How to Transition from a Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Status

Canada has long relied on temporary residents, including international students, essential workers, and skilled professionals, to support its economy and address labour shortages. For many, however, the end goal is not just temporary work or study, but obtaining permanent residence and eventually becoming Canadian citizens. The TR to PR pathway was introduced to provide that bridge — allowing qualifying temporary residents to apply for permanent residency through a special temporary public policy.

Although the original TR to PR stream is now closed to new applicants, thousands of individuals are still in Canada waiting for decisions under that pathway. This article explains what the TR2PR program was, the major 2024-2026 open work permit extension, and what other PR pathways remain available in 2025, including options for international graduates, essential occupations, and skilled workers.

If you are currently a temporary resident in Canada and want to transition to PR, this guide will walk you through your options, common challenges, eligibility requirements, and when to seek legal representation.

Key Takeaways

• The TR to PR Pathway opened in 2021 and is closed to new applicants — but open work permit extensions for existing applicants now run until December 31, 2026.

• There are multiple 2025 PR pathways available to international graduates, skilled workers, essential workers, French-speaking candidates, and family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

• Express Entry, PNPs, family sponsorship, and LMIA-based work permits remain the strongest PR routes now that the TR2PR stream has closed to new applicants.

• Temporary residents must maintain valid status and meet language, admissibility, and documentation requirements to transition to PR.

• Working with an experienced Canadian immigration lawyer can significantly improve your chances of approval and prevent refusal based on avoidable issues.

What Was the TR2PR Pathway?

The Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway was a limited time public policy introduced by IRCC in May 2021. It allowed certain temporary residents in Canada — especially those working on the frontlines of COVID recovery — to apply directly for permanent residency without going through Express Entry or traditional PNP routes.

There were six official streams:

• Health care essential occupations

• Essential non-healthcare occupations

• Recent international graduates from a Canadian post-secondary institution

• French-speaking health care workers

• French-speaking essential non-healthcare workers

• French-speaking international graduates

To qualify, applicants needed to meet minimum language requirements, provide proof of recent Canadian work experience or recent graduation, and submit their PR application with all required documents before the intake caps filled. The pathway filled quickly — and is now fully closed.

The 2024 Extension: Open Work Permit Exemption (to Dec 31, 2026)

Although TR to PR is closed to new applicants, those who already applied under the 2021 program may still be waiting for a decision today. Processing has taken far longer than many expected.

To prevent applicants from falling out of temporary resident status, IRCC introduced, and recently extended, a special Open Work Permit exemption.

You can now apply for an OWP under this policy until December 31, 2026
IF you are:

• A principal applicant who already applied under one of the TR to PR streams in 2021

• Living inside Canada

• Holding valid temporary resident status, maintained status, or eligible to restore

• Already authorized to work at time of PR application

• Able to confirm you met the language requirements of your specific TR to PR stream when you applied

Eligible family members, including spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children (18+), can also apply, if they were included correctly as accompanying dependants in your PR application.

This extension means applicants can:

• Avoid interruption of employment

• Maintain legal status in Canada

• Continue supporting their families with financial stability

• Prevent issues that could jeopardize the entire PR application

Why This Policy Update Changes the Game for TR2PR Applicants

This update is game-changing — because without it, many TR to PR applicants would have been forced out of legal status, affecting both workers and Canadian employers who rely on them.

This policy ensures:

• Legal continuity of temporary resident status

• No gap in employment, even if original work permit expired

• Stronger protection from forced departure or refusal

• Family unity, since spouses and dependent children may also qualify for open work permits

• Employer stability, especially in labour shortage sectors like health care and essential occupations

Other Permanent Residence Pathways in 2025

Now that TR to PR is closed, here are the most reliable pathways for temporary residents to become permanent residents in Canada in 2025.

Express Entry (Highly Recommended First Assessment Pathway)

Express Entry remains the most well-known and efficient PR pathway for skilled workers. It is a points-based system under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and includes:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

If you already have Canadian work experience, strong language proficiency, and meet minimum requirements, this may be your best option.

Learn more or get legal help:

https://www.akmlaw.ca/express-entry-immigration-lawyer.html

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Each province operates its own Provincial Nominee Program, designed to bring immigrants into targeted labour markets.

PNPs often fast-track applicants in:

• Essential occupations

• Health care and senior care roles

• French-speaking workers outside Quebec

• Rural or Northern regions

• Students or workers already living in the province

Many PNPs reward current workers in Canada with strong employer support — especially if you already have a job offer.

