Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) Canada

What is a Temporary Resident Permit?

A Temporary Resident Permit, usually called a TRP, is a discretionary immigration document for a person who is inadmissible to Canada or does not meet certain requirements of Canadian immigration law. It can authorize entry or a temporary stay when an officer decides that the circumstances justify it. Having a reason to visit is essential, but it does not create a right to receive a permit.

The officer weighs why you need to be in Canada against the health, safety or other risks associated with your situation. The decision depends on your individual facts, the seriousness of the concern, the evidence you provide and the proposed visit. A well-organized application explains both sides of that assessment instead of discussing only why you want to travel.

For example, someone with a past conviction may need to attend an important business meeting or visit a seriously ill relative. Those purposes can be relevant, but the applicant must still explain the offence, provide reliable records and address the risk of future problems. A family invitation or employer letter alone does not resolve inadmissibility.

TRP versus visitor visa: what is the difference?

A TRP is also different from a visitor record, which documents a person’s authorized stay in Canada. The right application depends on your nationality, location, current status and the reason you are inadmissible. Read our Canada visitor visa guide if your main question concerns an ordinary temporary visit without an admissibility issue.

A TRP does not erase a conviction, permanently remove inadmissibility or automatically provide permanent residence. It may be cancelled, and its conditions matter throughout your stay. Start by checking whether a TRP is necessary at all; some people have another available solution or are not legally inadmissible on the facts.

Who can apply for a TRP?

IRCC describes a TRP as an option for a foreign national who is inadmissible or does not meet immigration requirements and has a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada. Its general eligibility guidance also addresses whether the person currently holds temporary resident status. Existing TRP holders seeking another permit have a separate application process. Your status must therefore be assessed before choosing the route.

The central question is whether your need to enter or stay outweighs the risks to Canada or Canadians. There is no checklist that guarantees approval and no automatic entitlement because you paid the fee. Review IRCC’s current TRP eligibility requirements alongside your particular circumstances.

Criminal inadmissibility, including DUI convictions

A conviction outside Canada can affect entry if the conduct corresponds to an offence under Canadian law. A DUI, assault, theft or another offence may require careful analysis. The foreign label, a local classification as a misdemeanour, or the fact that an offence happened years ago does not settle the Canadian immigration question.

The assessment may depend on the conduct involved, the applicable Canadian offence, the date of the offence, the sentence and whether all sentencing requirements were completed. Multiple offences, outstanding charges or incomplete court records can complicate the analysis. An expungement, pardon or record suspension from another country should be reviewed for its effect in Canada rather than assumed to eliminate the problem.

A TRP may provide a temporary option when criminal inadmissibility remains unresolved and travel is justified. Criminal rehabilitation or deemed rehabilitation may be more appropriate in other cases. Bring the actual court documents to an assessment, including proof of fines paid, probation completed and any other sentence conditions fulfilled.

Medical inadmissibility

Medical concerns can involve a danger to public health, a danger to public safety or, where the rules apply, excessive demand on health or social services. These are different issues and require different evidence. A diagnosis alone does not tell you whether a TRP is needed, and exemptions from particular medical inadmissibility rules can apply to some applicants.

If a medical issue is relevant, explain the travel purpose and provide appropriate medical documentation. Depending on the concern, useful evidence may include a current specialist’s report, treatment arrangements, an explanation of ongoing care and a realistic financial plan. Insurance or an undertaking to pay privately does not automatically resolve every medical admissibility concern.

Immigration non-compliance and other concerns

An overstay, unauthorized work, previous removal, misrepresentation or another immigration problem may affect the available options. A TRP is not a routine substitute for extending visitor status, restoring eligible status or following a removal-related process. First identify the exact legal concern and whether another application or authorization is required.

Cases involving immigration misrepresentation, security, serious criminality or organized crime need particularly careful advice. Do not assume that a persuasive travel invitation overrides a statutory restriction or removes another requirement. Disclose earlier refusals and enforcement history accurately, even when the event seems unrelated to the present visit.

What makes the reason for travel compelling?

Explain why your physical presence is needed, why the timing matters and what would happen if you could not travel. A medical emergency involving a close relative, a specific work obligation or an important family event may support a request when documented. The strength of a reason depends on context; no category of travel automatically qualifies.

