How to Apply for a Temporary Resident Permit?

What is a TRP?

Temporary Resident Permit is not be confused with Temporary Resident Visa. TRP are awarded by the minister to foreign nationals who may be barred from entering Canada as a temporary resident either because of inadmissibility or because of a failure to meet the requirements of the IRPA. TRP makes it possible to enter Canada in those situations. TRPs are also known as Minister’s Permit and are issued for a limited period of time and may be cancelled at any time. The important thing is to exhaust all other options before applying for TRP. A TRP holder such as a foreign worker can apply for work or study permit and may even have access to health and social services. Furthermore, TRP holders may be eligible for Permanent Residence if they remain continuously in Canada on the permit for three years and do not become inadmissible on other grounds.

TRP Application Criteria

A foreign national who is inadmissible or does not meet the requirements of the IRPA, may be eligible for a TRP if an officer believes the admission is justified in the circumstances.
The issuing of the TRP solely relies on the discretion of the officer
The foreign national’s circumstances have to be compelling and sufficient to be requesting an entry in Canada

Can I Cancel a TRP?

Based on the allowance of IRPA to cancel the permit according to s.24(1)
The permit holder leaves Canada without obtaining prior authorization to re-enter Canada
The permit has expired
Or the permit has been valid for years

How Can I Apply for a TRP Application?

For a citizen of a visa-exempt country, there may be a separate application form based on the visa office. Otherwise submit an application for Temporary Resident Visa along with supporting document to explain the reason of your inadmissibility and why should you be allowed to enter Canada.

The fee for processing the application is $200 for a TRP, and is not refundable even if the permit is refused.

Where Can I Apply for a TRP Application?

TRPs are issued at both Canadian ports of entry and CIC inland offices. A foreign national outside Canada wishing to apply for a TRP may do so at the visa office. The visa office assesses the application and either refuses or approves the application. If approved, the TRP is issued at the port of entry when the person arrives in Canada. The visa office does not issue the TRP itself. Therefore a foreign national can apply for one at port of entry or at a visa office. However it is not advisable to apply at the port of entry because the officer can refuse the permit and require the individual to leave the country immediately. Although the processing time at the visa offices are several months long but this is a safer bet.