International Student to PR Pathways

If you are a recent graduate or current work permit holder from a Canadian post secondary institution, you may qualify through:

• Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)

• Provincial Graduate Streams

• French-speaking graduate streams

• Special public policies (limited and pilot)

Maintaining valid status, demonstrating full-time studies, and proving language proficiency are essential.

French speaking international graduates often have an even stronger advantage under certain streams.

Work Permit Holders to PR

Temporary foreign workers with a valid work permit, especially those working in high-demand or essential sectors, can often transition to PR through Express Entry or PNP.

This is especially strong for:

• LMIA-based work permit holders

• Essential non-health care workers supporting Canadian infrastructure

• Skilled trades and construction roles

• Health services field professionals filling national shortages

Work permit help available:
https://www.akmlaw.ca/working.html

Family Sponsorship

If you are married to or in a common law relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may qualify through Spousal or Family Sponsorship instead of a skilled worker program.
This is one of the strongest pathways, even if your CRS score is low or you do not meet Express Entry criteria.

Legal help for sponsorship:
https://www.akmlaw.ca/family-sponsorship-immigration-lawyer.html

Pilot Programs & Special Pathways (2025)

Some individuals may qualify for unique time-sensitive pathways, such as:

• Francophone Mobility and French PR programs

• Caregiver Program

• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)

• Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

• Updated pathways expected in 2025 based on labour shortages

These are ideal for applicants who don’t fit into the traditional Express Entry route — but require careful legal screening.

Eligibility Requirements to Transition from TR to PR

While each PR route is different, IRCC consistently checks the same core elements. Here is a simplified reference table:

Common Challenges TR to PR Applicants Face

One of the most common challenges applicants face when transitioning from a temporary resident to permanent resident is the risk of falling out of valid temporary resident status due to an expired work or study permit. Even a short status lapse can jeopardize a PR application. Another frequent issue is insufficient proof or unclear documentation, such as missing employer reference letters, lack of detailed job duties, or not providing proper proof of full-time Canadian education. Applicants are also often refused for misunderstanding NOC occupation classifications, especially after recent NOC TEER changes. Poorly prepared applications tend to fail because they do not meet minimum language requirements, or they leave out a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children, which IRCC considers a serious issue of misrepresentation. Finally, many applicants still make the mistake of assuming the TR to PR pathway is still open, rather than pivoting to current Express Entry or PNP options, resulting in lost time and unnecessary risk.

Tips for a Successful Transition from TR to PR in Canada

To transition successfully from temporary resident to permanent resident, it is essential to act early and track your immigration documents carefully, including your work permit, study permit, passport, and language test validity. Applicants should take language testing seriously, as even a small gap (for example, CLB 7 instead of CLB 7.5) can lead to refusal or a weaker CRS score. It is also important to prepare supporting documentation in advance, employer letters, pay stubs, tax slips, education transcripts, and identity documents should be organized long before applying. Applicants should be truthful and accurate in their forms, as even an accidental omission can be treated as misrepresentation under IRCC policy. If you have faced a past refusal, consulting a Canadian immigration lawyer before reapplying is critical, many costly delays occur because applicants “try again” without addressing the true reason for the refusal. The strongest PR transitions happen when applicants stay proactive, maintain valid status, and choose the pathway that actually fits their profile, not just the one they hope to qualify for.

Why Work with a Canadian Immigration Lawyer

PR refusal rates have risen, even for strong applicants, simply due to small missing documents, status gaps, wrong program selection, or failure to meet general admissibility requirements.

A lawyer ensures:

• You choose the strongest PR pathway

• You maintain valid status throughout the immigration process

• Your family members are included correctly and lawfully

• Your PR application meets IRCC standards the first time

AKM Law has helped hundreds of applicants transition from temporary resident to permanent resident in Canada, including complex files, families, and essential workers requiring time-sensitive representation.

FAQ

Can new applicants apply under TR to PR now?

No. The TR to PR pathway is closed to new applicants.

What is the open work permit exemption under TR to PR?

It allows 2021 TR to PR applicants and eligible family members to stay in Canada and continue working until December 31, 2026.

When does this OWP extension expire?

December 31, 2026.

Do spouses and dependent children qualify for their own open work permits?

Yes — if they were originally included as accompanying family members in the PR application and are 18 or older.

What if my PR application is refused?

Options include reconsideration, reapplying under a better pathway, or seeking judicial review with legal representation.