A short, specific itinerary is often easier to assess than an open-ended request. Identify the dates, location, people involved, accommodation and funding. Explain why a shorter visit, another location or remote participation would not adequately meet the need where that question is relevant. Connect every important claim to evidence an officer can verify.

How to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit

There is no single TRP submission method for every applicant. IRCC’s instructions distinguish applicants outside Canada, people who require a visa or an eTA, certain U.S. travellers and applicants already in Canada. Use the current instructions for your situation instead of sending an old form to a visa office because someone else used that route.

Before starting, confirm your citizenship, travel document, country of residence, current location and Canadian immigration status. Then identify the inadmissibility concern and the purpose and dates of the proposed stay. These facts determine the appropriate procedure and the supporting documents you need.

1. Outside Canada and you need a visa

IRCC currently directs visa-required applicants to apply online for temporary residence, such as a visitor visa, work permit or study permit, through the IRCC secure account. There is no separate TRP application for this route. The request for consideration of a TRP is included with the temporary residence application.

Explain why you are inadmissible and why you should be allowed to enter temporarily. Upload the TRP request, supporting evidence and the receipt for the separately paid TRP processing fee in the optional client information section, following the current instructions. Other application fees and requirements can still apply.

Make the request unmistakable. A cover letter should identify the TRP request, the reason it is necessary and the supporting documents attached. Simply submitting an ordinary visitor visa application without addressing known inadmissibility leaves the central concern unanswered.

2. Outside Canada and you normally need an eTA

If you are an eTA-required traveller who knows you are inadmissible, IRCC directs you to request instructions through its web form. The current route is to ask a question about a program or service and select the visiting Canada option. Explain your circumstances and request TRP application instructions.

Do not assume that obtaining an eTA solves the underlying concern. Follow the response from IRCC about the documents, payment and submission method applicable to your situation. Keep a copy of your web form submission and subsequent correspondence so your application history remains clear.

3. U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently in the United States

IRCC provides a specific instruction route for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are currently in the United States. Its TRP guidance directs them to use the web form, choose the relevant program or service question and the “Other” option, and request instructions from the Los Angeles visa office.

Being a U.S. citizen or holding a U.S. green card does not remove Canadian inadmissibility. Similarly, a U.S. visa or ESTA is not permission to enter Canada. Explain the Canadian immigration concern and follow the current Canadian instructions, even if you normally travel across the border without a visitor visa.

4. Applying from inside Canada

Applicants already in Canada should follow the applicable in-Canada TRP instructions and forms. Existing TRP holders seeking another permit should use IRCC’s guide for remaining in Canada as a TRP holder. Certain vulnerable applicants, including some victims of trafficking or family violence, have dedicated processes and may qualify for fee exemptions.

Check the current checklist and submission address directly with IRCC before sending a paper package. Include the relevant history, the reasons another period is needed and evidence addressing the original inadmissibility. A previous TRP is useful context, but a later permit is a new decision rather than an automatic renewal.

Do not let an approaching expiry date disappear into the paperwork. Applying for an initial or subsequent TRP does not provide maintained status while you wait. If your status, departure obligations or ability to work are uncertain, obtain advice before the current permission expires.

5. Requesting a TRP at a port of entry

A TRP may be considered by an officer at a Canadian port of entry where the applicable requirements permit it. The officer may review your documents, ask questions and determine whether your need to enter justifies the risks. You can still be refused entry, and an urgent itinerary does not require the officer to issue a permit.

Assess this option before travelling. You must be able to reach the port of entry lawfully and satisfy any applicable travel document or boarding requirements. Bring an organized application, original records where appropriate, a credible itinerary and the evidence explaining the travel need. Plan for the practical consequences if entry is refused.

A border request should not be presented as a guaranteed same-day solution or a way to avoid an earlier refusal. Officers can consider the existing immigration history. If a previous application failed, understand the reasons and address them before deciding whether another request is appropriate.

Check the route before submitting: IRCC’s current TRP application instructions are the controlling source for forms, submission methods and required steps. Procedures can change, and special cases may follow different instructions.

TRP documents: build a clear, evidence-based application

Your documents should help the officer understand the problem, the reason for travel and the measures that reduce the risks. The exact checklist varies with the application route and your circumstances. A large package is not necessarily a strong package: missing court outcomes, inconsistent dates or an unexplained travel purpose can matter more than the number of pages.

