Canada Opens New Pathway for Provincial Nominee Hopefuls in Manitoba and Yukon

OTTAWA – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has rolled out a new temporary public policy, creating an expedited pathway for certain temporary workers in Manitoba and Yukon to secure an open work permit. This initiative is designed to help retain foreign talent already contributing to the local economies of these regions.

Under the new guidelines, individuals who are candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pools of Manitoba or Yukon can now apply for an open work permit, provided they receive a formal letter of support from their respective provincial or territorial government. This new measure will allow applicants to continue working while their provincial nomination and subsequent permanent residency applications are being processed.

To be eligible for this new open work permit, applicants must meet a specific set of criteria. A key requirement is the possession of an “open work permit support letter” issued by either the Government of Manitoba or the Government of Yukon. This letter serves as confirmation that the individual is part of an application inventory or an expression of interest pool under that province or territory’s PNP.

Additionally, applicants must be in Canada and either hold a valid work permit or have been on “maintained status” as of May 7, 2024. The policy also includes provisions for those whose work permits have expired since that date, allowing them to apply for a restoration of their status concurrently with their work permit application. A letter of employment from their current employer is also a mandatory part of the application package.

Once an application is submitted, the process differs depending on the applicant’s status:

• If you applied for an open work permit only: You can keep working under the same conditions as your original work permit while you wait for a decision. This is called maintained status. If your application is approved, IRCC will mail the new work permit to the Canadian address you provided.
• If you applied for an open work permit and for restoration: You are permitted to stay in Canada while a decision is being made on your application. However, you cannot work until your new work permit has been officially issued.

This new policy is a strategic effort to address labor market needs in Manitoba and Yukon by providing a bridge for skilled temporary foreign workers who have already established themselves in these communities. By offering an open work permit, which is not tied to a specific employer, the government is providing greater flexibility for these workers as they move towards becoming permanent residents.

The open work permit will be valid for up to two years and will be restricted to the province or territory that issued the letter of support. It’s important to note that this new pathway is for prospective nominees and is separate from the process for those who have already received a provincial nomination. Interested individuals should consult the official IRCC website for detailed application procedures and to ensure they meet all the necessary requirements.