Temporary Resident Permit
A woman who is in an abusive relationship may also be able to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit.
A Temporary Resident Permit is a permit from IRCC to live in Canada for a certain period of time. There are special rules to help people in situations of family violence or abuse. And a Temporary Resident Permit issued because of family violence will be valid for at least 6 months. There is no fee to apply.
A woman who separates from her spouse or common-law partner can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit if all of the following are true:
- she has applied or wants to apply for permanent resident status in Canada
- she’s being abused by her spouse or common-law partner
- she’s been depending on the relationship with her spouse or partner for her application to be successful
Usually, if an application depends on a spouse or partner, this means that the spouse or partner has started or promised to start a sponsorship application. For example:
- a woman is waiting for a decision on an application for permanent residence based on a sponsorship by her spouse or partner
- a woman is waiting for her spouse or partner to begin an application to sponsor her for permanent residence
- a woman’s spouse or partner has withdrawn their application to sponsor her for permanent residence
A woman might also qualify for a Temporary Resident Permit because of family violence if she has made or was planning to make an H&C application.
A woman who gets a Temporary Resident Permit that is valid for 6 months or longer will qualify for OHIP coverage and can apply for a work permit or a study permit from IRCC.
Some people are not eligible to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit. For example, if a woman made an unsuccessful refugee claim and it’s been less than a year since the final decision, she cannot apply for a Temporary Resident Permit.
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