Canada Offers Two-Year Open Work Permits to 2,700 Manitoba Workers
Canada has introduced a temporary public policy that may allow up to 2,700 eligible temporary workers in Manitoba to obtain open work permits while they are being considered for permanent residence through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
The measure is called the Manitoba Workforce Transition Bridge public policy. It was signed on July 6, 2026, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on August 5, and followed by detailed applicant instructions updated on August 6.
Eligible applicants may receive an open work permit allowing them to work in Manitoba for up to two years.
This is a targeted measure. It is not available to every temporary resident or every person with a Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest.
Quick answer
| Policy detail | Official information |
|---|---|
| Potential beneficiaries | Up to 2,700 temporary workers |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Type of authorization | Open work permit |
| Potential validity | Up to two years |
| MPNP EOI deadline | Placement in the pool on or before December 31, 2025 |
| Provincial support-letter deadline | Issued on or before December 31, 2025 |
| Current employment letter | Required |
| Already provincially nominated | Not eligible under this measure |
| Policy expiration | December 31, 2027, unless revoked earlier |
A provincial support letter does not guarantee approval. IRCC must still assess the work permit application and all applicable admissibility requirements.
Why did Canada introduce this policy?
IRCC says the policy is intended to help Manitoba retain skilled temporary workers who are already contributing to the province’s workforce and communities.
The targeted workers were previously assessed by Manitoba and identified as strong potential candidates for permanent residence through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
The measure helps bridge the period during which these workers remain in the MPNP Expression of Interest pool and await possible provincial nomination.
It also supports Canada’s broader effort to transition eligible workers already established in the country to permanent residence while managing the size of the temporary resident population.
Always Canada Group recently explained how IRCC is separately accelerating permanent residence processing for certain people already working in smaller Canadian communities in its article on Canada’s permanent resident admissions initiatives.
Who may qualify for the Manitoba open work permit?
According to IRCC’s official eligibility instructions, an applicant must be a temporary worker in Manitoba and satisfy all applicable conditions.
The applicant must:
- Be in Canada;
- Have a letter of employment from their current employer;
- Have been placed in the MPNP Expression of Interest pool on or before December 31, 2025;
- Have an open work permit support letter issued by Manitoba on or before December 31, 2025;
- Apply for the work permit and any required extension or restoration of temporary resident status; and
- Meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements that are not specifically waived by the policy.
The support letter must confirm that Manitoba screened the candidate and placed them in the MPNP Expression of Interest pool by the required date.
An updated letter of continued support may also be issued in 2026. However, IRCC instructs applicants to include the original qualifying support letter issued on or before December 31, 2025.
Three qualifying work-permit situations
A candidate must fall within one of three situations identified by IRCC.
1. The worker currently has a valid work permit
The applicant may qualify if they hold a valid work permit and submit:
- An application for a new or extended work permit;
- An application to extend their authorization to remain in Canada;
- The qualifying Manitoba support letter; and
- A letter of employment from their current employer.
2. The worker’s permit has expired
A person may still qualify if they held a valid work permit on May 7, 2024, but that permit later expired.
The public policy permits certain applicants in this group to request restoration of temporary resident status even if they did not apply within the usual 90-day restoration period.
This is a limited exemption. It does not automatically restore status or authorize the person to begin working immediately.
A person who applies for both restoration and the open work permit may remain in Canada while IRCC processes the application, but cannot work until the new work permit is issued.
3. The worker has maintained status
The third situation covers certain people who applied to renew their work permit on or before May 7, 2024, and were authorized to continue working while awaiting a decision.
They cannot have received a negative decision on that renewal application.
Applicants in this situation must still provide the qualifying Manitoba support letter and a current employment letter.
Who is not eligible under this policy?
IRCC states that this particular open work permit is not for applicants who have already received a nomination from Manitoba or another province or territory under the Provincial Nominee Program.
It is designed for prospective provincial nominees who were placed in Manitoba’s Expression of Interest pool and received the required provincial support letter.
Being in the MPNP pool alone is not sufficient. A candidate also needs the qualifying support letter, current employment evidence and an eligible work-permit history.
The policy does not:
- Provide an automatic provincial nomination;
- Guarantee an invitation to apply to the MPNP;
- Grant permanent residence;
- Guarantee approval of a work permit;
- Waive every eligibility or admissibility requirement; or
- Apply automatically to every worker whose permit has expired.
Candidates should distinguish this measure from a provincial nomination. A nomination is a separate provincial decision that may allow a candidate to proceed with a federal permanent residence application.
