Adil AwdahThe first stage towards Canadian citizenship for most new immigrants is obtaining permanent residency. Permanent residents are entitled to many of the same social benefits as Canadians including provincial healthcare coverage and protection under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
If you’ve been admitted into Canada under the Express Entry skilled workers’ program, you’re granted permanent residency automatically. Refugees, students, and other temporary or foreign workers who have not entered the country as skilled workers under the Express Entry program must apply for permanent residency before they can progress to citizenship.
You can be a permanent resident for your entire stay in Canada, if you choose, however many immigrants opt for the more permanent step of becoming a full-fledged Canadian citizen. To become a Canadian citizen you must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days of the past 5 years and pass a language and citizenship test.
Canadian citizens gain additional rights that permanent residents don’t have, such as the right to vote and run for office, travel on a Canadian passport, hold government jobs that require citizenship, and a guarantee they will not lose their status in Canada.
source : randstad
