IRCC has announced that applicants awaiting a decision on their TR to PR Pathway applications are eligible to apply for an open work permit as of July 26th, 2021. This measure will help to eliminate uncertainty for applicants whose status will expire shortly and cannot otherwise be extended.
“Our new path to permanent residence for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates is a major step forward—the size, speed and scope of which is unprecedented. This new open work permit ensures that those who have been playing critical roles throughout the pandemic can continue their extraordinary service. Our message to them is simple: your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lasting—and we want you to stay.”
– The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
What is the TR to PR Pathway?
IRCC introduced the TR to PR Pathway in May 2021 for candidates working in Canada. Applicants must have either recently graduated or be employed in an essential or health occupation for at least one of the past three years. While the General Streams for this pathway will accept a combined total of 90,000 applications, the French-Speaking Streams have no intake cap. Both streams will stop accepting applications this November 2021.
Candidates applying through these streams must demonstrate their intention to live outside of Quebec.
How can I qualify for an open work permit under this policy?
To qualify for an open work permit, candidates must have already successfully applied for permanent residence under the TR to PR pathway. They must also meet the following conditions at the time of applying:
- have valid work authorization in Canada
- hold a work permit that is set to expire within four months
- are currently residing in Canada
- hold temporary resident status, maintained status, or are eligible to restore their status
- continue to meet the language requirements for the TR to PR pathway stream applied under
Can my family also extend their status?
A candidate’s spouse or common-law partner and dependent children over 18 may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit through this policy. The family members must also be residing in Canada to qualify.
If a candidate’s status expires after they have applied to extend their work permit, they will be on maintained status. This means they can continue to work under the same conditions as their original permit while their new permit is being processed.
These open work permits will be valid until December 31, 2022.
Further instructions on how to apply for this permit will be released on July 26th, 2021. The application process will be online.
Lauren Boorman
