Canada eases work permit rules for provincial nominee applicants awaiting permanent residency

Canada has introduced temporary measures that will allow certain provincial nominee applicants and their spouses to access work permits sooner while waiting for their permanent residence applications to be processed, according to a report by CIC News.

The changes, which took effect on June 9 and will remain in place until December 31, 2026, are introduced to help applicants avoid losing their authorization to work in Canada because of delays in receiving key immigration documents.

Under the temporary policy, foreign nationals applying for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can apply for eligible work permits without first receiving an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for their permanent residence application.


The measure applies to Provincial Nominee Program bridging open work permits, employer-specific work permits linked to expired nominations, and eligible open work permits for spouses of PNP applicants.

Alternative proof accepted

According to CIC News, applicants who have not yet received an AOR can instead submit proof that their permanent residence application was filed online, along with evidence that the required fees have been paid.

Immigration officers may also verify eligibility through internal systems confirming that a permanent residence application has been received and remains under processing.

However, applicants who have already received an AOR must continue to submit that document as part of their work permit application.

Response to processing delays

According to CIC News report, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the temporary measures because of extended timelines for completeness checks on permanent residence applications, resulting in long waits for acknowledgement letters.

These delays have left some applicants at risk of losing their ability to work in Canada while waiting for the documentation needed to apply for a new work permit or an extension.

The temporary relief is expected to benefit provincial nominees whose work permits are approaching expiry while their permanent residence applications remain under review.

As per CIC News report, this policy applies only to work permit applications submitted from within Canada. Applicants filing from outside the country must still meet existing requirements, including the acknowledgement of receipt condition.