the country. However, there’s some difference between Canada PR and Canadian citizenship. 

A permanent resident is someone who has been given PR status by immigrating to Canada but they are not a citizen. On the contrary, citizens have more rights and responsibilities, like participating in the nation’s democratic process and the opportunity to have a Canadian passport. 

Understanding such differences can help those interested in the process make informed decisions about long-term plans in Canada. So, without further ado, let us begin! 

Democratic Participation 

Permanent residents are not allowed to vote or run a political office. This implies that they do not have as much say in shaping leadership and policies and Canadian citizens. 

Holding Certain Jobs 

While permanent residents are allowed to work without requiring work permits in Canada, they cannot take on certain jobs requiring a high-level security clearance. 

Status Dependent Upon Residency 

In order to continue to hold their permanent resident status, permanent residents should physically be present in Canada for a minimum of 730 days over the last five years. Those days don’t need to be continuous, but if they are not able to meet this criterion, they could lose their PR status. 

On the other hand, Canadian citizens have no such restriction

Travel Privileges

Another difference between Canada PR and Canadian citizenship is travel privileges. 

Permanent residents in Canada can travel with a PR card. Many nations also offer Canadian permanent resident holders free visa-free stays for short periods of time.

On the contrary, Canadian citizens have access to Canadian passports—one of the strongest passports in the world. According to Henley and Partners, Canadians can travel visa-free to over 187 destinations as of 2024. There are other benefits to having a Canadian passport. Canadian passport holders can explore work and study options abroad and even hold dual citizenship. They can also access diplomatic support from Canadian consulates while abroad. 

Stability and Ease Of Entering Canada 

While rare, a Canadian permanent resident could lose their status, barring them from entering or living in the nation. 

This can happen if they renounce their status or if they become inadmissible to Canada. 

However, revoking a Canadian citizenship is extremely rare and can only happen if the citizenship was obtained fraudulently or through misinterpretation in the first place.  

Passing Citizenship To Children 

Another difference between Canada PR and Canadian citizenship is passing on the citizenship to children. 

If a permanent resident gives birth to a child in Canada, that child is automatically a citizen of the country. However, permanent residents who have children outside Canada do not automatically pass on their status to their child. They can apply to sponsor their child if they meet sponsorship eligibility requirements and if their child qualifies as a dependent. 

Meanwhile, citizenship is usually passed down to children. Canada presently has a first-generation limit that dictates that if a Canadian citizen born outside the nation has a child also born outside the country, the child is not entitled to citizenship. The federal government is presently looking at amending this rule, which will offer Canadians born abroad the ability to pass on their citizenship to children born abroad. The current deadline for amending this rule is December 19. 

Key Differences Between Canada PR and Canadian Citizenship

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].