Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is currently approving a greater number of temporary work permit applications based on provincial assessments submitted through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The Provincial Nominees Program allows provincial governments the ability to effectively bypass Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s (HRSDC) labor market opinion in order to address regional employment shortages. CIC is increasingly prepared to accept applications that have been assessed through provincial channels as an alternative to HRSDC.

This has led CIC to issue the following addendum:

If someone holds a work permit in an occupation found in the NOC skills level O, A, or B that person’s spouse is entitled to an open work permit (i.e. no HRSDC opinion needed, no occupation, or employer need be specified);If someone has been nominated by a province, regardless of NOC skill level, the person is entitled to a work permit with a letter of support from the province, and that person’s spouse is entitled to be issued a work permit;

If someone seeks entry as a business person or entrepreneur, and their application is accompanied by from a province indicating that it is interested in considering this person for provincial nomination, even if they have not yet been nominated. This person can be issued a work permit without HRSDC confirmation.