How to Get a Temporary Resident Permit for Canada
A temporary resident permit (TRP) lets a person who is inadmissible enter Canada for a set purpose and time, up to 3 years. You ask for one with a visa or permit application, through IRCC before you travel, or at a port of entry. The fee is $246.25 per person. An officer grants it only when your reason to enter outweighs the risk.
A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) allows a foreign national who is inadmissible to Canada to enter or remain in the country for a specific period and purpose. Under section 24(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), an officer may issue a TRP if satisfied that the need to enter or remain in Canada is justified and outweighs the health or safety risks to Canadian society. A TRP does not resolve the underlying inadmissibility, it is a temporary, discretionary authorization. For a longer-term solution, Criminal Rehabilitation under IRPA s.36(3)(c) is generally the relevant pathway.
When a TRP May Be Issued
TRPs are discretionary, there is no automatic right to receive one. Under IRPA s.24(1), the officer balances the reason for inadmissibility against the compelling need to enter. Situations that can lead to a request include:
- Criminal inadmissibility (DUI, assault, drug offences, or other Criminal Code equivalents)
- Medical inadmissibility where treatment makes the risk manageable
- Urgent business travel, employment obligations, or contract work
- Family emergencies such as a funeral, serious illness, or wedding
- Attendance at a court proceeding, conference, or sporting/cultural event
- Humanitarian circumstances where refusal would cause disproportionate hardship
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Application Process
IRCC says there is no separate TRP application for foreign nationals outside Canada. The route depends on where you are and whether you need a visa, an eTA, or neither as a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. You can also ask from inside Canada, or at a port of entry.
Asking Before You Travel
If you need a visa, you request TRP consideration as part of a visitor visa, study permit or work permit application, and pay the TRP fee separately. If you need an eTA, you send IRCC a web form asking for instructions. A US citizen or lawful permanent resident in the US sends a web form asking that it go to the visa office in Los Angeles for instructions. This lets you include supporting documents and get a decision before you travel. IRCC publishes no processing time for TRPs.
Asking at a Port of Entry
You can tell the officer at a Canadian port of entry that you want to request TRP consideration. The officer decides at the border, and if the officer refuses, you do not enter. Bring as much documentation as possible: court records, evidence of rehabilitation, a letter explaining your compelling reason to enter, and character references.
Documents That Often Support a Request
- If you need a visa: a visitor visa, study permit or work permit application with TRP consideration requested; otherwise, the steps IRCC sends you or the request at the port of entry (confirm the current steps on canada.ca)
- Detailed personal letter explaining why entry to Canada is necessary and why risks are manageable
- Complete court records for all convictions (charges, pleas, sentences, probation completion)
- Police certificates from your country of residence
- Evidence of rehabilitation: employment records, treatment completion, community involvement, character references
- Processing fee: $246.25 CAD per person, paid separately from other fees and not refunded if the request is refused (confirm the current fee on IRCC)
What Officers Consider
When assessing a TRP application under IRPA s.24(1), the risks are weighed against the benefits. Key factors include:
- The nature and severity of the inadmissibility (type of offence, sentence received)
- Time elapsed since the offence and sentence completion, longer is generally better
- Evidence of rehabilitation (no reoffending, lifestyle changes, treatment)
- The compelling reason to enter Canada (urgency, importance, no alternatives)
- Whether the purpose of entry can be achieved another way (e.g., video conference instead of in-person)
- Ties to Canada and the likelihood of complying with permit conditions
TRP vs. Criminal Rehabilitation
A TRP and criminal rehabilitation are separate applications under separate provisions (IRPA s.24 and s.36(3)(c)), and neither provision excludes the other. IRCC says that if less than five years has passed, you can fill out the rehabilitation form and check "For Information Only", and an officer will decide if you can get special permission to come to Canada temporarily. Separately, people who continuously reside in Canada on a TRP for a number of years may, in some cases, become eligible to apply for permanent residence under the permit holder class; the required period and eligibility depend on the grounds of inadmissibility, so confirm the current rules on canada.ca.
| Factor | TRP | Criminal Rehabilitation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | IRPA s.24(1) | IRPA s.36(3)(c) |
| Waiting period | None, apply any time | 5 years from sentence completion, or from the act if there was no conviction |
| Resolution type | Temporary (up to 3 years) | Removes the grounds of criminal inadmissibility |
| Government fee | $246.25 CAD per person (confirm on IRCC) | Generally $246.25 (non-serious) / $1,231 (serious); confirm on IRCC |
| Processing time | No published time; at a port of entry the officer decides at the border | IRCC says it can take over a year |
| Renewal required? | Yes, a new permit once it ends; it ends when you leave Canada unless it allows re-entry | No new application once approved |
| Best for | Urgent travel; pre-5-year wait period | Long-term solution for regular travel or PR |
TRP Validity and Conditions
A TRP specifies the reason for authorization and the authorized duration (up to 3 years per issuance), and it may carry conditions. An officer can cancel it at any time (IRPA s.24(1)). Under IRPR s.63, it stays valid until the first of these: it is cancelled, you leave Canada without prior authorization to re-enter, the validity period on it expires, or three years pass from its date of validity.