Use a document index and group the evidence into sensible sections. Label files clearly for an online submission and check upload limits before finalizing them. Make sure scans are complete, legible and the right way up. Follow IRCC’s translation and certification requirements for documents that are not in English or French.

Identity, status and immigration history

• Passport and identity documents: provide the required identity pages and relevant travel documentation. Check passport validity against the proposed travel dates.
• Current residence or immigration status: include the documents required to establish where you live and your legal status in the country from which you apply.
• Canadian immigration history: include relevant refusals, previous TRPs, entry documents, removal documents or correspondence. Explain material changes since an earlier decision.
• Completed forms and payment: use the current forms for your route, answer the questions fully, sign where required and include the correct receipts.

Criminal records and evidence of rehabilitation

Where criminal inadmissibility is involved, gather records that show what happened and how the case ended. Relevant documents may include charging documents, court judgments, sentencing orders and proof that every part of the sentence was completed. If probation, a driving prohibition, a fine or another obligation is involved, establish the dates and compliance clearly.

Police certificates or other criminal record checks may be required under the applicable instructions or requested by the officer. They do not necessarily replace detailed court records. If a record cannot be obtained, explain the efforts made and provide reliable supporting material rather than leaving an unexplained gap or making an unsupported claim.

Evidence of rehabilitation should fit the circumstances. Counselling records, completion of an alcohol education program, stable employment, community involvement and well-informed references can help explain changes since an offence. A reference is stronger when the writer knows the relevant history and describes specific observations. General praise cannot substitute for the official case documents.

Travel purpose, funding and a realistic departure plan

Provide documents that connect the requested stay to a genuine purpose. A business letter should describe the event, your role, the dates and why you need to attend. A family invitation should identify the relationship and explain the occasion. Where a medical emergency or caregiving need is involved, appropriate evidence should establish the circumstances without including irrelevant private information.

Show where you will stay, how you will cover expenses and what travel arrangements are planned. If someone else is paying, explain the relationship and provide suitable evidence of the support. Budget for the actual visit, including accommodation, transport and any medical arrangements relevant to the request.

Explain your plans after the authorized visit. Employment commitments, family responsibilities, studies or other obligations outside Canada may support the intended departure. Their relevance depends on the case. A return ticket alone is not proof that you will leave, and expensive bookings do not create an entitlement to approval.

How to write the TRP explanation letter

The letter should give the officer a clear route through the evidence. Use plain language, a factual timeline and references to the supporting documents. Avoid emotional claims that are not supported or legal conclusions that overlook inconvenient facts. A useful structure is:

1. Identify the request: explain who you are, the period requested and why you are asking for a TRP.
2. Explain the inadmissibility: describe the relevant facts accurately, including dates, outcomes and previous immigration decisions.
3. Establish the need: show why your presence in Canada matters and why the requested timing and duration are reasonable.
4. Address the risks: explain rehabilitation, compliance, treatment or other measures relevant to the concern.
5. Explain the visit and departure: set out accommodation, funding, activities and the plan to comply with the conditions.
6. Guide the reader: point to the documents supporting each important statement and identify any unavoidable evidence gaps.

For instance, an applicant travelling for a business meeting should connect the invitation to their actual responsibilities, explain why the meeting requires their presence and request a proportionate stay. If a conviction is involved, the same application must also address its circumstances and the risk assessment. The business reason and criminal history belong in one coherent explanation.

Before submitting, compare the letter with every form and attachment. Dates of offences, sentence completion, employment and earlier refusals should agree. Explain a genuine discrepancy instead of silently selecting the most favourable version. Keep a complete copy of the final package and proof of submission; these records are important if the officer requests more information or refuses the application.

TRP fees, processing time and permit conditions

How much does a TRP cost?

The current standard government processing fee for a Temporary Resident Permit is CAD $246.25 per person. This fee is not refunded if the application is refused. Certain applicants may qualify for an exemption, and other fees may apply if a visitor visa, work permit, study permit or another application is involved.

Professional fees, document retrieval, translations, travel and medical examinations are separate from the government TRP fee. Check the official IRCC fee list before paying, and use the payment instructions for your application route. Keep the receipt and include it where directed.

How long does TRP processing take?

There is no dependable single processing time that fits all TRP requests. Timing can vary with the submission route, the office handling the file, the complexity of the inadmissibility, document requests and any further assessment. A past applicant’s experience does not establish the time your application will take.

