Canadian Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)

Some people are told they cannot enter Canada, but that is not always the end of the story. In situations where the reason for entering the country outweighs the reason for refusal, immigration officers may issue a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). This permit allows someone to stay in Canada legally for a limited period of time, even if they are normally considered inadmissible.

On this page, you’ll learn what a TRP is, who it applies to, how to apply, costs, and key differences from other documents.

What Is a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)?

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) allows a foreign national who is inadmissible to Canada — most often on criminal or medical grounds, though other grounds of inadmissibility can qualify too — to enter or remain in Canada for a limited period, when a compelling reason to be here outweighs the risk. The decision rests entirely with an immigration officer; a TRP is never guaranteed.

Who Needs a Temporary Resident Permit?

People who are considered inadmissible under Canadian immigration law may need a TRP if they still have a strong reason to be in Canada. Common grounds of inadmissibility include:

• Criminal history — even a single offence, such as impaired driving, can make someone inadmissible.
• Medical issues — certain conditions that could pose a public health or safety risk.
• Past immigration violations — misrepresentation, overstaying, or other non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Financial concerns — if an officer believes you may not be able to support yourself during your stay.

There's no fixed list of "acceptable" reasons for a TRP — officers weigh each case individually. Compelling reasons that are commonly accepted include attending a close family member's funeral or medical emergency, fulfilling a critical business or employment obligation that can't be rescheduled, or attending a legal proceeding. The strength of your reason has to be weighed against the seriousness of why you're inadmissible: a single, old, minor offence is easier to outweigh than a recent or serious one.

The key question officers ask is: does the reason for letting you in outweigh the reason for keeping you out?

If your inadmissibility is long-term rather than tied to a single trip, criminal rehabilitation may permanently resolve it instead of requiring a new TRP every time you travel — a TRP is the faster, temporary option, rehabilitation is the slower, permanent one.

Differences Between TRP and TRV

While the names sound similar, a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) are very different documents.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Before applying for a TRP, keep in mind:

• Approval is never guaranteed
• Each application is reviewed case-by-case
• Processing times vary depending on complexity
• A TRP is a temporary solution—not a permanent fix

If your inadmissibility is long-term, you may also need to explore options such as criminal rehabilitation.

Applying for a Temporary Resident Permit

TRP applicants do not benefit from maintained status. This applies whether you're applying for your first TRP or for another one after your current permit is expiring. If your existing status or permit runs out before IRCC decides your application, you are not automatically protected the way a visitor or worker extending their status would be. If your TRP expires, or the "permit in force until" date passes, and you haven't received a new one, you lose your temporary resident status and must leave Canada.

Applying for a TRP is not a routine process. Because it's only for people who are inadmissible, the application has to explain why your case deserves an exception. Immigration officers have the final say, and they weigh the risks against your reasons for entering or staying. How you apply, and which form you use, depends entirely on where you currently are.

Applying From Outside Canada

There's no standalone TRP application if you're outside Canada. Instead, you apply for the temporary residence document you actually need — a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit — through your IRCC secure account, and request TRP consideration as part of that application. You'll need to upload supporting documents explaining why you're inadmissible and why you want to enter Canada, along with your receipt for the TRP processing fee, which is paid separately from your other fees and is not refunded if your request is refused. You may also be asked to attend an interview.

If you were previously removed from Canada, you may also need an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) in addition to a TRP — the two documents address different problems and are often required together.

Applying From Inside Canada

1. Gather your documents. Use the Document Checklist (IMM 5557) as your guide. Supporting papers might include police records, medical reports, or letters showing the importance of your visit.
2. Complete the correct form — this depends on what else you're applying for:TRP only, as a visitor: IMM 5708TRP together with a study permit: IMM 5709TRP together with an open work permit: IMM 5710

• TRP only, as a visitor: IMM 5708
• TRP together with a study permit: IMM 5709
• TRP together with an open work permit: IMM 5710

1. Pay the required fee. The current TRP processing fee is CAD 246.25 per person, non-refundable even if you're refused. Pay online, then print and keep two copies of your receipt.
2. Mail your application — forms, supporting documents, and your fee receipt — in a 9" x 12" envelope, with your name and address in the top left corner, to: New Waterford Digitization Centre Temporary Resident Permits P.O. Box 8400 Sydney, NS B1P 0G6 Use a tracked postal or courier service so you have proof of delivery, and don't include a prepaid return envelope.

