APPLYING FOR PNP WORK PERMIT JUST GOT EASIER

Effective June 9, 2026, clients in Canada who applied for permanent residence (PR) under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (base and express entry) may submit alternative proof of PR submission in support of their applications for PNP employer‑specific work permits (T13), PNP Bridging Open Work Permits (A75), and eligible spousal open work permits for spouses/ partners of PNP principal PR applicants.

These temporary measures are intended to support in‑Canada work permit processing for PNP applicants affected by prolonged R10 completeness check timelines. Extended completeness checks delay the issuance of an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) for PR applications, which is  a mandatory eligibility requirement  in several work permit categories to demonstrate that a PR application is in process.

The absence of an AOR has led to refusals of in-Canada work permit applications, which may in turn cause work interruptions, loss of temporary resident (TR) status, and increased administrative burden for provinces and territories (PTs) due to the need to re-issue nominations.

Background

These measures respond to operational challenges arising from prolonged R10 completeness checks and delayed AOR issuance. For PNP bridging open work permit (BOWP) (A75) applications, delayed AORs prevent otherwise eligible applicants and their spouses from obtaining work authorization, resulting in work interruptions and potential TR status gaps.

For employer‑specific PNP work permits (T13), nomination certificates may expire before an AOR is issued, requiring PTs to re-issue nominations and increasing administrative burden. Clients who hold other temporary work permits (e.g., PGWP, OWP) often do not apply for T13 permits concurrently with PR. As those permits near expiry, the absence of an AOR combined with an expired nomination creates a risk of work interruption.

The AOR is a safeguard to ensure that work permits are issued to clients whose PR application is complete. However, the current processing pressures require flexibility. Given that applicants subject to the measure would have already been pre-screened for PR by the nominating PT, the risk of issuing work permits to individuals who may not have a complete PR application is reduced.

Processing Instructions

To mitigate these impacts, officers processing in‑Canada applications may temporarily accept alternative evidence of PR application submission for the following work permit applications:

• PNP employer-specific work permits (T13) – where the nomination has expired
• PNP bridging open work permits (A75)
• Eligible spousal open work permits for spouses/ partners of PNP principal applicants only

This flexibility applies only to in‑Canada processing and does not modify underlying program eligibility requirements or the outcome of R10 completeness or eligibility assessments. Work permit applications submitted outside of Canada must continue to require a PR AOR before the work permit can be processed.

Officers may be satisfied by either of the following in place of an AOR:

• A copy of the email confirming submission of the PR application through the online portal, together with proof of payment of applicable PR fees, or
• Confirmation in IRCC systems that an APR has been received and remains pending, including prospective applications visible in GCMS

Applications that include one of the above forms of evidence may be approved for the work permit, subject to the usual eligibility and admissibility requirements. Either form of evidence is sufficient to demonstrate that the PR application has been submitted and received by IRCC. Where system confirmation is available, officers should rely on that information.

Please note that this temporary facilitation is intended to provide an alternative form of proof only when an AOR has not yet been issued at the time the applicant submits their work permit application. It does not suggest that the AOR is no longer accepted as proof of submission of a PR application. If an AOR has already been issued at the time the applicant submits their work permit application, the applicant must submit the AOR rather than relying on the facilitation alternatives.

These documents do not replace or constitute a determination under the R10 completeness check. If the PR application is subsequently found incomplete and returned, normal consequences apply, including potential impacts on future work permit eligibility.

When requesting additional documents, officers should advise applicants that the portal submission confirmation with proof of payment will be accepted as proof that a PR application has been submitted for the purpose of in‑Canada work permit processing. Applicants should also be informed that this flexibility does not constitute a determination under the R10 completeness check or guarantee PR approval, and that a returned PR application may affect their future work permit eligibility. This temporary measure takes effect immediately upon publication and remains in place until December 31, 2026. Unless further instructions are issued, the standard requirement to submit an AOR will resume after this date