A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a document issued under section 24 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) that authorises a foreign national who is inadmissible to Canada — or who otherwise does not meet the requirements of IRPA — to enter or remain in Canada for a specified period. The TRP is a discretionary instrument: an officer can issue a TRP only where the person's need to enter or remain in Canada is assessed to outweigh the health or safety risks that person represents to Canadian society.

Holding a TRP does not remove or overcome the underlying inadmissibility — a TRP holder remains inadmissible, and the TRP merely authorises their presence in Canada for the period stated. For current guidance, refer to the IRCC TRP page.

• IRPA, s 24 — the statutory authority for issuing a TRP; sets out the need-vs-risk test and officer discretion
• IRCC: Temporary resident permits — canada.ca/temporary-resident-permits
• IRCC: Who can apply for a TRP — canada.ca/trp-eligibility
• IRCC: How to apply for a TRP — canada.ca/trp-apply
• IRCC: Guide 5527 — PR for TRP holders — canada.ca/guide-5527

Who can apply

A TRP can be sought by any foreign national who:

• Is inadmissible to Canada under any ground (criminal inadmissibility, health inadmissibility, security inadmissibility, misrepresentation, or other grounds) — and has a compelling reason to enter or remain
• Does not meet the requirements of IRPA or its Regulations for a visa or permit — for example, if a document requirement cannot be met and the person has a compelling need to travel

A TRP is not available as a shortcut around normal immigration requirements where no inadmissibility exists — it is specifically for situations where the person would not otherwise be admissible or would not qualify.

The need-versus-risk test

The officer assessing a TRP request must weigh:

• The need to enter or remain: What is the compelling reason for the person to be in Canada? Examples include attending a funeral, receiving medical treatment, attending a business meeting critical to a Canadian company, or reuniting with a seriously ill family member. The reason must be genuine and important — convenience or a general desire to visit is not sufficient.
• The health or safety risk to Canadian society: What risk does the person's inadmissibility represent? A person inadmissible for serious criminality involving violence represents a higher risk than a person inadmissible for a minor, dated, or single offence. The nature, recency, and seriousness of the inadmissibility are all relevant.

Even where inadmissibility seems minor, the person must still demonstrate a compelling reason. Officers have full discretion — a TRP is never guaranteed.

How to request a TRP — from outside Canada

There is no standalone TRP application form for persons outside Canada. A person outside Canada who knows they are inadmissible applies for the relevant temporary residence document (visitor visa, study permit, or work permit) using the standard application, and includes a written request for TRP consideration — explaining the reason for seeking entry and addressing the inadmissibility. The officer handling the visa/permit application can simultaneously issue a TRP if the need-vs-risk test is met.

How to apply for a TRP — from inside Canada

A person already in Canada who is inadmissible or out of status can apply for a TRP using IMM 1442 (Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada). The application is submitted to the IRCC processing centre. A TRP can also be requested at a port of entry if the person is arriving at the border. For current submission instructions, refer to the IRCC TRP application page.

Duration and renewal

The duration of a TRP is set by the issuing officer and is matched to the purpose — a TRP for a single visit may cover days or weeks; a TRP for an ongoing medical treatment may cover months or years. TRPs can be renewed if the circumstances that justified the original issuance continue. For current processing times, refer to the IRCC processing times tool.

TRP holder status — inadmissibility is not removed

A critical point: a TRP holder remains inadmissible. The TRP authorises their entry or stay but does not resolve the underlying ground of inadmissibility. This means:

• The holder may not be eligible for a further period of temporary residence or for permanent residence under normal channels while the inadmissibility remains
• The TRP can be cancelled at any time if the circumstances change or the holder is found to represent a risk
• Separate processes (such as criminal rehabilitation under IRPA s 36) are needed to actually overcome inadmissibility

Permanent residence pathway for TRP holders

After holding a valid TRP (or a series of consecutive TRPs) for at least 3 consecutive years, a TRP holder may be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence as a TRP holder. This is a separate PR pathway for persons who have established themselves in Canada on TRP status and demonstrates that their presence in Canada is no longer a risk. The application is made using IMM 5553 (Guide 5527). The 3-year requirement must be met by continuous TRP status — gaps in TRP status reset the clock. For current eligibility requirements, refer to Guide 5527.

Special TRP programs

IRCC maintains specific TRP programs for particular groups:

• Victims of human trafficking: A special TRP pathway is available to foreign nationals who are, or may be, victims of human trafficking — providing temporary immigration status to allow them to escape exploitation without fear of immediate removal
• Persons who were in state care: A TRP is available to foreign nationals who came to Canada under the age of 19 and were under the legal responsibility of the child protection system (state care) — recognising that these individuals may have inadmissibility or status issues that arose through no fault of their own

For details on these specific programs, refer to the relevant IRCC pages.

Persons with criminal inadmissibility who require regular access to Canada (for business, family, or other reasons) should consider whether a TRP is a long-term solution or whether applying for criminal rehabilitation (which permanently overcomes the inadmissibility) is more appropriate — rehabilitation is the permanent solution, while the TRP is a temporary authorisation requiring renewal. For processing times for TRP applications and current application instructions, refer to the IRCC TRP page.