WHAT DIFFERENTIATES CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCY FROM CITIZENSHIP?
In Canada, permanent residents (PR) have many rights similar to citizens. However, PRs are not citizens. Citizens can vote and hold a passport. PRs must maintain their status to stay. They can lose their status if residency requirements aren’t met. Understanding these differences helps with long-term plans in Canada Here are the key distinctions:
Democratic participation
Permanent residents in Canada cannot participate in elections, meaning they can’t vote or run for political office. This limits their ability to influence government decisions and shape policies compared to citizens, who have full voting rights and can engage directly in the democratic process.
Holding certain jobs
Permanent residents in Canada have the freedom to work without needing a separate work permit, making it easier to find employment. However, certain jobs that require high-level security clearance are restricted to citizens only. This means PRs cannot access these specific roles, which often involve sensitive information or national security.
Status dependent upon residency
To keep their permanent resident status, individuals must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within the last five years. These days can be non-continuous, but failing to meet this requirement could result in losing PR status. Citizens, however, do not face such restrictions.
Travel privileges
Permanent residents in Canada can travel with a PR card and enjoy some visa-free access. In contrast, Canadian citizens have a strong passport that allows visa-free travel to 187 destinations as of 2024. They also benefit from options to work and study abroad, hold dual citizenship, and receive diplomatic support.
Stability and easy entry into Canada
Although it’s rare, a Canadian permanent resident can lose their status, preventing them from entering or living in Canada. This can occur if they renounce their status or become inadmissible due to criminal or security issues.
In contrast, revoking Canadian citizenship is very uncommon and only happens if it was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.
Passing citizenship to children
In Canada, a child born to a permanent resident automatically becomes a citizen. However, if a permanent resident has a child outside Canada, the child doesn’t automatically receive PR status. They can apply to sponsor the child if they meet eligibility requirements.
For Canadian citizens born abroad, there’s a first-generation limit (FGL): their children born outside Canada aren’t automatically citizens. The government is considering amending this rule to allow Canadians born abroad to pass on citizenship to their children, with some conditions. The deadline for this amendment is December 19.
Key differences between PR status and citizenship
Canadian PR | Canadian Citizen | |
| Right to vote | No | Yes |
| Right to run for office | No | Yes |
| Right to work | Yes—with exception of certain jobs requiring high-level security clearance | Yes |
| Right to open bank accounts and invest | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian passport | No | Yes |
| Right to live indefinitely in the country | Yes—with a valid PR card | Yes |
| Can travel freely | Only those countries accessible through PR card and country of nationality | Yes to all countries accessible through Canadian passport |
| Guaranteed to be able to enter Canada | No in case of inadmissibility | Yes |
| Right to pass status to children born outside the country | No | Yes, if parent is also born in Canada |
