Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): Entering Canada When You Are Inadmissible

Canada's immigration law lists reasons that make a person inadmissible, meaning they are not allowed to enter or stay. The most common are criminal convictions, serious health conditions, misrepresentation, and past immigration violations. Read our guide to inadmissibility for the full picture.

A temporary resident permit is an exception. It lets an officer allow an inadmissible person into Canada, or let them stay, when there is a good reason. The permit is issued for a specific purpose and a specific period, such as attending a business meeting, a family funeral, or completing a job.

A TRP does not remove your inadmissibility. When it ends, you are inadmissible again unless you have resolved the underlying problem, for example through criminal rehabilitation.

Common situations include:

• Impaired driving. Since December 18, 2018, impaired driving (including a DUI or DWI conviction from another country) is treated as serious criminality in Canada. Many people with a single DUI are inadmissible until they are rehabilitated.
• Other criminal convictions where you are not yet eligible for rehabilitation, or your rehabilitation application is still in process.
• Medical inadmissibility, in some cases.
• Not meeting the requirements of the law, for example if you are in Canada without status and cannot restore it, and have compelling reasons to stay.

If you are not sure whether you are inadmissible, find out before you travel. Being refused at the border is stressful and goes on your record. A lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) can review your record. Read how to verify a lawyer or consultant before you hire one.

The officer weighs two things:

A strong application explains the purpose in detail, shows dates and documents, and shows that you have completed your sentence and are not a risk. Letters from employers, court records showing completed sentences, and proof of a stable life all help.

The need should be real and specific. Tourism alone is usually a weak reason, though it is not impossible.

Where you apply depends on your situation:

• Visa-required travelers usually apply together with their visitor visa, work, or study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Visa-exempt travelers, including Americans who don't need an eTA, may be able to apply at a port of entry in some cases, but a decision at the border is not guaranteed. Applying ahead of time gives you more certainty.
• People already in Canada can apply from inside Canada in some situations, for example when they have lost status and can no longer apply for restoration.

The processing fee is CAD $246.25 as of September 2026, from the IRCC fee list. Include:

• A letter explaining why you need to be in Canada, the dates, and your plans
• Court documents for every conviction, showing the charge, the sentence, and proof you completed it
• Police certificates from where you have lived
• Evidence of your life now: employment, family, community involvement, and any rehabilitation programs
• Documents about your trip, such as a meeting invitation or employer letter

The officer sets the length based on your purpose. It can be as short as a single day or, in some cases, up to 3 years. It can be issued for a single entry or allow multiple entries.

A TRP can be cancelled at any time, and it usually ends if you leave Canada, unless it specifically allows you to re-enter. Don't assume you can come and go; read the conditions on your permit.

Some people who live in Canada on TRPs for a long, continuous period may later become eligible to apply for permanent residence, if they don't become inadmissible for other reasons. This is uncommon and depends on your circumstances.

A refusal is not a permanent ban, but it matters. Future officers will see it, and applying again with the same facts rarely works. Before you reapply:

• Read the reasons. Ask for the officer's notes if you don't have them. Our guide to refusals and GCMS notes explains how.
• Fix the weak points. Common gaps are a vague purpose, missing court records, no proof the sentence was completed, and little evidence of rehabilitation.
• Consider timing. If you will soon be eligible for criminal rehabilitation, it may be better to wait and apply for that instead.
• Don't try to hide a record. Canadian border officers can see many foreign criminal records, including US records. Leaving out a conviction is misrepresentation and can bring a separate 5-year ban.

For people living in Canada without status, a refusal can lead to removal. In that situation, other options such as humanitarian and compassionate grounds may exist, but you need professional advice quickly.

A TRP is a temporary fix. Criminal rehabilitation is permanent: once approved, the conviction no longer makes you inadmissible.

Some people are deemed rehabilitated without applying, if enough time has passed and the offense qualifies. Impaired driving convictions after December 18, 2018 are serious criminality and generally don't qualify for deemed rehabilitation. See inadmissibility for details. Many people use a TRP for urgent trips while they wait to become eligible for rehabilitation.