Special work permits will be available for Manitoba PNP candidates

Some Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) candidates will be able to obtain work permits to prevent them from losing their status.

These special Manitoba-specific work permits can be issued for up to two years.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm

To qualify, a Manitoba PNP candidate must

Hold a work permit which will expire within 45 days, or have held a work permit which expired in 2024 or 2025;
Have been continuously residing in Manitoba since before January 15, 2025;
Have had on January 15, 2025 a valid MPNP Expression of Interest profile, and still have a valid profile; and
Have a letter of employment from their current employer in Manitoba.

They must also meet additional program criteria established by the federal government (see below).

The MPNP will begin to accept applications for these work permits starting April 22, 2025.

If an MPNP candidate qualifies, they can apply online to the MPNP for a Support Letter, which they will use in their work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Applications for these work permits will be open until December 31, 2025, at which time the federal government's temporary public policy is set to expire.

Manitoba Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino announced the forthcoming availability of these work permits on 15 April, 2025.

Foreign nationals who have already received a Letter of Advice to Apply to the Manitoba PNP are not eligible for this special work permit.

These work permits will be issued in accordance with IRCC's "Temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for prospective Provincial Nominee Program candidates."

Federal requirements

IRCC's temporary public policy allowing certain PNP candidates to apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP) was introduced on August 11, 2024.

MPNP candidates must also meet some additional requirements of the temporary public policy established by the federal government, which may be summarized as

Holding a valid work permit;
Having held a work permit on May 7, 2024 that has since expired, and having since either applied for an extension of authorization or restoration of status; or
Having held maintained status on May 7, 2024, and having submitted a work permit extension application permit prior to this date—with the application being currently pending or having been approved.

You can get more detailed information surrounding this federal eligibility criteria by visiting one of our previous articles delving into this temporary public policy.

How to apply for consideration

Those who meet the above-mentioned eligibility criteria may apply for a Support Letter by completing an online submission form, which will become available on April 22, 2025.

To be eligible, you must provide a copy of your Expression of Interest profile and a letter of employment from your current employer.

You will also need to attach a copy of one of the following pieces of documentation:

Your current work permit;
Proof of authorization to work; or
Proof that, as of May 7, 2024, you held a valid work permit and have since applied for restoration of your temporary resident status (under section 182 of Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations).

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria or have failed to provide adequate documentation, your application will be rejected.

Note: You are not guaranteed to receive a Support Letter even if you are eligible, as Manitoba retains the authority to restrict the quantity of issuances at its discretion.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm

Rational

IRCC and Manitoba want to allow workers contributing to Manitoba's economy to retain their work authorization while they are under consideration as PNP candidates through the MPNP.

While Bridging Open Work Permits are often available for those who have submitted PR applications, no such special work permit existed for PNP candidates.

Given how long it can take for a foreign national to move from a candidate to a PR applicant, many are at risk of losing their work authorization—for example, if their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expires, or if they are unable to renew their Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) work permit due to the moratorium on processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage positions.

The temporary public policy was created to allow provinces to help bridge the gap in work status for PNP candidates actively working in provinces and at risk of losing their status.

“By allowing eligible candidates to extend their work permits, we’re helping more Manitoba workers and families to continue building their lives in Manitoba,” Marcelino stated in a press release.

“This is good news for our economy, businesses and communities across Manitoba.”

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs