IRCC Extends Open Work Permit Validity for TR to PR to Dec 31, 2026

(CANADA) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has extended the validity of open work permits for applicants under the 2021 Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway (TR to PR) and their eligible family members until December 31, 2026. The policy took effect on October 6, 2025. It allows qualified applicants to keep working while their permanent residence files move forward, without having to file yearly renewals.

The change aims to reduce stress for workers and employers, and to support family reunification when spouses and children are waiting abroad.

Who can get the extended open work permit?

• Principal applicants who filed a complete permanent residence application under one of the 2021 TR to PR streams (for example, essential workers or recent graduates) may receive open work permits valid up to December 31, 2026.
• Eligible family members, including spouses, common‑law partners, and dependent children, may also qualify — even if they live outside Canada.

IRCC states the application deadline for these open work permits is December 31, 2026, giving families a clear runway to keep status and income while decisions are pending.

Why this extension matters

Thousands of TR to PR files remain in the system. Without the extension:

• Many workers would face expiring permits and gaps in status.
• Employers could lose trained staff.
• Families might be split while waiting for decisions.

By extending open work permits, IRCC signals a focus on stability during the 2025–2026 planning period. Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes the longer validity helps employers schedule projects with confidence and reduces turnover linked to permit uncertainty.

What an open work permit allows

Open work permits let a person work for almost any employer in Canada, rather than being tied to one company. For TR to PR applicants, this flexibility:

• Helps maintain income and switch roles if a job ends.
• Prevents falling out of status through no fault of the worker.
• Eases hiring in tight labour markets, allowing companies to onboard candidates quickly without waiting for an employer‑specific permit.

Eligibility requirements (key points)

Applicants must:

• Show valid temporary resident status in Canada (e.g., student or worker) or qualify for restoration if they recently fell out of status.
• Demonstrate they filed a complete PR application under the 2021 TR to PR pathway.

For the principal applicant, the underlying PR stream (worker or graduate category) still controls base PR criteria such as language, work experience, or education. While the open work permit itself does not require a job offer, applicants should be prepared to prove they remain eligible for the PR stream they used — including required language test results where applicable.

Family member benefits

Family members can benefit in two main ways:

• Spouses and common‑law partners inside Canada can receive open work permits, enabling immediate access to the job market, health coverage in many provinces, and steady income.
• Eligible family members outside Canada can now apply for open work permits too, supporting quicker reunification and allowing spouses to work soon after arrival.

This reduces financial strain and helps with school enrolment and housing decisions for families.

Background and previous extensions

• The original TR to PR pathway opened in 2021 for a limited window and closed to new PR applications in November 2021.
• The complementary open work permit policy launched in 2021 and has been extended multiple times to match processing realities, prevent status gaps, and keep workers in key sectors (health care, trades, services) working.
• The new end date of December 31, 2026 provides a wide buffer and spares applicants the stress and cost of renewing every 12 months.

How to apply — forms and documents

Applicants should apply online and keep copies of all documents. You will need:

• Proof of current status in Canada (or proof you qualify for restoration).
• Evidence that your TR to PR PR application was submitted and is pending.
• Civil documents for family members (passports, marriage or birth records, translations where necessary).

Common forms:

• If applying from inside Canada: typically use Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a worker (IMM 5710). Guide and form: Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a worker (IMM 5710)
• If a spouse or dependent child is applying from outside Canada: usually use Apply for a work permit outside Canada (IMM 1295). Info: Apply for a work permit outside Canada (IMM 1295)

Applicants should complete the online eligibility questions carefully to get the correct checklist for this specific open work permit.

IRCC’s official program page (with step‑by‑step instructions and current processing notes) is here: Open work permit for TR to PR applicants — IRCC

Practical tips and important warnings

• The open work permit’s maximum validity is December 31, 2026. Your actual document may be limited by your passport expiry, so renew your passport early to get the longest possible permit.
• If your status has expired, you may still qualify for restoration, but act quickly. Restoration has timelines and fees; waiting too long can make you ineligible.
• If your family is abroad, check document requirements early — passports, marriage/birth records, translations, and biometrics — to reduce delays.
• Keep your contact details current in your IRCC account to avoid missing messages or document requests.
• An open work permit does not speed up the underlying PR decision. It only keeps you authorized to work while IRCC processes your PR file.
• Stay honest on all forms, respond to document requests on time, and update IRCC on changes (new job, new address, new family member).

Applying before your status expires may give you maintained status, allowing you to keep working under the same conditions until IRCC decides on your new application.

Employment, sector and provincial considerations

Employers across Canada 🇨🇦 supported measures to keep trained workers. The extension:

• Cuts administrative churn and reduces accidental work stoppages.
• Gives HR teams a predictable horizon for planning.
• Helps workers avoid risky choices (e.g., under‑the‑table work or leaving the country) when a permit nears expiry.

Sectors with ongoing shortages — elder care, food processing, construction — benefit because the policy helps prevent project delays and protects service continuity.

Moving jobs or provinces while on an open work permit

• In most cases, open work permits allow changing employers or moving provinces.
• It is wise to stay aligned with the PR stream you used in 2021 if that stream required specific work experience.
• Keep pay stubs, contracts, and employer letters to respond quickly if IRCC requests evidence.

Administrative impact and the system view

From a system perspective, longer open work permit periods:

• Reduce annual renewals, freeing IRCC officers to focus on complex files.
• Lower the verification burden on employers.
• Reduce duplicated document gathering by workers.

The net effect is a lighter administrative load across the board.

Final notes and who this applies to

• The TR to PR pathway itself remains closed to new applicants. This extension does not reopen the pathway; it only supports those who filed in 2021 and are still in the queue.
• Rely on official sources and IRCC announcements rather than social media rumours about a “new TR to PR.”

In short, the extension to December 31, 2026 gives TR to PR applicants and their families more time and stability. It helps people stay working, keeps employers staffed, and keeps families together while they wait for a final permanent residence decision. For many, that reassurance is essential as they plan their next steps in Canada.