Each and every IELTS aspirant often uses the terms Citizen and Permanent Resident, but did you know that these two statuses have a big deal of difference between them? Let us help you clear this out. Go through this article to get a clear understanding of the differences and similarities between Permanent Resident and Citizen.
What is Permanent Resident?
Getting citizenship status lawfully gives you permission to reside in Canada for a defined period of time. That implies that you are no longer a visitor in the world, but rather a legal alien. The permanent resident status goes a step further, giving you the freedom to live permanently. For as long as they wish, a lawful PR may remain in Canada.
That being said, Canada’s permanent resident has a range of disadvantages relative to Canadian residents. Firstly, they stay legal residents of their country of birth. They’re not going to get a Canada visa or voting rights. Spending a year off from Canada may include them in deportation proceedings and may face the risk of being removed from Canada
Both permanent residents, after a certain amount of time (usually 5 years), are entitled to qualify for Canadian citizenship. Through their time as permanent citizens, they must display strong moral integrity and a thorough analysis of Canada’s history and governance in order to become a naturalised citizen of Canada.
Permanent Resident Card – Rights and Benefits
Legal permanent residents in Canada possess a variety of advantages over the visitor and refugee populations.
To begin with, they will get the coveted Green Card, which also requires the right to work in Canada. They are often permitted to embrace jobs or to start a legal enterprise.
They can also bring their immediate family members (spouse and younger kids) to live with them. Permanent residents can leave/enter Canada at will without the fear of being rejected by immigration authorities.
Permanent residents have the right to request for government-sponsored financial support for academic purposes. They have exposure to security clearances and exclusion from export controls. They are also eligible for Social Security payments, extra security income and Healthcare benefits.
Canada Permanent Resident – Options
So if you’re curious about how and when to apply for Canada permanent resident visa from India, let us just start with the simple options for Indians to begin the process.
The options for immigration are:
- Quebec Immigration
- Transition Immigration
- Business Immigration
- Federal Economic Class
- Provincial Economic Class
- Family Class Sponsorship
Today, based on the needs and requirements for permanent residence, you need to pick the right visa scheme. Selecting the right visa programme would guarantee better odds and a far easier process for a Canada permanent resident visa.
Be certain and make the correct choice, since it will be an exhausting procedure to change programmes, and you could be refused a visa if you pick the wrong one, so be sure you look at all the specifics about each programme and then consider what suits you best.
Also Read: Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students: Top Colleges, Fees, IELTS Score & More
Canada Permanent Resident – Process
You need to pick your software first. There may be separate programmes in each programme.
The Federal Economic Class Initiative comprises the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trader Program and the Canada Experience Program.
To apply for a visa through the Federal Economic Scheme, you would need to register via the Express Entry system.
This method allows applicants to build and request a profile. Points are given to each profile in a variety of categories. People with the lowest and highest marks are invited to qualify for services in the Federal Economic Class. So if you want to use the federal skilled worker service, you would need to build a profile to start the registration process.
How to Start the PR Process?
You need to build an account or profile for your Express Entry scheme. You can obtain an invitation to apply once you submit your profile. With modern requirements, this invite is valid for a span of 90 days.
You will need to start applying for an online form where you will need to request a list of documents that are needed to acquire a visa.
You need to make sure that all the responses you fill-up the form are absolutely right and accurate, any contradictions will result in your submission being rejected. You need to fill in all the details carefully, and you can save the form if and when you want to, and you can start from where you dropped off.
Canada PR Process Duration
After you upload your form, the authentication process will begin. At this point, you might wonder how long the PR process is going to take in Canada?
The turnaround time for Canada PR is also usually 6 months in the express entry method. For some forms of visas, there might be variations and modifications for provincial visa applicants. You’ll still need to offer your biometrics in this 6 month period.
You’re going to be told what to do all the time. The organizations will be in contact with you through your account online. If required, you will need to include more documentation, and you will also need to give an interview if considered necessary. They’re going to give you updates to your application throughout.
You will be provided 30 days to submit your biometrics after you have received a letter to provide your biometrics. It is proposed that the biometric payments are charged at the same time as the registration fees are paid such that there is no lag.
Also Read: Higher Education: How to Choose College or University in Canada?
Canada Permanent Resident: Eligibility
Express Entry Eligibility
- Candidates must be admitted into the Express Entry pool of IRCC and have an Express Entry identity number and a career search validation code.
- Candidates must provide the requisite settlement money to support themselves and their families in Canada.
- They must have a true, secure, full-time work offer from the Canadian employer
Skilled Worker Eligibility
- Applicants must have at least six months of work experience certificate in the nominated role.
- Training and work experiences must fulfil all the criteria of the career.