Apply as early as practical and explain genuine urgency with evidence. Avoid treating a proposed travel date as a promised decision date. A port-of-entry request also involves uncertainty: an officer can refuse the request, and travel arrangements do not guarantee that the application will be processed or approved as you expect.

How long is a TRP valid?

A TRP is normally issued for a period connected to the justified need and can be valid for up to three years. Three years is a maximum, not the usual entitlement for every applicant. A short event may justify only a short stay. The officer determines the period and conditions, and the permit can be cancelled.

If approved outside Canada, distinguish any counterfoil’s expiry date from the period of stay authorized when the TRP is issued. Read the approval letter carefully and follow the instructions for travelling to Canada. Once you receive the permit, check its dates and conditions and ask promptly about any apparent error.

Can you leave Canada and return?

A TRP generally becomes invalid when you leave Canada unless re-entry has been specifically authorized. Do not assume that the expiry date alone allows repeated trips. Check the permit wording before making travel plans and make sure you meet all other travel document requirements. A new trip may require a new assessment or application.

Does a TRP let you work or study?

A TRP by itself is not a work permit or study permit. IRCC states that a person holding a TRP valid for at least six months may apply for a work or study permit from inside Canada. That eligibility to apply is different from permission to begin working or studying. Obtain the required authorization and follow its conditions.

What happens when your permit is expiring?

Apply for another TRP well before expiry if that is the appropriate route, but do not assume filing the application extends your existing permission. TRP applicants do not benefit from maintained status. If the current permit expires before another is issued, you cannot rely on the pending TRP request to remain authorized.

Restoration of status is not available simply because you were a TRP holder. Get advice about your situation and departure obligations before expiry. IRCC’s after-you-apply guidance explains approval, refusal and permit conditions. Read the actual decision and permit rather than relying on assumptions from an earlier visit.

Plan the trip around the immigration decision

Keep the travel plan flexible while the application is being assessed. Tell employers, hosts or family members that your entry depends on the immigration decision. Where possible, avoid non-refundable commitments that would create pressure to travel before the necessary documents are in place. A booking confirmation supports an itinerary but does not require an officer to approve the request.

If the purpose or dates change after submission, follow the appropriate instructions for informing IRCC. An application tied to a meeting that has already happened may need an updated explanation of the continuing need. Keep copies of any updates and ensure the documents still describe one consistent plan.

Once a decision arrives, read every page before travelling. Check the identity details, the travel deadline, any conditions and the instructions about presenting documents at the border. Carry the relevant approval documents and supporting records in an accessible place rather than relying on an internet connection to retrieve them. If anything is unclear, resolve it before departure. The approval documents, the permit itself and the border examination each have a role; do not assume one document answers every question about entry and the permitted stay.

How to avoid TRP refusal

No application can eliminate the possibility of refusal. You can, however, reduce avoidable weaknesses by making the decision easier to assess and addressing the concerns directly. The following checks focus on the evidence and consistency an officer needs, rather than promises about approval rates.

Confirm that you need the right remedy

Have the inadmissibility assessed before choosing a TRP. Check the Canadian equivalent of an offence, the sentence history and whether rehabilitation or another immigration process is relevant. Applying for the wrong document can waste time and leave the actual obstacle unresolved. A visitor visa, eTA or previous successful entry does not settle that assessment.

Show a specific, well-supported travel need

Explain why you must be in Canada, why the visit matters now and how long you need to stay. Include evidence from the employer, family member, organizer or medical provider where appropriate. A vague wish to travel gives the officer less to weigh against an established concern. Request a duration that matches the evidence instead of asking for the longest possible permit without justification.

Address the risk instead of minimizing it

Acknowledge the relevant history accurately and explain the changes since the event. Provide reliable evidence of sentence completion, compliance, treatment or rehabilitation where applicable. Describing an offence as minor without analysing its Canadian consequences can weaken the explanation. Acknowledge any evidence gaps and explain how you tried to resolve them.

Disclose the full relevant history

Answer the application questions truthfully and include relevant refusals, convictions and immigration problems. Do not omit a fact because it is embarrassing, old or missing from one record check. Inaccurate or incomplete information can create a separate misrepresentation concern. Where a question or legal classification is unclear, obtain advice before signing the application.

