Permanent Resident vs. Canadian Citizen

A permanent resident is an individual who has immigrated to Canada and has been granted a type of residency. They retain their citizenship to their original country but, just as Canadian citizens do, they benefit from:

• The right to apply for Canadian citizenship
• The same social benefits as any Canadian citizen (such as healthcare)
• The protection of the Canadian law, rights, and freedoms
• The right to live, work and study anywhere in Canada

A permanent resident is subject to paying taxes and Canadian law, the only difference being that they cannot vote, run for office, or hold certain government positions that offer high-level security clearance.

Canadian residency needs to be maintained, while citizenship doesn’t, only losing it if you so choose to renounce it.