Work Permit with Provincial Support (PNP)

Under the public policy outlined in section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), eligible foreign nationals can be issued an open work permit if they meet certain criteria. These individuals must either have a valid work permit or have held a work permit that expired on or after May 7th. Additionally, they must have a support letter from the province or territory in which they reside. This letter must confirm that the foreign national has been assessed by the province/territory and placed into an Expression of Interest pool or another application inventory process for further consideration.

This policy allows eligible foreign nationals, who have demonstrated their ability to establish themselves economically and integrate into Canadian communities, to obtain the open work permit. It facilitates their transition through provincial nomination programs while they await further processing or assessment for permanent residency in Canada.

Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant an exemption from certain requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) if the foreign national meets the following conditions:

Eligibility Criteria for Work permit with Provincial Support Letter

1. Foreign Nationals with a Valid Work Permit:

• Hold a valid work permit.
• Apply for a new work permit under section 200 of the IRPR.
• Provide a support letter from the Provincial or Territorial authority of the jurisdiction in which they reside. This authority must have signed a letter of intent with IRCC, outlining its role in supporting facilitation under this public policy. The letter must also confirm that the foreign national has been screened and placed in an Expression of Interest pool or is in the Provincial or Territorial authority’s application inventory process for eligibility under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP);
• Provide a letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer.

1. Foreign Nationals Whose Work Permits Expired on May 7, 2024:

• Held a valid work permit on May 7, 2024, but that permit has expired.
• Apply for a new work permit under section 200 of the IRPR.
• Apply for extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the IRPR, or request restoration of their temporary resident status under section 182 of the IRPR.
• Provide a support letter from the Provincial or Territorial authority in which they reside, confirming that the authority has signed a letter of intent with IRCC. This letter must confirm that the foreign national has been screened by the authority and placed in the Expression of Interest pool or in the application inventory process for the Provincial Nominee Program.
• Provide a letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer.

1. Foreign Nationals Authorized to Work Under Paragraph 186(u) of the IRPR on May 7, 2024:

• Were authorized to work under paragraph 186(u) of the IRPR on May 7, 2024, and their work permit extension application remains pending or was approved.
• Apply for a new work permit under section 200 of the IRPR.
• Apply for extension of their authorization to remain in Canada under section 181 of the IRPR.
• Provide a support letter from the Provincial or Territorial authority confirming their placement in the Expression of Interest pool or in the application inventory process for the Provincial Nominee Program.
• Provide a letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer.

The foreign national must meet these conditions to be eligible for an exemption under this public policy, facilitating their continued work and status in Canada while they undergo the Provincial Nominee Program process.

Provisions of the Regulations for which an exemption may be granted

1. For Foreign Nationals Who Meet the Conditions Listed in 1 and 3:

• Paragraph 200(1)(c): This provision outlines the eligibility requirements that a foreign national must meet in order to be issued a work permit under existing pathways. An exemption may be granted from these requirements.

2. For Foreign Nationals Who Meet the Conditions Listed in 2:

• Section 182: This section requires that a visitor, worker, or student apply for restoration of their temporary resident status within 90 days after losing their status. Exemptions may be granted from this requirement.
• Section 182: This section also requires that a visitor, worker, or student has complied with any other conditions imposed. An exemption may apply if the individual meets the other eligibility criteria under this public policy.
• Paragraph 200(1)(c): The eligibility requirements under this provision for a foreign national to be issued a work permit under existing pathways may also be exempted.
• Paragraph 200(3)(e): This provision typically prohibits the issuance of a work permit to a foreign national who has engaged in unauthorized work or study in Canada or has failed to comply with the conditions of a previous permit or authorization. An exemption may be granted from this requirement under the current public policy.

By granting exemptions from these specific regulations, eligible foreign nationals may continue their work in Canada under the conditions outlined in the public policy while they pursue the Provincial Nominee Program process.

Other Admissibility and Selection Criteria:

Foreign nationals who are eligible under this public policy will still need to meet all other legislative eligibility and admissibility requirements that are not exempted by this public policy or any other public policy. This means that, apart from the specific exemptions granted under this public policy, individuals must adhere to all other rules and regulations related to entering and staying in Canada.

Effective Date and Expiration:

• Effective Date: This public policy comes into effect on the date it is signed and applies to applications received on or after the effective date, as well as to applications that are still pending under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Foreign Nationals in Provincial and Territorial Expression of Interest Pools under the Provincial Nominee Program signed on June 26, 2024.
• Revocation and Replacement: Upon the coming into effect of this public policy, it will replace the Temporary Public Policy that was signed on June 26, 2024.
• Expiration: This public policy will expire on December 31, 2024, and may be revoked at any time, without prior notice. This means that it is a time-limited measure and could be canceled before the expiration date without warning.

Open Work Permit for Foreign Workers with a Support Letter from a Province or Territory: Closed

If you were a foreign worker in Alberta, Manitoba, or Yukon, you might have been eligible to apply for an open work permit under a temporary public policy. Here are the conditions for eligibility:

• You needed to be a foreign worker in one of the listed provinces or territories.
• You needed to have received an open work permit support letter from a participating province or territory, confirming your eligibility under the Provincial Nominee Program.

Important Points:

• This open work permit allowed you to work in Canada for up to 2 years.
• You couldn’t apply for the work permit unless you had the support letter issued by a participating province or territory.

Note: This permit was not for applicants who were already nominated by a province or territory under the Provincial Nominee Program.