Maple News reports that candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) with expired or soon-to-expire work permits have until December 16, 2025, at 12:59 a.m. EDT to request a Manitoba support letter. This letter is a crucial requirement for those eligible to apply for a special two-year open work permit (OWP) under a federal temporary public policy designed to support Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.
Announced by the MPNP on December 4, 2025, this opportunity aims to assist PNP candidates in maintaining legal status in Canada while they await permanent residency. The policy offers a two-year OWP, allowing applicants to continue working in Manitoba without employer-specific or occupation-specific restrictions.
To be eligible, applicants must meet requirements set by both the MPNP and the federal government. Manitoba’s conditions include having had a valid Expression of Interest (EOI) profile on January 15, 2025, and continuing to hold a valid profile. Candidates must also have been residing in Manitoba continuously since before that date, possess a work permit that expired in 2024 or 2025 (or one that will expire in 2025), and hold a current job offer from a Manitoba employer.
On the federal side, applicants must meet one of three scenarios: They must either have a valid work permit expiring in 2025; have held a valid permit on May 7, 2024, which has since expired but applied for an extension, temporary resident status, or restoration; or had maintained legal status on May 7, 2024, with a pending work permit extension application submitted before that date. These applications must either be in progress or already approved.
This temporary open work permit pathway is part of the broader federal aim to retain skilled workers in Canada, particularly those already contributing to provincial economies like Manitoba’s. It provides a much-needed bridge for hopeful permanent residents who are currently in limbo due to permit expirations or application backlogs.
With this deadline only a few months away, eligible candidates are strongly encouraged to act quickly. Securing a Manitoba support letter may be a vital step toward extending their ability to live and work in the province while strengthening their case for permanent immigration.
Stay tuned to Maple News for further updates and expert immigration guidance tailored to your needs.