Reading list: Can I apply for Canadian citizenship directly from India?
You cannot apply for Canadian citizenship directly from India, because Canada first requires you to become a Permanent Resident before you can apply for citizenship. This is one of the main differences between Canada PR and citizenship, because PR is the first step and citizenship is the final step. Many people confuse the difference between PR and citizenship, but Canada makes it very clear that you must live inside Canada as a PR before applying for citizenship. To understand the process better, remember that the difference between Canadian PR and citizenship is that PR lets you enter and settle in Canada, but citizenship requires you to stay in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) in the last 5 years, file taxes, and complete the basic tests. Because of these rules, you cannot apply directly from India unless you already have PR and you have completed the stay requirement inside Canada. This also shows the real difference between PR and citizenship in Canada, because PR gives you the right to move to Canada, while citizenship gives you full rights after living there. So, if you are in India and want to become a Canadian citizen, your first step must be applying for PR, moving to Canada, completing your stay, and then applying for citizenship.

https://eduprofound.com/difference-between-canada-pr-and-citizenship-2025/