Mr Lee

Quick question guys and gals. Which is cheaper and which do you reckon would take the longest to process? CIC website is a bit of a maze for this kind of stuff so figured it will be quicker on here!
My PR card expires in a few weeks so I'd better get my arse into gear. If it expires while you're here, can you be deported?

JonboyE

No. The PR card is evidence that you are a PR when you travel. Just because the card runs out you don't stop being a PR.

IMO if you qualify for citizenship you should apply for it.

ExKiwilass

Mr Lee, I had the same dilemma last year and I decided to apply for c-ship, mainly so I don't have to go through the PR card bs every few years. C-ship is actually pretty straight forward to go for, I'd recommend it.

Atlantic Xpat

Do both. PR card renewal = a matter of months. Citizenship application is a year or more. False economy to choose one above the other.

iaink

Citizenship is better and less expensive in the long term, going for it should be a no brainer.

BUT, processing times are long at the moment.

Whether you bother with renewing the PR card depends on how likely you are to travel before citizenship comes through (18 months maybe?), and how comfortable you are with travelling without a current one if you have to.

PR card makes travel easier, but as has been discussed here many many times if you have to travel without one as a UK passport holder, it can be done in a couple of ways without it. There is the official "travel document" route, or the more convenient, but more stressful "seat of the pants" route.

One complication might be (and I dont know, so maybe someone can confirm), that you may have to prove status in Canada as a PR when your OHIP card comes up for renewal, and in that case I dont know how much of a problem not having the PR card as "proof" might be? Could be a total red herring.

Zoe Bell

Last time i renewed my OHIP card, all they were interested in was seeing my driving licence for my address.

There is a question that asks if you are a citizen but they dont ask about PR status

iaink

Cheers Zoe, I figured someone must have done it recently. So no need for PR card on that count. Decision come down to comfort levels for winging it when travelling then...

MarylandNed

You've received good replies already but I would add weight to the advice that you should apply for citizenship (regardless of what you decide to do about the PR card). I speak from experience when I say that you never know what can happen in the future - and having citizenship protects your right to always be able to live/work in Canada. This is especially important if you have children who are not yet Canadian citizens.