Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially extended its temporary public policy granting open work permits (OWPs) to certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The extension now runs until December 31, 2025, aiming to support foreign nationals as they await the finalization of their permanent residency applications.
This policy enables eligible PNP candidates to apply for an open work permit valid for up to two years. Unlike employer-specific permits, OWPs allow holders to work for almost any employer across Canada, providing greater flexibility and continued employment opportunities during the immigration process.
To qualify, applicants must be currently residing and working in one of the provinces or territories participating in the policy and must have a valid Expression of Interest (EOI) in that province or territory’s nominee pool. In addition, they must provide a letter of employment and a formal support letter from the nominating province or territory.
Applicants must also meet one of the following conditions:
1. They currently hold a valid work permit.
2. Their work permit expired after May 7, 2024, and they have applied to restore or extend their temporary resident status.
3. They had maintained status as of May 7, 2024, and have a pending or approved work permit extension application.
At the moment, three jurisdictions have signed on to implement this policy: Alberta through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), Manitoba under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), and Yukon through the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP). These provinces are actively issuing the required support letters for eligible nominees.
Significantly, individuals falling under the second eligibility category—those with expired work permits who applied to restore or extend their status—may be exempt from standard regulatory requirements under this policy. This exemption offers a critical pathway for maintaining uninterrupted legal status and employment.
By extending this measure, the federal government and participating provinces aim to ease the transition from temporary to permanent status, minimize disruption for skilled workers, and offer stability to employers relying on international talent.
Maple News will continue to provide updates as more provinces sign onto the policy or as eligibility criteria evolve.