Deadline coming for public policy to facilitate PNP work permits

by Michael Scott

Are you one of the persons whose status is expiring but you have submitted an expression of interest to the MPNP? You may be eligible for a special public policy that was announced on the MPNP official webpage on December 4, 2025. You should be aware that eligible candidates can apply to the federal government for a two-year open work permit under Canada’s Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates. The deadline for your participation is coming soon, so it may not be too late to apply now. If you are a candidate for nomination with a soon-to-expire work permit you have until December 16, 2025, at 12:59 a.m. EDT to apply for a Manitoba support letter.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible persons must meet both the federal government and MPNP’s specified eligibility requirements. In terms of MPNP:

• Hold a valid MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) profile from January 15, 2025, which is still valid. (The validity expiration is usually after one year in the inventory);
• Have a work permit that expired in 2024 or 2025, or will expire in 2025;
• Have resided in Manitoba since before January 2025; and
• Have an employment confirmation letter from your Manitoba employer.

The federal eligibility requires applicants to meet one of the following conditions to be eligible for a support letter under the federal policy. The candidate must:

• Hold a valid work permit that will expire in 2025; or
• Have held a work permit on May 7, 2024, which has since expired. The subject must have applied for an extension of work authorization, or authorization to remain in Canada under temporary immigration, such as change to visitor status; or an extension of work authorization or restoration of status; or
• Had maintained legal status on May 7, 2024, and applied for a work permit extension before this date.

Beyond meeting the requirements set out by the MPNP, you must also meet one of the following conditions to be eligible for a support letter under the federal policy must have applied for or one that is currently pending. The applicant must:

• Possess a valid work permit that will expire in 2025; or
• Have possessed a work permit on May 7, 2024, which has since expired, and have applied for an extension of work authorization, or authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident, or submitted a restoration of status; or
• Have maintained status on May 7, 2024, and submitted a work permit extension application before this date.

Submission requirements

You must submit a Manitoba Support letter application, which can be downloaded from “twpe.gov.mb.ca/en-US/” or under the heading Manitoba Work Permit Support Letter for the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates application. You must complete the application and provide the following: a copy of your current work permit; proof of authorization to work; or proof that, as of May 7, 2024, you held a valid work permit or applied for restoration of your temporary resident status.

Once you receive your Manitoba support letter that applicant can submit a work permit application to IRCC under the temporary public policy for PNP candidates. Note that foreign nationals who have already been nominated are not eligible for this public policy.

Some PNP candidates may be eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit. This option was extended to the temporary public policy. The option was extended for candidates who are actively working in a province but face losing their work status. Check the guideline IMM 5533 for applying for a work permit. Follow the following path:

• Review IMM 5533;
• Set up a IRCC Secure Account and complete the questionnaire provided;
• In response to the question, “Does any of the following apply to you”answer YES to the applicable one because it is required to be judged eligible for the public policy exemption;
• Select “Open Work Permit”when you are asked to declare what you are applying for;
• Enter “MBEOI2024” under both the “Job title”and “Brief description of duties”boxes;
• You are required to upload all documents listed in your personalized checklist including, a copy of your passport, family information form IMM 5705, digital photo, Manitoba support letter, a letter from Manitoba employer, put “not applicable”for reference letter, employment records or contract,
• Pay your federal processing fees for work permit ($155), Open Work permit ($100) and restoration of status fee ($246.65) if applicable; and
• Submit your application.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-227-0292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail.com.