Permanent Resident vs Citizen
Permanent residents and citizens are two distinct statuses for individuals in a country, with only a few differences in terms of privileges. However, understanding the difference between permanent resident and citizen is crucial due to the prevalence of immigration in modern times. A permanent resident is a citizen of another country who has immigrated to a new country with the intention of permanently living and working there. A citizen, meanwhile, is someone who was born in a specific country or has been granted citizenship there. These distinctions highlight the clear differences between permanent residents and citizens.
Key Takeaways
- A permanent resident is a citizen of another country who immigrates to a different country and is allowed to live and work in that country permanently.
- A citizen is a person born in a country or who has been granted citizenship there.
- Permanent residents have fewer rights than citizens, such as the inability to vote in elections or work in government jobs.
Who is a Permanent Resident?
A permanent resident remains a citizen of their home country and maintains allegiance to that country. They are not allowed to vote in general elections and can work in their new country, but cannot hold a job in a government office. The law is stricter for permanent residents, as there is a provision for their deportation if they commit a serious crime, such as an act of terrorism. In such cases, the individual may serve prison time and potentially be stripped of their permanent resident status and deported back to their home country.
Who is a Citizen?
People born in a country are considered citizens of that country. If someone from another country wishes to obtain citizenship, they must take an oath of loyalty to their new country after a specified period. This period varies from country to country, with the U.S. and Canada requiring three years and Australia requiring four years. Citizens have the right to vote in general elections and can work in any job they are qualified for, including government positions. For example, if a U.S. citizen marries someone from another country, their spouse may live in the U.S. as a permanent resident but cannot become a citizen until three more years have passed. During this period, the spouse cannot bring immediate family members to live in the U.S., although they may visit on a tourist visa. After the three-year period, the spouse can apply for citizenship and then bring family members to live in the country as permanent residents.
What is the difference between Permanent Resident and Citizen?
• A permanent resident is a citizen of another country who immigrates to a different country and is allowed to live and work in that country permanently. A citizen, on the other hand, is a person born in the country. However, a permanent resident can become a citizen through the legal process of a country. One such way is naturalization.
• A permanent resident has lesser rights than a citizen such as he cannot vote in an election and cannot work in government jobs.
• A permanent resident can apply to become a citizen after a prescribed period. This period changes from country to country. In US and Canada, it is three years. In Australia, it is four years.
• There is also adifference in the eyes of the law for a permanent resident and a citizen when it comes to committing acrime. In the case of crime, a permanent resident can be deported from the country but a citizen merely loses some of his citizenship privileges.
