Starting April 22, 2025, Manitoba will begin accepting applications for special work permits under a new temporary measure aimed at helping Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates maintain their legal status in Canada. These Manitoba-specific work permits, valid for up to two years, are designed to support eligible candidates who are at risk of losing their ability to work in the province while awaiting nomination or permanent residence.

Who Is Eligible?

To apply, candidates must meet the following Manitoba-specific criteria:

• Have a work permit that will expire within 45 days, or held one that expired in 2024 or 2025

• Resided continuously in Manitoba since before January 15, 2025

• Had a valid Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the Manitoba PNP as of January 15, 2025—and still maintain that profile

• Hold a current letter of employment from a Manitoba-based employer

In addition, candidates must satisfy specific requirements outlined under a federal temporary public policy introduced on August 11, 2024, by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Federal Public Policy Requirements

Candidates must meet at least one of the following:

• Hold a valid work permit

• Have held a valid work permit on May 7, 2024, and subsequently applied for either an extension or status restoration

• Maintained valid status on May 7, 2024, and submitted a work permit extension application prior to that date (which must still be pending or approved)

More information on federal eligibility criteria can be found in IRCC’s official documentation or through previous articles dedicated to this public policy.

Application Process

The Manitoba PNP will start accepting online applications for Support Letters on April 22, 2025. Candidates must provide the following:

• A copy of their EOI profile

• A letter of employment from their current Manitoba employer

• One of the following:

  • Current work permit

  • Proof of work authorization

  • Evidence of a valid permit held as of May 7, 2024, and an application for restoration under IRPR Section 182

Important: Meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval. Manitoba retains the right to limit the number of Support Letters issued.

Who Is Not Eligible?

Individuals who have already received a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) to the Manitoba PNP are not eligible for this work permit.

Why This Matters

This initiative responds to challenges faced by foreign workers who are vital to Manitoba’s labor market but risk losing status due to delays in nomination or permanent residency processes. With restrictions like the temporary LMIA moratorium affecting renewals under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), many workers are left in limbo. Unlike Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs), which are available to those with PR applications in process, PNP candidates previously had no equivalent option.

This new temporary work permit policy bridges that gap, helping workers maintain legal status and continue contributing to Manitoba’s economy.

“By allowing eligible candidates to extend their work permits, we’re helping more Manitoba workers and families to continue building their lives in Manitoba,” said Malaya Marcelino, Manitoba’s Minister of Labour and Immigration, during the April 15, 2025 announcement. “This is good news for our economy, businesses and communities across Manitoba.”

Deadline

Applications for these work permits will be accepted until December 31, 2025, when the federal temporary policy is set to expire.