TR to PR applicants can now receive extended Open Work Permits

Surya Rathee
[Published 21 Dec, 2024 | 04:55 AM]
About Author - 4 min read
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended its temporary public policy which allows temporary residents to apply for Canada PR through TR-to-PR pathways.

Applicants under the Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR to PR) pathways will now receive longer Open Work Permits (OWPs) while their applications are in process. This temporary policy also extends the eligibility of spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of principal PR applicants for OWPs. This policy has been extended to December 31, 2026. 

Check Your Eligibility Now!

The TR to PR Pathway was a special, time-limited immigration program that enabled foreign workers in essential occupations, health or health services roles, and recent graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions to apply for permanent residency. Although this pathway closed in 2021, applicants still undergoing the PR process can take advantage of the extended Open Work Permit (OWP) policy.

Those who received an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) for their application and can provide valid language test results along with proof of authorised work are eligible to apply for an additional OWP - until the end of 2026.

Who is eligible for an OWP?

For the principal PR applicant to be eligible for an Open Work Permit under this policy, they must:

• Hold temporary resident status (including maintained status) or be eligible to restore it.
• Have a work permit with less than four months validity at the time of application (if applicable).
• Submit an Open Work Permit (OWP) application online through the IRCC secure account.
• Indicate which PR public policy they initially applied under for the TR to PR pathway.

Legal work authorizations can include:

• A valid work permit
• Authorization to work under a public policy, and
• Authorization to work under section R186 of the regulations.

Specific levels of language test results are as follows:

• Receive email confirmation from IRCC that their PR application was received and within the cap for the selected public policy, or receive a letter from the Client Support Centre (CSC) for alternative application formats (e.g., paper copy). Temporary public policies for eligibility under this extension policy are listed on IRCC’s website.

Applicants for an Open Work Permit (OWP) under this policy must pay the standard Canada Work Permit processing fee but are exempt from the usual Open Work Permit holder fee. Also, the initial application submitted by the applicant cannot have been withdrawn or rejected before applying for this OWP. Only applicants with applications currently in process will be considered.

Eligibility criteria for family members

For family members of the principal applicants to be eligible for an Open Work Permit under this policy, they must:

• Submit the application online via an IRCC Secure Account, including the Unique Client Identifier (UCI) of their principal applicant family member.
• Be physically in Canada at the time of application.
• Be a genuine family member of the principal applicant:
• Spouse or common-law partner,
  
• Dependent child, or
• Dependent child of a dependent child.

• Be listed as an accompanying family member in the principal applicant’s PR application.
• Be 18 years or older at the time of application.
• Hold valid temporary resident status or be eligible to restore it if applying within Canada.

If the principal applicant's PR application is rejected, IRCC will automatically refuse all related work permit applications.

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Source: canada.ca