A person who continuously resides in Canada as a TRP holder for a number of years may, in some cases, become eligible to apply for permanent residence under the permit holder class. The required period of continuous residence and the eligibility rules depend on the grounds of inadmissibility. This is a separate process from Criminal Rehabilitation. Confirm the current requirements on canada.ca.
How Do TRP, Criminal Rehabilitation, and Deemed Rehabilitation Compare?
| Feature | TRP | Criminal Rehabilitation | Deemed Rehabilitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wait time | Immediate | 5+ years after sentence | 10 years for one indictable offence; 5 for two or more summary convictions |
| Duration | Up to 3 years | Removes the grounds | No application required; an officer checks the conditions |
| Cost | $246.25 per person (confirm on IRCC) | Generally $246.25 to $1,231 (confirm on IRCC) | No fee unless you ask a visa office to assess it |
| Eligible offences | Any | Convictions or acts outside Canada | Non-serious only |
| IRPA reference | s.24(1) | s.36(3)(c) | s.36(3)(c), IRPR s.18 |
Every guide on temporary resident permits
Part of: Criminal record
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a TRP for Canada?
It depends on where you apply. IRCC publishes no processing time for temporary resident permits, and they sit outside its processing-times tool. At a port of entry, the officer decides while you wait. When you ask as part of a visa or permit application, IRCC publishes no time for the TRP part. Apply well before a trip that matters, and keep your court records ready for questions.
Go deeper: Why the TRP has no published processing time
How much does a TRP cost in Canada?
The IRCC fee is $246.25 per person, paid separately from other fees and not refunded if the request is refused. Each new permit is a new application with a new fee. Criminal rehabilitation costs $246.25 for criminality or $1,231 for serious criminality, and it removes the grounds of criminal inadmissibility. Court records and police certificates carry their own costs. Confirm the current fee on IRCC before you pay.
Go deeper: TRP vs criminal rehabilitation
Can I apply for a TRP at the Canadian border?
Yes. You can tell the officer at a Canadian port of entry that you want to request TRP consideration, and the officer decides at the border. There is no guarantee, and a refusal there means you do not enter. Bring court records, proof the sentence is complete, evidence of rehabilitation, and a written explanation of why you need to enter Canada.
Go deeper: US criminal records and Canada
How long does a TRP last?
Up to 3 years. The officer sets the length to match your stated purpose. A one-time visit may get a permit of a few days to a few weeks, and ongoing business or employment may get a longer one. It ends when you leave Canada unless it allows re-entry, and you need a new permit to come back. Criminal rehabilitation removes the grounds of criminal inadmissibility, and it opens 5 years after the sentence ends.
Go deeper: Criminal rehabilitation for Canada
Can I get a TRP for a DUI?
Yes, a TRP can be requested for a DUI. Since December 18, 2018, impaired driving carries a 10-year maximum in Canada, so a DUI committed on or after that date counts as serious criminality, with no deemed rehabilitation. An older one is judged by the penalties in force at the time. A TRP can cover a trip in the meantime. The officer weighs how recent the offence was, your record since, and your reason to travel.
Go deeper: Can you enter Canada with a DUI?
Does a TRP allow me to work or study in Canada?
A TRP alone does not authorize work or study. It covers your entry and stay for the purpose the officer approved. To work or study, you need a separate work permit or study permit as well. IRCC says a person issued a TRP valid for at least 6 months can apply in Canada for a work or study permit. A record also affects the work permit application, so plan both together.
Go deeper: Work permits with a criminal record
What happens if my TRP application is denied at the border?
You are refused entry. IRPA s.72 allows judicial review by the Federal Court of a decision under the Act, started by an application for leave to the Court. You can ask again, for example before you travel with a fuller file. A refusal does not bar you permanently, and it is different from a removal order. Answer truthfully. Under IRPR s.42, an officer shall let you withdraw your application to enter and leave Canada, unless a report under IRPA s.44(1) is being or has been prepared.
Go deeper: Denied entry to Canada
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