Status: Residency and Citizenship

The two terms, residency and citizenship, are commonly interchanged. They are treated as synonyms by some. The words' real definitions remain unknown to many. You won’t care about the difference if you are not directly involved in dealing with these concerns. You may have been aware all along.

There is a whole world of difference between the two. This is for those dealing with it directly. You will be more than just relatively acquainted with these terms as an expatriate. This takes time as you go on with your new life in your new abode.

Residency is defined in the dictionary as the act or situation of dwelling in a specific place or location. Citizenship means that an individual enjoys the rights, privileges, and duties of a citizen in a country.

Beoming a Resident

A resident therefore enjoys lesser benefits than a citizen does. They also have lesser rights. You may encounter resident aliens in your native country before but you didn’t know then about the specifics of their status. It’s a fact that even if you knew, you don’t really understand it yet or you don’t care at all.

The impact of the difference between residency and citizenship will only hit you in reality when you are already in that situation. You won’t know the real deal of the matter unless you experience it yourself.

You may also be taken aback when you are in another country and you start feeling at home. You may also feel alienated. This is when you become aware that you are not exactly a citizen of that place. You will get used to this in time.

Acquiring Residency

You can get permanent residence permit is easy if you have been sent to work in another country for a long-term basis. Prepare all your papers are in order. Make sure also that you have not been involved in anything which could warrant a legal case against you.

You are eligible to obtain a permit, as is your legal spouse. The only condition in order to avail of one is the duration of your stay in the country. It depends on the country's laws on expatriates.

Aliens are usually allowed to get a permanent residence permit. This is as long as they have stayed for more than one hundred eighty to one hundred eighty-three days in the country.

Your status as a resident affects a huge part of your living in the country. You may be given all the rights and privileges a citizen has, except the right to vote. You may also not be given any privileges. This would really depend on the country's law on expatriates.

Taxes and Elections

Being a resident means that you will have to pay taxes in the country. That is when you won’t be required to as a non-resident. You would be able to stay as a resident for a long duration in the country without being labeled as an illegal alien. It will be best to consult your local consulate or embassy to get acquainted with your rights and privileges as a resident.

Being a citizen is another matter altogether. There are those who wait decades before they are given the status of citizenship. It may not be that of a hassle. Being a citizen gives you the full rights and privileges as the natives in your new home.

You will be able to vote in the country's elections. There are countries that do not allow aliens to apply for citizenship. There are also those that require a set amount of fee to be paid in exchange for your status.