TR to PR Open Work Permit Extension: Who Can Apply Before December 31, 2026

Eligible people still waiting on a 2021 Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident application can apply for an open work permit until December 31, 2026.
The extension is not available for every pending Canadian immigration file. You must meet IRCC’s pathway-specific eligibility rules and status requirements.
Family members may qualify, but the principal applicant must apply and be eligible under the public policy, and the family member must have been included as accompanying on the PR application.

What the TR to PR open work permit extension does

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has extended the deadline for eligible applicants under the 2021 Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway to apply for an open work permit. The new deadline is December 31, 2026.

This measure is meant for people whose permanent residence applications under the former TR to PR pathway are still being processed. An approved permit can help an eligible applicant keep temporary resident status in Canada and continue working for any employer in any occupation while IRCC processes the PR application.

The original TR to PR pathway is closed to new permanent residence applications. It closed on November 5, 2021. The 2026 extension does not reopen that pathway and does not create a new route to permanent residence. It only extends the opportunity to apply for this specific open work permit.

View the official TR to PR open work permit eligibility page

Who qualifies for the extension?

Principal applicants in Canada

A principal applicant must meet all of IRCC’s main requirements. You must live in Canada and have submitted a PR application under one of the eligible TR to PR streams, including an essential-worker stream, a health-care stream, an international-graduate stream or one of the French-speaking versions of those streams.

You also need proof that IRCC accepted your PR application. This is usually the email confirming that you successfully submitted the application. Applicants who used an alternative format may instead need the letter provided by the IRCC Client Support Centre.

When you applied for permanent residence, you must also have been legally authorized to work. Depending on your situation, that authorization could have come from a valid work permit, permission to work without a permit or another public policy.

The language requirement is tied to the stream used for the original PR application. IRCC says applicants must have had valid results from an approved language test when they applied. French-speaking streams require an approved French-language test.

Finally, you must have valid temporary resident status when applying for the work permit, have applied to extend your status before it expired, or be eligible to restore your status. A pending PR application by itself does not automatically give everyone the right to apply under this policy.

Family members

A spouse, common-law partner or dependent child may qualify if they are at least 18 years old, apply online and were listed as an accompanying family member on the principal applicant’s PR application. Eligible family members may be inside or outside Canada.

There is one especially important condition: the principal applicant must apply for and qualify for the open work permit under this public policy. IRCC says a family member’s application can be refused if the principal applicant has not applied for the corresponding permit.

Family members who are already in Canada must also have valid temporary resident status, maintained status or eligibility to restore their status. A dependent child under 18 is not eligible for this particular open work permit simply because they are included in the PR application.

When can you apply?

If you currently hold a valid work permit, you can generally apply up to four months before it expires. Your eligible family members can apply any time after the principal applicant submitted the permanent residence application.

Other applicants may apply when they have maintained status, are eligible to restore status, or are an eligible spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of the principal applicant.

The permit’s requested end date cannot be later than December 31, 2026. IRCC also says the permit cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your passport or biometrics, where those limits apply. Renewing an expiring passport or checking biometrics validity before submitting can prevent an unnecessarily short permit.

How much does it cost?

The work permit processing fee is CAD $155 per applicant. Applicants under this public policy are exempt from the separate open work permit holder fee of CAD $100, so they should not pay that additional fee.

Because the open work permit holder fee is waived rather than collected and refunded later, IRCC instructs applicants to pay the required processing fee before submitting the online application. Save the receipt and upload it in the fee-exemption section of the application.

Pay your fees online

What to prepare before applying

Gather your documents before opening the application. The exact checklist can vary, but principal applicants should be ready to provide:

Proof of payment for the CAD $155 processing fee.
A copy of the current work permit if applying for an extension under this policy.
A complete copy of the passport, including all pages.
A digital photo.
For an initial permit, proof that you were authorized to work when you applied for PR.
For an initial permit, proof that you submitted the TR to PR application.
For an initial permit, proof of the language-test result used for the pathway application.

Family members should also prepare proof of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate, common-law declaration or birth certificate showing the parent-child relationship. They need a copy of the Generic Application Form for Canada, IMM 0008, showing that they were listed as an accompanying family member.

