No matter where you choose to live, you must become a citizen to access national amenities and services. This is also true in Canada. The blog will briefly walk you through the Canadian citizenship and Permanent Residency stages.
What is Canadian Permanent Residency (PR)?
Permanent residents are individuals who are actively living and participating in a country’s economy. Most of the provinces have their own unique immigration processes like that of Quebec and Nunavut.
What are the Benefits of Canadian Permanent Residency?
As a permanent resident, you have the right to:
- Get social benefits that Canadian citizens receive;
- Live, work or study anywhere in Canada;
- Apply for Canadian citizenship;
- Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What are the Requirements to Become a Permanent Resident?
The candidate must be physically present inside Canada for a fixed period. Must be present for at least 730 days within five years.
How to become a Permanent Resident?
There is not a single pathway to becoming a permanent resident of Canada. However, one of the fastest and most popular pathways to immigrate to Canada is the Express Entry System. The pathway offers three federal programs for skilled workers.
The individuals who receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) must meet a certain level of points based on skills and abilities. Thereafter, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency. Besides this, the country offers over 100 immigration programs for newcomers to immigrate to Canada and attain Permanent residency.
What is Canadian Citizenship?
People who were either born in Canada or moved there due to immigration or migration are referred to as Canadian citizens. You could have dual citizenship, which would make you a citizen of two nations.
What are the Benefits of Canadian Citizenship?
Canadian citizenship can bring you a lot of benefits;
- Citizens can have the right to vote;
- Citizens do not require an LMIA to work in Canada;
- Job opportunities in various sectors;
- Free healthcare access for you and your family;
- Free Education up to high school (18 years of age)
How Can I Become a Canadian Citizen?
Any permanent resident of Canada who has been a contributing member of society for three out of the previous five years is eligible to apply for citizenship. However, you need to stand eligible on various parameters like education, work experience, age, skills, language proficiency, and more.
What is the Eligibility to Become a Canadian Citizen?
To qualify, the candidate must;
- Be a permanent resident
- Have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
- Have filed your taxes, if you need to
- Pass a citizenship test
- prove your language skills
Is Permanent Residence the Same as Citizenship?
Permanent residents are not Canadian citizens. In addition to other benefits citizens enjoy, permanent residents are not eligible to apply for Canadian passports.