For an example of how provincial selection and nomination remain separate stages, applicants can review Always Canada Group’s coverage of the August 2026 BC PNP priority-worker selections.
How long is the work permit valid?
IRCC says an approved open work permit under this measure can allow the holder to work in Manitoba for up to two years.
The exact validity issued in an individual case can depend on the application, passport validity and the officer’s assessment.
Although it is an open work permit, IRCC describes it as authorization to work in Manitoba. Applicants should carefully review the conditions printed on the work permit after it is issued.
How to apply
Eligible candidates must apply online through their IRCC secure account.
The main steps are:
- Confirm eligibility under the Manitoba policy.
- Gather the qualifying Manitoba support letter.
- Obtain a letter of employment from the current employer.
- Prepare a valid passport copy, digital photograph and current work permit, if applicable.
- Complete the online work permit application.
- Apply for restoration of status if required.
- Pay all applicable fees.
- Upload the required documents and submit the application.
IRCC instructs applicants to select Open Work Permit as the requested work permit type.
In the “Details of intended work in Canada” section, applicants must enter MBEOI2024 in both the job-title field and the brief-description-of-duties field.
Applicants should follow the complete official IRCC application instructions rather than relying only on a general document list.
Documents applicants may need
IRCC’s instructions identify the following core documents:
- A copy of a valid passport;
- A digital photograph;
- The Manitoba open work permit support letter issued on or before December 31, 2025;
- A copy of the applicant’s current work permit, when applicable; and
- A letter of employment from the current employer.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, additional documents may include:
- Family Information Form IMM 5707;
- Proof of an immigration medical examination;
- A marriage certificate;
- Certified translations;
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union IMM 5409;
- Use of a Representative Form IMM 5476; or
- Other documents requested through the personalized IRCC checklist.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation can delay processing or result in refusal.
What fees apply?
IRCC’s application page lists:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit processing fee | CAN$155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | CAN$100 |
| Restoration fee | Additional fee when restoration is required |
The principal work permit and open work permit holder fees total CAN$255 before any applicable restoration charge.
Fees can change. Applicants should confirm the current amount through IRCC’s fee list immediately before paying.
Can applicants continue working while waiting?
The answer depends on the applicant’s status.
A person who applies for the open work permit while still authorized to work may be able to continue working under the same conditions as their original permit while IRCC processes the application. This is commonly called maintained status.
A person who also needs restoration may remain in Canada while awaiting a decision but cannot work until the new work permit has been issued.
Submitting an application does not automatically authorize every applicant to work. Anyone uncertain about their status should obtain individualized advice before continuing employment.
Does the policy guarantee permanent residence?
No.
The public policy provides a potential temporary work authorization while Manitoba assesses candidates for possible permanent residence pathways.
An approved work permit does not itself provide:
- An MPNP invitation;
- A provincial nomination;
- An invitation under Express Entry;
- Federal permanent residence approval; or
- Permanent resident status.
Candidates must continue to meet the requirements of the applicable MPNP pathway and the federal permanent residence program.
When does the policy expire?
The Manitoba Workforce Transition Bridge public policy is scheduled to remain in effect until December 31, 2027.
IRCC also states that the policy may be revoked at any time without prior notice.
The December 2027 policy end date should not be confused with the support-letter and EOI deadlines. To qualify, the applicant must have been placed in the MPNP EOI pool and received the relevant Manitoba support letter on or before December 31, 2025.
Practical next steps
Potential applicants should:
- Confirm that they are currently in Manitoba.
- Locate their Manitoba support letter and verify its issue date.
- Confirm that the letter states they were placed in the MPNP EOI pool by December 31, 2025.
- Obtain a current employment letter.
- Review their work-permit history, particularly their status on May 7, 2024.
- Determine whether an extension or restoration application is required.
- Review passport validity because it may affect work-permit validity.
- Follow the special code and document-upload instructions provided by IRCC.
- Confirm all applicable fees before submitting payment.
- Avoid working without authorization while awaiting restoration.
- Keep copies of the complete application and payment receipt.
- Monitor the IRCC account for messages or document requests.
What Manitoba workers should remember
This policy provides meaningful temporary relief for a defined group of workers already established in Manitoba.
However, the measure is narrower than the headline number may suggest. A person does not qualify simply because they live in Manitoba, have an MPNP profile or hold an expiring work permit.
The qualifying provincial support letter, employment evidence, EOI date and work-permit history are central to eligibility. Final approval remains subject to IRCC assessment.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Work permit eligibility, restoration, maintained status and permanent residence options depend on individual circumstances. Review the current IRCC instructions or consult a qualified Canadian immigration professional before applying or continuing employment.
