Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)

Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a special permit that may allow a foreign national to enter or remain in Canada for a limited period when they are inadmissible or do not meet a requirement of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), but have compelling reasons to enter or stay in Canada.

A TRP is not a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and does not automatically remove the cause of inadmissibility. The issuance of a TRP is entirely at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Who may need a TRP?

A TRP may be considered in many circumstances, such as:

• Inadmissibility due to criminal reasons or certain records/violations of the law;
• Medical reasons, financial reasons, or other grounds of inadmissibility;
• Misrepresentation or non-compliance, depending on the circumstances;
• Overstaying the authorized period in Canada;
• Working or studying without a valid, appropriate permit;
• Failing to meet a requirement of the IRPA/IRPR but having a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada.

Important Conditions

IRCC requires TRP applicants to have compelling reasons. The officer will weigh the need to enter or remain in Canada against the health, safety, or security risks to the Canadian society. There is no guarantee that a TRP will be issued, even if the inadmissibility issue appears minor.

How long is a TRP valid for?

• A TRP may be issued for a maximum of 3 years.
• The permit may be cancelled at any time.
• Usually, a TRP ceases to be valid when the holder leaves Canada, unless the TRP explicitly states it is valid for re-entry into Canada.
• If you wish to continue staying in Canada after the expiry date, you must apply for a new/subsequent TRP and must still demonstrate compelling reasons.

Can you work or study?

A TRP itself is not a work permit or study permit. A foreign national issued a TRP for at least 6 months may be eligible to apply for a work permit or study permit from within Canada. You must still hold the appropriate permit before working or studying when required by law.

TRP does not grant maintained status while pending

TRP applicants and current TRP holders applying for a subsequent TRP do not benefit from maintained status during processing solely because they have filed a TRP application. This is a crucial point when the permit is nearing expiration.

Applying for a TRP from outside Canada

For individuals outside Canada who require a visa, IRCC does not currently have a standalone TRP application. Applicants usually file the appropriate temporary residence application, such as a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit, and request TRP consideration within the application, accompanied by explanations and evidence.

Government Fees

The current TRP processing fee is CAD $246.25/person. This fee is separate from the visitor visa, study permit, or work permit fees if those applications are also requested. The TRP fee is non-refundable if the TRP request is refused.

Commonly Required Documents

Documentation depends on the cause of inadmissibility and the reason for the TRP, but usually includes:

• Passport and immigration documents;
• Documents explaining the cause of inadmissibility or non-compliance;
• Criminal records/court documents if applicable;
• Medical documents if applicable;
• Evidence proving compelling reasons to enter or remain in Canada;
• Timeline and a letter of explanation;
• Documents proving the purpose of the trip, family relationships, employment, or special circumstances if applicable;
• Receipts for government fees and documents requested by IRCC based on the application type.

TRP and Criminal Rehabilitation

A TRP is a temporary solution and does not automatically resolve criminal inadmissibility permanently. For cases with a criminal record, a separate assessment is required to determine whether the applicant is eligible for Criminal Rehabilitation, deemed rehabilitation, or another solution.

How does KeyApply support you?

KeyApply assists with preliminary assessment of circumstances, collection and organization of documents, timeline management, and application coordination. When an application requires legal opinion or representation, legal consulting is performed by an RCIC or a properly licensed lawyer.

Note: A TRP is a discretionary permit. No application is guaranteed to be approved.

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