Canada has introduced temporary work permit measures for some Provincial Nominee Program applicants in Canada, allowing eligible applicants and spouses to apply before receiving an acknowledgement of receipt for their permanent residence application.
As of June 2026, the measures are intended to help eligible foreign nationals avoid losing authorization to work in Canada while their permanent residence applications are being processed.
The change applies to foreign nationals inside Canada who have applied for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program and have not yet received an acknowledgement of receipt, or AOR.
The affected in-Canada work permit applications are:
- Provincial Nominee Program bridging open work permits
- Provincial Nominee Program employer-specific work permits where the nomination has expired
- Eligible spousal open work permits for spouses of Provincial Nominee Program applicants
Instead of submitting an AOR, eligible applicants may submit:
- A copy of the email confirming submission of their permanent residence application through the online portal
- Proof that the permanent residence application fee was paid
Officers may also confirm eligibility by checking IRCC systems to verify that an application for permanent residence has been received and remains pending. The operational bulletin instructs officers to rely on system confirmation when available.
These alternatives only apply to applicants who have not yet received an AOR. If an applicant has received an AOR, they must submit it.
The temporary measures took effect on June 9, 2026 and are scheduled to remain in effect until December 31, 2026. IRCC published the operational bulletin on June 9, 2026.
Why IRCC introduced the measures
According to the bulletin, IRCC introduced the measures because extended timelines for R10 completeness checks have caused long waits for AORs.
The delay creates a practical problem for provincial nominees. Many applicants need an AOR to apply for a work permit extension, but the AOR may not arrive before their existing work permit expires.
According to data posted by users of the CanadaVisa forum, among 141 provincial nominees who submitted base Provincial Nominee Program permanent residence applications from November 22 to November 30, 2024, none reported receiving an AOR earlier than October 2025.
Maintained status
If a foreign national in Canada submits a work permit application before their current permit expires, they may benefit from maintained status.
Maintained status allows the person to continue working under the conditions of the expired permit while the new work permit application or extension is being processed, provided they remain in Canada.
This is why the timing of the work permit application matters. The temporary measure gives eligible in-Canada PNP applicants another way to apply before their current authorization expires, even if the AOR has not yet arrived.
Key limits
The measure does not remove the AOR requirement for everyone.
It does not apply to work permit applications submitted from outside Canada.
It also does not apply where the applicant has already received an AOR. In that case, the AOR must be submitted.
The practical effect is limited but important: eligible in-Canada provincial nominees and qualifying spouses may be able to apply for work permits sooner, using proof of permanent residence submission and fee payment while waiting for the formal AOR.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
