The federal government has introduced the Manitoba Workforce Transition Bridge (MWTB) public policy, a temporary measure that will issue up to 2,700 open work permits to foreign nationals who are candidates in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and who have lost or are at risk of losing their work status.
Key dates and duration
- Policy published: 5 August 2026 (official website)
- Effective date: 6 July 2026
- Expiration: 31 December 2027 (subject to earlier termination)
Who can apply
Applicants must be prospective MPNP nominees who hold a support letter from Manitoba that:
- Was issued on or before 31 December 2025, and
- Confirms the candidate was screened by the province and placed in the MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) pool on or before 31 December 2025.
In addition, the candidate must fall into one of three status situations:
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1 – Valid work permit | Currently holds a valid work permit. |
| 2 – Expired work permit | Held a valid work permit on 7 May 2024 that has since expired. |
| 3 – Maintained status | Applied to renew a work permit on or before 7 May 2024 and has maintained status since then. |
What the policy provides
- Open work permit – can be used with any employer in Canada.
- Extension of temporary resident status – applicants may also apply to extend their stay.
- Restoration of status – candidates in Situation 2 may request restoration of temporary resident status, even if the usual 90‑day deadline has passed.
The MWTB waives typical eligibility conditions for work‑permit applications from within Canada, including:
- Prior unauthorized work or study.
- Violations of conditions attached to a previous permit.
- Missed restoration‑of‑status deadlines.
Application process
- Gather documents
- Letter of employment from the current employer.
- Manitoba support letter meeting the date criteria above.
- Submit two applications
- An open work permit application (through IRCC).
- An application to extend temporary resident status (or, for Situation 2, a restoration‑of‑status request).
All applications are processed under the MWTB, meaning the usual requirement of holding a valid work or study permit at the time of filing does not apply.
Relationship to earlier policies
- The MWTB replaces a provincial‑nominee work‑permit policy that operated from August to December 2024 for Manitoba, Alberta, and Yukon.
- That earlier policy expired without a formal renewal but may have been extended informally through 2025.
- The 2024 policy was created in response to a surge of international graduates on post‑graduation work permits (PGWPs) and a 50 % reduction in federal PNP permanent‑residence targets announced in October 2024.
Practical considerations
- Eligibility verification is critical; the Manitoba support letter must meet the strict issuance‑date requirements.
- Processing times are not specified, but the policy is intended to address gaps that previously left candidates waiting up to 12 months for an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) before they could obtain a bridging open work permit.
- Policy stability – as a temporary public policy, the MWTB can be revoked at any time without notice. Applicants should monitor IRCC updates.
- Scope limitation – the 2,700‑permit cap applies only to Manitoba; candidates in other provinces must rely on separate provincial measures.
Where to find official guidance
- IRCC’s temporary public policies page lists the MWTB and provides the full policy text.
- An updated IRCC webpage titled “Open work permit for prospective Provincial Nominee Program candidates with a support letter from Manitoba” offers a high‑level summary for applicants.
The MWTB offers a narrow but significant pathway for Manitoba PNP candidates who would otherwise fall out of status, allowing them to maintain legal work authorization while their permanent‑residence applications are processed.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
