A temporary resident permit (TRP) lets you enter Canada for a specific purpose and period, even though a DUI or other conviction makes you inadmissible. It suits people who need to travel before they can apply for criminal rehabilitation, or while that application is pending. An officer issues one only when the reason for your trip outweighs any risk.
When a TRP is the right tool
- Your sentence ended less than 5 years ago, so you cannot apply for criminal rehabilitation yet.
- Your rehabilitation application is pending and you need to travel before it is decided.
- You have a specific trip with dates and a clear reason: a work project, a conference, a family wedding or funeral, or a medical reason.
If at least 5 years have passed since your sentence was completed, criminal rehabilitation is usually the better long-term answer, because it is permanent.
TRP or criminal rehabilitation?
| Temporary resident permit | Criminal rehabilitation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Lets you enter despite the inadmissibility | Removes the inadmissibility |
| How long it lasts | One trip or a set period | Permanent, for the offences it covers |
| When you can apply | Any time, with a good reason to travel | At least 5 years after your sentence was completed |
| What the officer weighs | Your reason for the trip against any risk | Whether you are rehabilitated and unlikely to reoffend |
What makes a strong TRP application
The officer has discretion, so the application has to make the case. A strong one usually includes:
- A clear reason for the trip, with proof: an invitation, a conference registration, a letter from your employer or the Canadian business you are visiting.
- Exact dates and plans, including where you will stay and when you will leave.
- Court records for every offence, and proof that each sentence was completed or how much remains.
- Police certificates, usually an FBI identity history summary and state records.
- Evidence of your life since the offence: stable work, family responsibilities, treatment or classes completed, reference letters.
- A personal statement that explains the offence honestly and what has changed.
A purely recreational trip is harder to justify than work or family, but the strength of the whole application still matters.
Applying in advance or at the border
Most people should apply in advance, well before the trip. In some cases an officer at a port of entry can consider a TRP, but there is no guarantee, and a refusal at the border ends the trip on the spot. Applying ahead also lets you fix gaps before travel.
What the permit allows
A TRP is issued for a stated purpose and period. Some allow a single entry, which ends when you leave Canada. Others allow several entries over a longer period. Keep the permit with your passport, and follow its conditions: a breach makes the next application harder.
How we help
Our Canadian immigration lawyers prepare TRP and criminal rehabilitation applications for Americans across the United States, by phone and video. Our Surrey and Abbotsford offices are minutes from the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway and Sumas crossings. See our page on entering Canada with a DUI or criminal record, or book a consultation.
Related: Can you go to Canada with a DUI?, Can felons go to Canada?, Can you go to Canada with a misdemeanor? and Criminal rehabilitation in Canada.
FAQ
Can I get a TRP for a vacation?
It is possible, but harder. Officers weigh the reason for the trip against the risk, and work or family reasons usually carry more weight.
Can I apply for a TRP and criminal rehabilitation at the same time?
Yes. A TRP can cover a trip while your rehabilitation application is being decided.
Does a TRP fix my record for future trips?
No. It covers only the purpose and period it states. Criminal rehabilitation is the permanent solution.