- Candidates must have the following minimum language skills in hearing, chatting, reading and writing at level 0 and A, CELPIP (English): level 7, IELTS (English): level 6, TEF (English): level 4
- Candidates must have the following minimum scores in language skills which are listening, speaking, reading and writing at level B, CELPIP (English): level 5, IELTS (English): level 5, TEF (English): level 3
Nominee Program Eligibility
- Must have a rating of at least 65 points on the evaluation chart.
- Should have a minimum level of high school graduation. If your company needs further education, you must also have evidence of this.
- At least 3 years of practice in corporate administration certificate.
- At least 5 years of business-relevant job experience certificate.
- Never rejected immigration to Canada
- Do not have successful submissions for any candidate service
Also Read: What are the Useful Tips for Cracking the IELTS for Immigration to Canada?
What is the Meaning of Citizen?
An individual may become a citizen of Canada by birth or by naturalisation. You are a resident of Canada by birth whether you were born somewhere in Canada or its territory. In fact, you are eligible for “derived citizenship” if you were born overseas, but one of your parents was a legal resident of Canada at the time of birth.
Then this is the definition of citizenship by naturalisation. It refers to people who were born in a different nation and then immigrated to Canada. They can apply for citizenship of Canada following the acquisition of permanent resident status. If they are licenced by the appropriate authority, they become naturalised citizens.
Citizen Rights and Benefits
Ask yourself what advantages Canada’s citizenship brings? Citizenship is the highest rank that a person can achieve under the Canada Immigration Act. Becoming a citizen of Canada offers many benefits to a person living in Canada. Many of the most important advantages synonymous with citizenship include:
- You’re going to be the holder of a Canada passport.
- The right to vote in favour meaning that you can vote in the city, state, and federal elections.
- The right to run for an elected service seat.
- Eligibility for payments to government workers.
- The right to benefit from Canada’s tax laws.
- You will not be liable to expulsion until, in the first place, you have committed fraud in gaining citizenship.
- The opportunity to make family members visit you in Canada
- To be willing to sponsor the family members to receive their Green Cards.
Also Read: Here’s How to Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada? A Detailed Guide
Requirements for Canada Citizenship
Eligibility
To become a citizen of Canadian, you must
- be a permanent resident of Canada
- have resided in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
- have covered your taxes, if you have to
- clear a test on your rights, responsibilities and information of Canada
- prove your language skills
Canada Citizenship Process
Apply for an Application Package
The application kit contains a guidance sheet and all the forms you need to fill in. Using the directions and the text guide to make sure you don’t forget something. Please make sure that you use the edition of the application form dated October 2017 or after that
Pay the Application Fees
Your payments depend on whether you are an adult (aged 18 and over) or a minor. Your payments can include the following:
- The fee for production
- The Right to Residency Tax
If you send more than one form at the same time, you will pay all the fees collected.
Submit Your Application
You must be qualified for Canadian citizenship on the day before you submit the application form.
Also Read: Is the English Proficiency Exam Compulsory for People Migrating to Canada?
Difference between Citizen and Permanent Resident
People who carry Green Cards or are residents of Canada have certain liberties and privileges. It means a lot of fortune to wear these titles if you were born outside the world, and the distinctions between the two are mostly due to the enhanced privileges that people hold over Green Card holders.
Citizens of Canada, for example, can vote, while citizens of permanent residency cannot. Citizens cannot be removed, but a legal permanent resident can be expelled for a variety of reasons. Citizens are not constrained by their family members’ immigration quotas, but they are permanent residents.
As you can see, being a permanent resident is not as prestigious as becoming a citizen, but they normally need to become a recipient of a Green Card to become a citizen, because it’s nice to know what they’re going to earn!
Permanent Resident vs Citizen
Both possibilities are intriguing for foreign nationals. Although being a citizen typically succeeds in becoming a permanent resident, opting to stay as a recipient of a Green Card Visa is a decision that they might decide is the better alternative.
Both phases are long, but both would have entry to the world’s largest economy. There’s no wrong choice!
Conclusion
Canada is a land full of opportunities for all people wanting to live there. If you’re coming to research, visit, or work, there are a variety of ways to meet your immigration goals. In certain situations, many foreigners determine that they want to become a permanent resident and, ultimately, a Canadian citizen on the way.
Citizen status is the highest individual category in the hierarchy of Canada. Legal permanent residency is commonly considered to be a required first step in the acquisition of Canadian citizenship. A permanent resident can live in Canada permanently, but he/she becomes a lawful citizen of another country. While permanent residents get a certain amount of added rights over visa holders, citizenship offers all the rights that an applicant may have in Canada, including the prized Canada passport and the ability to engage in public elections.
Also Read: What are other Eligibility Criteria for the Selection for an MS in Canada, Apart from IELTS?
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I wasn’t aware of the difference previously. Thankyou for the information provided in this article, it has cleared all my doubts