Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) for inadmissible foreign worker

Section 24 of IRPA gives the Minister discretion to issue a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to a foreign national who is inadmissible OR who does not meet IRPA requirements, where:
  • The need to enter outweighs any risk to Canadians
  • The applicant's circumstances make granting the TRP justified

TRP is exceptional. Strong evidence required.

Draft a 500-600 word TRP cover letter for [CLIENT_NAME] who is inadmissible on the basis of [INADMISSIBILITY_BASIS].

§1 — OPENING (40-60 words)
"I respectfully apply for a Temporary Resident Permit pursuant to s.24 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. I acknowledge that I am inadmissible under [APPLICABLE_SECTION] of IRPA, and submit that the compelling circumstances surrounding my application justify the issuance of a TRP for the purpose of [PURPOSE_OF_ENTRY]."

§2 — STATUTORY FRAMEWORK (60-80 words)
s.24(1) IRPA:
"A foreign national who, in the opinion of an officer, is inadmissible or does not meet the requirements of this Act becomes a temporary resident if an officer is of the opinion that it is justified in the circumstances and issues a temporary resident permit, which may be cancelled at any time."

PDI on TRPs: officers weigh:
  (a) Compelling reasons for entry
  (b) Risk to Canadian public
  (c) Time elapsed since inadmissibility-triggering events
  (d) Evidence of rehabilitation (criminal cases)

§3 — INADMISSIBILITY DECLARATION (120-150 words)
Plainly disclose:
[INADMISSIBILITY_DETAILS]

Address:
  • Specific section of IRPA / IRPR triggering inadmissibility
  • Date of the underlying event (criminal conviction, medical finding, prior refusal, etc.)
  • Sentence / outcome / current status
  • Time elapsed (rehabilitation matters)

Examples:
  • Criminal (s.36 IRPA): DUI in 2018, completed sentence, no further offences, rehabilitation period ongoing
  • Medical (s.38 IRPA): condition that triggered medical inadmissibility; current treatment status
  • Financial (s.39 IRPA): unable to support self; current funding arrangement
  • Misrepresentation (s.40 IRPA): prior refusal for misrep; 5-year ban; cooling-off period considerations

§4 — REHABILITATION / MITIGATING FACTORS (100-130 words)

For criminal cases:
  • Criminal rehabilitation eligibility (5 years from sentence completion)
  • Deemed rehabilitation (10 years for one indictable + a list of conditions)
  • Evidence of rehabilitation: clean record, employment, community involvement, references

For medical cases:
  • Updated medical evidence
  • Treatment compliance + stability
  • Cost to Canadian healthcare system (relevant to "excessive demand" test, modified post-2018)
  • Mitigation measures (private insurance, family support)

For misrepresentation:
  • Apology / acknowledgement of misrep
  • Specific facts of disclosure
  • Demonstrated future compliance posture

§5 — PURPOSE + BENEFIT TO CANADA (100-130 words)
[BENEFIT_TO_CANADA]:
  • Specific business / family / academic / humanitarian purpose
  • Quantify where possible (job creation, family reunification urgency, business deal value, etc.)
  • Time-bounded TRP request (typically 6-12 months, renewable)
  • Demonstrate that NOT issuing TRP causes more harm than issuing

§6 — RISK ASSESSMENT (60-80 words)
Self-assess and dismiss the risk:
  • Public safety: no risk (criminal cases — evidence of rehabilitation, no recidivism risk)
  • Public health: no risk OR mitigated (private insurance, treatment plan)
  • Financial burden: no risk OR mitigated (sponsor, prior tax record)
  • Documentary fraud: prior misrep is over and disclosed

§7 — TRP DURATION + CONDITIONS (40-60 words)
Request specific TRP terms:
  • Duration (1-12 months typical)
  • Conditions if appropriate (no work, work for specific employer, reporting to CBSA)
  • Renewal pathway if business / family circumstances continue

ANNEXES
  • Annex A: Inadmissibility-triggering documentation (court records, medical, etc.)
  • Annex B: Rehabilitation evidence
  • Annex C: Purpose-of-entry evidence (offer letter, family relationship, business contract)
  • Annex D: Benefit-to-Canada evidence
  • Annex E: Mitigation-of-risk evidence (insurance, treatment plan, references)
  • Annex F: Passport
  • Annex G: Fee receipt (CAD 239.75 + standard permit fee if applicable)

End with: "DRAFT TRP COVER LETTER — for RCIC + immigration counsel review. TRP grants are discretionary and rare. Consider alternative pathways (criminal rehabilitation under s.36(3)(c) IRPA — separate application BEFORE TRP — may be required first)."