Documents that are not in English or French may require certified translations. Depending on the circumstances, IRCC may also ask for a medical examination, the Family Information Form IMM 5707 or other documents identified in the personalized checklist.

How to apply online

Applications under this public policy must normally be submitted online. You cannot apply for this permit at a port of entry.

Pay the CAD $155 work permit processing fee and save the receipt.
Sign in to or create an IRCC secure account.
Choose “Apply to come to Canada,” then select “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit,” followed by “Work.”
Answer the questionnaire carefully so IRCC generates the correct document checklist.
Select that you want to work temporarily for more than six months.
When asked whether you are applying under an active IRCC public policy, answer yes.
Complete the work permit form and upload the required documents.
Review the application, pay any required amount shown by the system and submit it online.

Important form entries

For an initial permit, IRCC instructs applicants to enter TRPR pathway PP OWP in the Job title field. For an extension, enter TRPR pathway PP OWP-EXT.

In the brief description of duties field, enter the name of the permanent residence stream used in the original application. Family members should enter the principal applicant’s unique client identifier in that field instead of the stream name.

If you need to restore your status, select “Restore my status as a worker” where applicable. IRCC also provides special instructions for the status and expiry-date questions in the online questionnaire. Follow those instructions rather than choosing answers based only on your current job or permit history.

What happens after submission?

Keep the confirmation and fee receipt after submitting. You can use your IRCC account to follow messages, upload documents if IRCC requests them and monitor the work permit application.

If you applied to extend your work permit before it expired, you may have maintained status while IRCC processes the application. IRCC’s general work permit guidance says eligible applicants can normally continue working under the same conditions while waiting. An open work permit holder can generally continue changing employers or jobs, but you should keep proof of the submitted application and any letter IRCC provides.

Do not assume that a pending PR application or a submitted work permit application guarantees approval. IRCC can refuse an incomplete application or one that does not establish eligibility under the public policy.

Link your TR to PR application to check updates

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming every pending PR application qualifies: This extension is tied to the 2021 TR to PR pathway, not to Express Entry, provincial nominee applications or every other PR category.
Applying only as a family member: The principal applicant must also apply and qualify under the policy.
Paying the wrong fee: The CAD $100 open work permit holder fee is waived, but the CAD $155 processing fee still applies.
Using the wrong stream description: The form requires the specific TR to PR stream, or the principal applicant’s unique client identifier for an eligible family member.
Ignoring status expiry: If your temporary status or work permit has expired, check whether you applied in time to maintain status or whether restoration is available before submitting.
Waiting until the last day: December 31, 2026 is the application deadline. It is safer to prepare documents early, especially if a passport, translation or family record needs updating.

The safest next step is to compare your 2021 PR submission confirmation, current immigration status, family details and work-permit history with IRCC’s public-policy checklist before paying or submitting. If your situation involves restoration, a refusal, a change in family circumstances or uncertainty about the original stream, consider getting advice from an authorized Canadian immigration professional.

Helpful Links

IRCC TR to PR open work permit public policy – Verify the deadline, eligibility rules, fees, document checklist and special application instructions.
IRCC secure account – Sign in or create the account used to submit the online work permit application.
Link an application to an IRCC secure account – Link an existing TR to PR application to view messages and status updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does this extension reopen the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway?

A. No. The PR pathway closed to new applications on November 5, 2021. The extension only allows eligible applicants with pending 2021 TR to PR applications and qualifying family members to apply for the specific open work permit.

Q. Can a family member apply for the open work permit before the principal applicant?

A. No. IRCC requires the principal applicant to apply for and be eligible for an open work permit under this public policy. A family member’s application may be refused if the principal applicant has not applied under the policy.

Q. Can I request a permit that lasts beyond December 31, 2026?

A. No. Under this public policy, the requested end date cannot be later than December 31, 2026. Passport and biometrics expiry dates may limit the permit to an earlier date.

Q. What if my work permit already expired?

A. You may still qualify if you applied to extend your status before it expired or if you are eligible to restore your status. Restoration has additional requirements and fees, so review IRCC’s instructions carefully before submitting.