Requesting a TRP at a Port of Entry

If you're arriving at a Canadian border, airport, or other port of entry and you know you're inadmissible, you can ask the border services officer for TRP consideration directly, with no prior application. The officer checks your travel documents, confirms you meet the requirements for what you're seeking to enter for, and verifies any required medical certificate. If your reason for entering outweighs the health or safety risk, the officer can issue a TRP on the spot; if not, you'll be refused entry. Because there's no chance to submit further documents once you're at the border, this route is generally higher-risk than applying in advance and works best for genuinely last-minute situations.

After Your TRP Is Approved

What happens next depends on where you applied from.

• If you applied from outside Canada: IRCC places a TRP counterfoil in your passport and sends you a letter for the border services officer. The date on the counterfoil is the deadline to arrive in Canada, not your permitted length of stay. When you arrive, you present the letter to a border services officer, who then issues the actual TRP status document showing how long you can stay.
• If you applied from inside Canada: your TRP, or the letter confirming it, is mailed to the address on your application.

Either way, your TRP can be valid for up to three years, can be cancelled at any time, and generally becomes invalid the moment you leave Canada unless it specifically authorizes re-entry.

Temporary Resident Permit Cost

Applying for a TRP comes with a government processing fee. The amount is fixed and must be paid when the application is submitted.

The current fee is CAD 246.25 per person. It is non-refundable, even if the permit is refused. The fee increased from CAD 239.75 to CAD 246.25 on December 1, 2025, and IRCC fees are subject to change — always confirm the current amount on IRCC's official fee list before you pay.

There are limited situations where the fee does not apply. For example:

• Young people who were in Canada’s child welfare system but never had their permanent residence status secured for them.
• Certain cases involving minor offenses where a fee exemption has been written into the rules.

Outside of these narrow exemptions, every TRP application must include the payment.

Hands in a tailored suit reviewing legal documents and a blank payment card on a premium dark wood desk.

Validity, Duration, and Conditions of a TRP

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is always issued for a specific and limited period of time, depending on your situation and the reason for travel. Unlike a visa, a TRP is highly discretionary and tailored to each individual case.

How Long Is a TRP Valid?

The validity of a TRP can range from a single day up to a maximum of 3 years:

• It may be issued for a few days, for short visits or urgent travel.
• In more complex cases, it can be valid for several months, or up to the full 3-year maximum.

The exact duration is determined by how long you need to stay in Canada and how your situation is assessed by the immigration officer — there's no fixed formula, and a longer stay generally requires a stronger justification.

Conditions You Must Follow

When a TRP is issued, it may come with specific conditions, such as:

• A fixed length of stay
• Restrictions on work or study
• A requirement to leave Canada by a certain date

You're legally required to follow every condition. Failing to comply can lead to cancellation of your TRP and future immigration complications, including difficulty being approved for a TRP again.

TRP for Victims of Human Trafficking, Family Violence, and Former Foster Youth

If you're in Canada without status and you're a victim of human trafficking, a victim of family violence, or a foreign national who was formerly in state care, there's a dedicated TRP process for your situation, separate from a standard application.

• Victims of human trafficking can apply for a TRP to escape the influence of traffickers, get time to explore their immigration options, and recover from physical or mental trauma. If you or someone you know needs help immediately, call the human trafficking hotline at 1-833-900-1010, your local police, or 911.
• Victims of family violence can apply for a TRP that gives them temporary resident status so they can leave the situation safely and consider their next steps. In an emergency, call 911 or your local police first.
• Foreign nationals formerly in state care — people who came to Canada under age 19 and were under the legal responsibility of a provincial or territorial child protection system, and who lost their permanent or temporary resident status because the agency never applied for it on their behalf — can apply for a TRP for themselves and eligible family members.

