Residency and citizenship programs offer distinct legal statuses to foreign nationals, each with unique rights, responsibilities, and processes. Residency programs permit individuals to live in a country for a specified duration, either temporarily or permanently. Residents generally have the right to work, study, and access public services, but they lack political rights such as voting. They must adhere to the host country’s laws and sometimes maintain a physical presence to keep their status. Permanent residency can often lead to citizenship. Citizenship, on the other hand, is a more permanent status obtained through birth, descent, marriage, or naturalisation. Citizens enjoy full rights, including voting, and can hold a passport, facilitating unrestricted entry and exit. They are subject to all national laws, including tax obligations, and may have additional duties like jury or military service. The primary differences between residency and citizenship lie in the permanence of the status, the extent of political rights, passport and travel rights, and the scope of taxation. Citizenship usually offers more security and comprehensive benefits than residency, although the exact terms vary by country.