TR to PR Program in Canada

All documents have been attached.
When we apply for Canadian Permanent Residence and fill out the forms, we are also required to declare that even after submitting all the relevant documents, we were still unable to obtain Canadian PR.

Approximately five years ago, in 2021, a TR to PR (Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident) program was launched in Canada. It was a golden opportunity through which many people managed to get their PR quite easily. However, there were even more people who were eligible under that program but still could not secure PR.

The reason was that as soon as the application portal opened, the 400 spots allocated for international students were filled within just 25 hours. Many people were still in the process of arranging their documents. Some had requested reference letters, some were downloading pay stubs, while others were busy scanning documents. In fact, many people fulfilled all the requirements, but one thing was missing — they did not have their IELTS TRF. They had not taken the IELTS exam.

The reason was that as soon as the program was announced, IELTS exam bookings were fully booked for the next three to four months. Many people could not even appear for the IELTS exam. As a result, the market became extremely chaotic. Competition was very high, and even today, competition for Canadian PR is extremely tough.

Everyone is aware that next year, or possibly in 2027, a one-time initiative is expected under which 33,000 work permit holders — meaning 33,000 temporary residents — will be granted Canadian PR. In a way, this can be considered another TR to PR–type program.

However, what the requirements of this program will be, what the eligibility criteria will be — nobody knows. Only IRCC knows. Whether it will be job-specific, industry-specific, or sector-specific — no one knows. Whether it will be region-specific — again, no one knows. Very limited information related to this is currently available.

Despite this, many people — including my friend Gaurav, who lives in Kitchener — have already started arranging their standard PR documents.

My friend Gaurav came to Canada in 2022 to pursue a two-year course at Conestoga College. He completed his studies in 2024 and has been working in his field for the past year. He quickly arranged all his documents. In this episode, we will share which documents he has prepared.

First comes proof of language proficiency. Basically, you need to prove your English or French language skills by taking an exam. For English, IELTS, PTE, or CELPIP are accepted, and for French, TEF is required. My friend Gaurav has booked his IELTS exam, which is scheduled for about one and a half months from now. Once he gives the exam and hopefully scores well, he will attach his IELTS TRF. Similarly, PTE scorecards, CELPIP scorecards, or TEF scorecards can also be submitted.

Next comes proof of criminal background check. For this, you need to arrange a PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) from your home country. For India, PCC is processed through an organization called BLS International, which unfortunately has a poor reputation. Gaurav has already started the PCC process because it can take four to six months due to slow processing.

After that comes proof of education. Gaurav completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in India, so he has his degree and transcripts for all eight semesters. He also completed his ECA through WES. Additionally, he completed a two-year postgraduate diploma in Canada, so he has that diploma certificate along with transcripts for all four semesters from Conestoga College. He combined all these documents into a single PDF as proof of education.

When applying for Canadian PR, you also need to declare your complete travel history — the countries you visited and the exact dates. Gaurav has not traveled extensively; he visited Singapore and Taiwan while working in India. He prepared a detailed log and scanned all relevant documents such as tickets, booking confirmations, and passport pages with visa stamps, and saved everything in a PDF.

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Next are proof of employment documents. When applying for PR, you must provide your complete employment history. Gaurav worked two jobs in India and has been working in Canada for the past one and a half years. He arranged reference letters from all employers on official letterhead, mentioning job roles, responsibilities aligned with NOC codes, salary, weekly hours, and HR or manager contact details.

He also attached his T4 slips from Canada, pay stubs from the first and last three months of each job, joining letters, and experience letters where available.

Then comes proof of status in Canada. Gaurav attached his Post-Graduation Work Permit, passport copies, visa, and entry stamps. For those on maintained or extended status, those documents can also be included.

Another requirement is address history. You must declare where you lived over the past 10 years or since birth. Gaurav created a detailed Excel log listing all addresses with dates, making form filling easier once the portal opens.

Gaurav is applying alone, without spouse or dependents. However, those applying with family must include passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, PCCs, and travel histories for all dependents.

There is also an optional but important document called a Letter of Explanation. Gaurav hasn’t created one yet, but when we applied for PR, we did include it. This letter allows you to explain employment gaps, unusual situations, or anything that might confuse a visa officer.

For identity proof, Gaurav included his passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate. His birth certificate was in Hindi, so he obtained an official certified translation and attached it along with the original document.

If any of your documents are not in English or French, certified translations are mandatory.