All three categories are exempt from the TRP processing fee, and from related work permit, study permit, and biometrics fees. A TRP issued under any of these streams that's valid for at least six months also makes you eligible to apply for a work or study permit.

Does a TRP Lead to Permanent Residence?

Not on its own, and not automatically — but it can put you on a path toward one. A TRP only resolves your inadmissibility temporarily; it doesn't erase it. That said, two routes connect TRP status to permanent residence:

• Permit Holders Class: if you've held valid temporary resident permits continuously for the required period and continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you may become eligible to apply for permanent residence through the Permit Holders Class.
• Medical inadmissibility specifically: under current IRCC policy, TRP holders who are inadmissible on medical grounds — or inadmissible because an accompanying family member is medically inadmissible — may become eligible for permanent residence after three continuous years in Canada under valid TRPs.

Neither route is automatic, and officers still assess the full application against the requirements in place at the time you apply. If long-term status is your goal, it's worth discussing whether a TRP, criminal rehabilitation, or a humanitarian and compassionate application is the better starting point for your specific situation.

Can a TRP Be Cancelled?

Yes. A TRP can be cancelled at any time, without prior notice.

This may happen if:

• Your circumstances change
• New information becomes available
• An officer determines that you no longer meet the conditions

For this reason, holding a TRP does not guarantee continued entry or stay in Canada.

Requesting a TRP at a Port of Entry

If you're arriving at a Canadian border, airport, or other port of entry and you know you're inadmissible, you can ask the border services officer for TRP consideration directly, without a prior application. The officer will check your travel documents, confirm you meet the requirements for whatever you're seeking to enter for, and verify any required medical certificate. If your reason for entering is compelling enough to outweigh the health or safety risk, the officer can issue a TRP on the spot. If not, you'll be refused entry. Because this decision happens in real time with no opportunity to submit additional documents afterward, it's generally a higher-risk path than applying in advance — it works best for genuinely last-minute situations, not as a default strategy.

Does a TRP Remove Inadmissibility?

No. A TRP is not a permanent solution.

It does not erase or fix the reason you are inadmissible (such as a criminal record or past immigration violation). It only allows you to temporarily overcome that inadmissibility for a specific purpose.

If your inadmissibility is long-term rather than tied to a single trip, criminal rehabilitation may permanently resolve it instead of requiring a new TRP every time you travel. A TRP is the faster, temporary option; rehabilitation is the slower, permanent one.

Conditions You Must Follow

When a TRP is issued, it may come with specific conditions, such as:

• A fixed length of stay
• Restrictions on work or study
• Requirements to leave Canada by a certain date

You are legally required to follow all conditions. Failure to comply can lead to:

• Cancellation of your TRP
• Future immigration complications

Extension and Renewal

If you need to stay longer, you may apply for a TRP extension from inside Canada before your current permit expires.

However:

• Extensions are not guaranteed
• You must again prove that your need outweighs the risk
• Updated documentation is usually required

Work and Study Eligibility

In some cases, a TRP can open additional opportunities.

If your TRP is valid for 6 months or longer, you may become eligible to apply for:

• A work permit
• A study permit

This can be particularly important for individuals who need to remain in Canada for extended periods due to compelling circumstances.

Common Mistakes That Weaken a TRP Application

• Treating the explanation as a formality. A TRP is discretionary — a thin or generic explanation of why you need to enter Canada is one of the most common reasons applications are refused.
• Applying too close to your travel date. Processing time varies by location and complexity, and there's no expedited option for a standard application, so leaving it until the last minute increases the risk of missing your trip entirely.
• Assuming maintained status applies. If you're applying from inside Canada, your current status can expire while your TRP application is pending, and you are not automatically protected.
• Submitting the wrong form. IMM 5708, IMM 5709, and IMM 5710 apply to different combinations of TRP, study permit, and work permit requests — using the wrong one can delay or misdirect your application.
• Leaving out supporting documentation. Police records, medical reports, and letters explaining the purpose of your visit all support the officer's discretionary decision; missing documentation makes it harder to demonstrate that your reason for entry outweighs the risk.