What is the difference between Permanent Resident and Citizen?

Citizens and permanent residents are people who are temporarily allowed or permanently legally registered to be named or recognized with a particular country. There are several countries with their own different laws and policies, but we shall be discussing who citizens and permanent residents are. Citizens are people who are allowed to dwell in a country indefinitely, even without being a citizen. On the other hand, a citizen is a person that has specific duties, benefits, privileges, and the legal rights to dwell in a country. Citizens are entitled to receive benefits and assistance from the government.

They have the right to live and work at different levels in the country; they can obtain government jobs. On the contrary, permanent residents do not have full entitlement to the country's benefits. They are not entitled to all jobs, especially government works. The citizens can vote, but the permanent residents cannot. Taking the United States as the point of reference, the permanent residents need to obtain a green card to be able to live in the county and can be deported anytime if any offense is committed.

The terms “Permanent resident” and “Citizen” are often confused with one another. Although both confer rights to live legally in a particular country, they mean very different things as explained below: a. MEANING: A lawful permanent resident is someone who has been the right to live in a particular country indefinitely. Permanent residents are given what is called a “green card,” which is a photo ID card that proves their status — on the other hand, becoming a citizen of a particular country through birth and naturalization. b. BENEFITS: Permanent residence includes the right to work and to petition for close family members (Spouse and unmarried children) to receive permanent residency to come over to the country.

Permanent residents remain the citizen of another country. On the other hand, a citizen of the country can leave and re-enter the country at any time without requiring a re-entry permit. A citizen can vote in the federal and local elections of the corresponding country. A citizen of a country cannot be deported from that country except there’s a history of fraud in the obtainment of the citizenship. c. LIMITATIONS: The permanent residents of a country do not have the right to vote during the election period. They are also subject to grounds of deportability. Once it is discovered that a permanent resident intends to leave that country to make a home elsewhere, it will be considered as abandoning your residence; hence, given up your green card. In contrast, citizens do not encounter any limitations.