A new regulation from the IRCC lets some candidates for the Provincial Nominee Program to apply for open work permits. Those who meet the requirements can apply for permanent residency by obtaining letters of support from their province.

A new temporary policy has been introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to allows some candidates for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to apply for an open work permit (OWP). The purpose of this policy is to assist eligible newcomers in their transition to permanent residency. It will be in force from August 11, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

Candidates may apply for an OWP under this policy if they have a job offer, a valid work permit, or a work permit that expires on or before May 7, 2024. Additionally, they need a letter of support from their province or territory attesting to the fact that they were included in an application inventory process or Expression of Interest pool.

Qualifications

Under this new policy, candidates must fulfill certain requirements based on their circumstances in order to be eligible for the OWP:

Situation 1 : Valid Work Permit Currently

>possess a current work permit.
>have filed a fresh work permit application.
>Provide a letter of support verifying that they have been added to an Expression of Interest pool or application inventory from the Provincial or Territorial authority.
>A letter of employment from their current employer should be included.

Situation 2: Outdated Work Permit

>held a work visa that was good until May 7, 2024, but it has already expired.
>have submitted applications for a new work visa, a temporary resident status extension, or both.
>Provide a letter of employment from their current employer as well as a letter of support from the provincial or territorial government.

Situation 3: A work permit extension that is pending or approved

>Licensed to operate in accordance with Regulation 186(u) on May 7, 2024.
>possess both an application for a new work permit and a temporary resident status extension that is either pending or approved.
>Provide a letter of employment from their current employer as well as a letter of support from the provincial or territorial government.

The Policy’s Objective

By easing the transfer of qualified temporary residents through PNPs, the IRCC hopes to balance the number of temporary residents to permanent residents in Canada. The strategy focuses on skilled people who have established links throughout the community, proven their economic worth, and are currently residents of Canada. In order to keep these workers in the country and meet urgent labor market demands, IRCC is working to provide a more transparent route to permanent residence.