Canada's immigration authority has published five key rules governing temporary resident permits, confirming that the document can be cancelled at any time without prior notice and that fees start at $246.25 for most applicants.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued the rules for the temporary resident permit, a document that allows foreign nationals to enter or remain in Canada on a short-term basis despite being otherwise inadmissible.

What are the five key rules?

According to the official guidance published on the Government of Canada website, the five rules are:

• A temporary resident permit grants temporary resident status to a foreign national inside the country.
• The permit is issued for a limited period only.
• It can be cancelled at any time, without prior notice.
• It does not permanently overcome a person's inadmissibility to Canada.
• It cannot be used to satisfy any requirement under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Together, the rules define the permit as a conditional and reversible allowance rather than a pathway to a permanent resolution of an inadmissibility finding.

Who must pay, and who is exempt?

The cost of applying for an initial temporary resident permit, or for an additional one, starts at $246.25. That fee applies to most applicants.

Canada has carved out a significant exemption for vulnerable groups. Victims of human trafficking, victims of family violence, and foreign nationals who were previously in state care do not have to pay fees for:

• an initial temporary resident permit;
• a new permit;
• a work permit;
• a study permit;
• biometrics.

The exemption covers multiple document types, offering financial relief to individuals who may already be in difficult circumstances.

What does the permit actually do?

The permit grants temporary resident status to a foreign national inside Canada. However, its protections are narrow. Because it can be cancelled at any time, holders have no guarantee of remaining in Canada for the full duration initially indicated on the document.

Critically, holding a temporary resident permit does not permanently resolve a person's inadmissibility to Canada. Nor does it allow a foreign national to meet any requirement under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Applicants should read the full conditions in the official IRCC guidance on temporary resident permits before applying, as the rules set out the exact scope and limits of the status the document confers.