No, permanent residency is not the same as citizenship. A U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) can live and work in the United States indefinitely, but is still a citizen of another country. A U.S. citizen has full rights: a U.S. passport, the right to vote in federal elections, the right to serve on a jury, and protection from deportation. Permanent residents cannot get a U.S. passport and can be deported for certain crimes or for abandoning their residence. Most permanent residents can apply to become citizens after five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen.
Permanent Resident vs Citizen at a Glance
| Permanent resident (green card holder) | U.S. citizen | |
|---|---|---|
| Live and work in the U.S. | Yes, indefinitely | Yes |
| U.S. passport | No. Travels on the passport of their home country | Yes |
| Vote in federal elections | No. It is a federal crime for a noncitizen to vote in a federal election | Yes |
| Serve on a federal or Georgia jury | No | Yes, when summoned |
| Can be deported | Yes, for certain crimes, immigration violations or abandoning residence | No (unless citizenship is first taken away in court) |
| Long trips abroad | Absences of 6 months or more can raise questions; a year or more without a reentry permit generally means the green card can no longer be used to return | No limit |
| Must carry proof of status | Yes, if 18 or older | No |
| Sponsor relatives | Spouse and unmarried children only | Spouse, children of any age, parents and siblings |
| Federal jobs and some licenses | Many federal jobs require citizenship | Eligible |
| Status expires | Status does not expire, but the card must be renewed (usually every 10 years). Conditional two-year cards require a filing to remove conditions | Never |
Does Permanent Residence Expire?
The status does not expire, but the card does. A standard green card is valid for 10 years and is renewed with Form I-90 (see our I-90 guide, en español). If you got a two-year conditional green card through a recent marriage or an EB-5 investment, you must file to remove the conditions before it expires, or your status can end.
Permanent residence can be lost. The most common ways are:
- Abandoning your U.S. residence, usually through long or repeated trips abroad or moving your life to another country.
- Removal (deportation) after certain criminal convictions or immigration violations. See our list of deportable offenses for green card holders.
- Fraud in getting the green card.
Citizenship is far more secure. A person born a U.S. citizen keeps citizenship unless they voluntarily give it up. A naturalized citizen can lose citizenship only if a federal court revokes it, usually because it was obtained illegally or by hiding or lying about important facts. The Department of Justice announced in June 2025 that it was making these denaturalization cases a priority, which is one more reason to be careful and accurate on a naturalization application.
Can Permanent Residents Vote?
No. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, and it is a federal crime for a noncitizen to vote in one. Georgia also requires U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Registering or voting as a noncitizen can lead to removal and can permanently block a later application for citizenship. If you registered by mistake, for example at a driver’s license office, speak with a lawyer before you file anything with USCIS. See false claims to U.S. citizenship.
Permanent residents also cannot run for federal office. U.S. citizens can vote, run for most offices, and serve on juries.
Can Permanent Residents Get a U.S. Passport?
No. Only U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals can get a U.S. passport. A green card holder travels on the passport of their country of citizenship and shows the green card to return to the United States.
What permanent residents should know about travel:
- The green card is your re-entry document. For trips of less than one year, a valid green card (with your foreign passport) is generally enough to return.
- Trips of 6 months or more can lead to questions about whether you still live in the U.S., and can break the “continuous residence” you need for citizenship.
- Trips of a year or more: without a reentry permit, the green card generally can no longer be used to return. If you plan a long stay abroad, apply for a reentry permit (Form I-131) before you leave. A reentry permit can be valid for up to two years. See USCIS, International Travel as a Permanent Resident.
- Visas for other countries: your foreign passport, not your green card, usually decides whether you need a visa to visit a third country.
Once you naturalize, you can apply for a U.S. passport and travel without those limits. Children who become citizens automatically through a parent may also be eligible; see derivative citizenship.
Can a Permanent Resident Be Deported?
Yes. A green card holder can be placed in removal proceedings for certain criminal convictions (including some misdemeanors), immigration fraud, a false claim to citizenship, or abandoning U.S. residence. Some convictions also make it impossible to return after a trip abroad. Before pleading to any charge, a permanent resident should ask a lawyer about the immigration consequences. See deportable offenses and our deportation defense page.
A U.S. citizen cannot be deported. A naturalized citizen could only be removed after a court first takes away citizenship.
Other Differences Between a Green Card Holder and a Citizen
- Jury duty: only U.S. citizens can serve on federal juries, and Georgia also requires jurors to be U.S. citizens. If you receive a jury summons as a permanent resident, respond and explain that you are not a citizen; do not serve.
- Carrying proof of status: permanent residents 18 and older must carry their green card or other proof of status. See the alien registration requirement.
- Sponsoring family: a citizen can petition for a spouse, children of any age, parents (if the citizen is 21 or older) and brothers and sisters. A permanent resident can petition only for a spouse and unmarried children, and those cases often wait years for a visa number. See family immigration.
- Jobs: many federal government jobs and some security clearances require citizenship.
- Taxes: both permanent residents and citizens are generally taxed on worldwide income. Giving up a green card can have tax consequences; ask a tax professional.
- Selective Service: men aged 18 through 25 who live in the U.S., including green card holders, generally must register.
How Do You Go From Permanent Resident to Citizen?
Most green card holders can apply for naturalization with Form N-400 after five years as a permanent resident, or after three years if they have been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen spouse for those three years. You also need continuous residence and enough physical presence in the U.S., good moral character, and you must pass the English and civics tests unless an exception applies. You can file up to 90 days before you reach the five- or three-year mark.
Read how long naturalization takes or see our naturalization lawyer page. Because USCIS reviews your whole immigration history at the naturalization stage, it is worth having a lawyer review any arrests, long trips, or problems with your original green card case before you file.
Permanent Resident vs Citizen: FAQ
What is the difference between PR and citizenship?
A permanent resident (PR) can live and work in the U.S. indefinitely but remains a citizen of another country, cannot vote in federal elections, cannot get a U.S. passport, and can be deported. A citizen has full rights and cannot be deported.
Is permanent residency the same as citizenship?
No. A green card is a step toward citizenship, not citizenship itself. You become a citizen by birth, through a citizen parent, or by naturalizing.
Do permanent residents get passports?
Not U.S. passports. They use the passport of their home country and their green card to return to the U.S.
Can a permanent resident vote in Georgia?
No. Georgia and federal law require U.S. citizenship to vote.
Can a permanent resident be deported?
Yes, for certain crimes, immigration violations or abandoning U.S. residence. Citizens cannot be deported.
How long can a green card holder stay outside the U.S.?
Short trips usually do not affect your status, although USCIS can find abandonment even on a trip of less than a year if your life is no longer based in the U.S. Trips of six months to a year can raise questions. After a year or more abroad without a reentry permit, the green card generally can no longer be used to return.
Do permanent residents have to serve on a jury?
No. Jury service in federal and Georgia courts is limited to U.S. citizens.
Can I have both a green card and a foreign passport?
Yes. Green card holders keep their foreign citizenship. Whether you can keep it after you naturalize depends on your other country’s law; see dual citizenship.
Questions About Your Green Card or Citizenship?
BCA Law Firm helps green card holders across metro Atlanta, and nationwide for federal immigration matters, decide when and how to apply for citizenship. Consultations are 30 minutes and cost $175, at our office at 700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, GA 30071, or online. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call 678-292-6111 or book a consultation online.
This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an attorney about your situation.
