Does time spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident count fully toward citizenship physical presence?

Only in part. Time spent physically in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, such as time as a temporary resident or protected person, can count toward the citizenship physical presence requirement, but it is generally credited only partially, and only within the specific window counted before the application, rather than being treated exactly the same as time spent in Canada after becoming a permanent resident.

How this pre-PR time is weighted and calculated has changed over the years, so relying on an older understanding of the rules, or on how a different applicant's timeline was calculated in the past, can lead to a miscalculation. This matters a great deal for people who spent significant time in Canada on a study or work permit, or as a protected person, before their permanent residence was approved, since it directly affects how soon they can apply for citizenship.

Anyone relying on pre-PR time toward their physical presence calculation should confirm the current calculation rules directly and calculate their eligibility date carefully, rather than assuming pre-PR time simply adds up the same way as post-PR time.