However, another important path to be considered that many times lead to citizenship is permanent residency.

In this article, you will find out the difference between permanent residency and citizenship and learn who qualifies for each. This may be the path towards making your dream of permanently living in Canada come true.

What is Permanent Residency?

Permanent residency is an authorization granted by the Canadian government to a person who does not have citizenship in the country, but remains living and working here. This permission does not have an expiration date.

This permission can be granted through several different programs. One of the most popular is the Express Entry system, which uses this authorization to boost the Canadian workforce. Other alternatives for obtaining a permanent residency take into account the people who already have a temporary residency permission.

A person may lose their permanent residency in case they commit a serious crime or fail to remain in Canada for two years within the previous five years. A person who has obtained a permanent residency authorization does not lose it within the first five years before their permanent residency card expires.

However, it is recommended that they do not leave the country with an expired version of the card. In order to renew their card, they must make an official request to the IRCC (Immigrants Refugees And Citizenship Canada). The permanent residency card renewal process requires you to prove that you've been in the country for two years within the last five years.

What’s the difference between Temporary and Permanent Residency?

The main difference between permanent and temporary residency is the need to renew the authorization. Although many people believe permanent residency is not as permanent due to the fact that the document presents an expiration date, this is not true.

The document does have an expiration date, but not the authorization. In order to lose permanent residency you must have spent less than two years total within the past five years outside of the country. This is something that a lot of immigrants will obviously avoid.

The only other occasion when a permanent residency is removed is when a violent crime is committed, or a person is proven to be involved with organized crime. Temporary residency, on the other hand, has a limited authorization period, and needs to be constantly renewed. This almost always means that the immigrant needs to prove their connection to work or studies in order to renew their authorization.

What’s the difference between Permanent Residency and Citizenship?

Even though a permanent resident has rights and duties similar to a Canadian citizen, there are other matters to be taken into account. First of all, people with permanent residency cannot vote nor run for government jobs.

Also, professions that involve national security, such as the police or the army, can only be performed by citizens. A permanent residency holder does not have access to a Canadian passport, therefore they have to count on the passport from their original country for international trips, as well as on its reception. In the meantime, citizens can have a Canadian passport, which is one of the most widely accepted in the world. In 2022, a total of 187 countries did not require an entry visa from Canadian passport holders. Lastly, citizenship cannot be taken from you once granted, unless you give it up.

What do I need to qualify for Permanent Residency?

There are some paths towards permanent residency. Therefore, you must meet the requirements of one of the many programs that grant this permission. For those who wish to migrate to Canada, you must have a great CRS (Comprehensive Rating System) score.

The higher your score, the better chance you have to be invited to move to the country. Some factors can help you with the express entry. A few good examples are: having professional experience that is desired by the Canadian job market, being recommended by a Canadian citizen, having a more advanced educational level, or having attended higher education at a Canadian institution.

What do I need to qualify for Citizenship?

Citizenship is a more serious step than permanent residency. The process of being granted Canadian citizenship without having been born with it is called “naturalization”. A person with permanent residency authorization can request Canadian citizenship after having lived in Canada for three years within a five-year period.

Interestingly, unlike what happens in many countries, marrying a Canadian citizen does not grant you Canadian citizenship. However, a Canadian spouse can recommend their partner who does not have citizenship to permanent residency, which is usually approved. And, after a while, that can lead up to a citizenship.

What are the advantages of having Citizenship?

As explained before, there are basically two advantages:

• You cannot lose citizenship, except when you give it up;

• You have access to a Canadian passport, which is widely accepted by many countries without requiring prior entry visa.

There is also the advantage of not having to constantly renew your permanent residency card. In this way, obtaining citizenship is the final goal of the immigration bureaucracy.