Check documents, dates and practical arrangements

Make sure the forms, explanation letter and supporting records tell the same factual story. Confirm that documents are legible, translations meet the requirements and the correct fee receipt is included. Explain who is paying, where you will stay and how you will comply with the authorized period. Unsupported financial claims or contradictory travel dates can undermine an otherwise legitimate request.

Respond to concerns and respect deadlines

Monitor the account or contact method used for your application. If an officer requests documents or gives you an opportunity to respond to concerns, address every issue within the stated deadline. Read our procedural fairness guidance if you receive such a letter. Do not assume every TRP refusal will be preceded by an opportunity to fix the application.

What to do if your TRP is refused

A refusal does not always mean that every future option is closed. It does mean you should understand the decision before taking another step. Repeating the same package, immediately trying another border crossing or booking a new trip does not resolve the reasons the officer identified.

1. Keep the decision and check immediate obligations

Save the refusal letter, its delivery date, any officer correspondence and the complete application you submitted. Record when you became aware of the decision. If the refusal happened at a port of entry, keep the documents provided and write down the relevant events while they are fresh.

If you are inside Canada, read the decision carefully for departure instructions and consider your current authorization. IRCC states that an initial in-Canada TRP refusal requires departure. For a subsequent permit refusal, the expiry of an existing permit and the decision instructions matter. A pending request did not create maintained status, so do not assume you can stay or work while deciding what to do next.

2. Understand why the officer refused the request

Identify whether the concern was the strength of the travel need, the seriousness of the risk, insufficient documents, credibility, compliance or another issue. Separate a refusal on the merits from an application returned as incomplete; IRCC treats an incomplete application as not submitted, and correcting it requires following the applicable instructions.

Additional records or officer notes may help where available through an appropriate access request. However, TRP refusals are excluded from IRCC’s current process of automatically providing officer decision notes with certain refusal letters. Do not assume the notes will arrive automatically. Do not delay time-sensitive legal advice while waiting for records.

3. Consider a stronger application if the concerns can be addressed

A new application may be appropriate if you can provide material evidence, correct an important gap or explain a genuine change in circumstances. Address the previous refusal openly and show exactly what is different. If the visit has changed, update the dates, invitation and funding instead of reusing documents for an event that has passed.

For example, missing court disposition records may require obtaining those records before applying again. A weak explanation of travel need requires better evidence of why your presence is necessary. Neither solution guarantees approval. Paying another fee and changing a few sentences without addressing the core concern may lead to another refusal.

4. Get prompt advice about legal review

If the decision may contain a legal error or an unfair process, ask a qualified Canadian immigration lawyer whether reconsideration or an application for leave and judicial review is appropriate. Do not assume there is a routine appeal that automatically replaces a refused TRP with an approval. Judicial review examines the decision-making process and legal validity; it is not simply a new TRP application.

Under section 72 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the general filing deadline is 15 days for a matter arising in Canada or 60 days for a matter arising outside Canada, measured from notification or awareness of the matter. Determining which deadline applies requires legal assessment. Do not assume that a request for records or reconsideration protects the court deadline.

5. Review the longer-term solution

If the problem is criminal inadmissibility, assess whether individual rehabilitation is available or deemed rehabilitation applies. If another immigration issue caused the refusal, identify the appropriate remedy for that issue. Choose the next step based on the actual refusal and your circumstances, not a promise that every refused TRP can be reversed.

Discuss your TRP refusal

TRP or criminal rehabilitation: which option fits?

A TRP addresses a justified temporary need while inadmissibility remains. Criminal rehabilitation addresses eligible past criminal conduct more permanently. The two options serve different purposes, so the choice depends on the offence, the sentence-completion date, your travel needs and whether you meet the applicable criteria.

For deemed rehabilitation, the maximum punishment associated with the Canadian equivalent can be important. Serious criminality and multiple offences may change the analysis. Do not calculate eligibility from the conviction date alone or assume that an old foreign record is irrelevant because you have travelled to Canada before.

Someone with an urgent travel need may need advice about a TRP while considering a rehabilitation application. That does not mean either application is guaranteed or that a pending rehabilitation request authorizes entry. Each request must meet its own requirements and accurately explain the relevant history.

See our criminal rehabilitation guide and IRCC’s deemed rehabilitation requirements. A document-based assessment can help determine whether a temporary permit, rehabilitation or another route best addresses your situation.

Temporary Resident Permit FAQs