June 2026 Update: Provincial nominees and their spouses can now apply for certain work permits without waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), helping many workers maintain their legal status in Canada while their permanent residence applications are being processed.

Canada has introduced temporary measures that make it easier for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants to continue working while awaiting decisions on their permanent residence applications.

Effective June 9, 2026, eligible foreign nationals already in Canada can apply for specific work permits even if they have not yet received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The change is intended to address lengthy processing delays that have left many provincial nominees at risk of losing their work authorization while waiting for their permanent residence applications to move forward.

Who Benefits from the New Measures?

The temporary policy applies to foreign nationals in Canada who have submitted a permanent residence application through the Provincial Nominee Program and are waiting for their AOR.

Affected work permit categories include:

• PNP Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs)

• PNP Employer-Specific Work Permits where the provincial nomination has expired

• Spousal Open Work Permits for eligible spouses of PNP applicants

These measures provide a valuable pathway for applicants to maintain their employment authorization while their permanent residence applications remain under review.

Alternative Documents Accepted Instead of an AOR

Applicants who have not yet received an AOR can now submit:

• A copy of the email confirming the successful submission of their permanent residence application through IRCC’s online portal; and

• Proof that the required permanent residence application fees have been paid.

In addition, immigration officers may verify eligibility directly through IRCC’s internal systems by confirming that the permanent residence application has been received and remains in process.

It is important to note that these alternatives are only available to applicants who have not yet received their AOR. Once an AOR has been issued, applicants must provide the AOR as part of their work permit application.

Why Did IRCC Introduce This Change?

IRCC introduced these temporary measures in response to significant delays in conducting R10 completeness checks, which are required before an AOR can be issued.

In recent years, many provincial nominees have experienced unusually long waits between submitting their permanent residence applications and receiving their AORs.

These delays created a serious challenge for applicants whose work permits were approaching expiry. Without an AOR, many individuals were unable to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit or other work permit extensions, potentially jeopardizing their ability to continue working legally in Canada.

Maintaining Legal Status While Awaiting a Decision

Foreign nationals who submit a work permit extension application before their current work permit expires may benefit from maintained status.

Maintained status allows individuals to continue working under the same conditions as their previous work permit while IRCC processes their new application, provided they remain physically present in Canada.

The new policy helps ensure that more provincial nominees can access maintained status by allowing them to submit eligible work permit applications sooner.

Important Limitation

These temporary measures apply only to applicants who are already in Canada.

Foreign nationals applying for work permits from outside Canada must still meet the standard requirements, including providing an Acknowledgement of Receipt where required.

Temporary Policy Valid Until December 31, 2026

The temporary facilitation measures took effect on June 9, 2026, and are currently scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2026.

Provincial nominees whose work permits are nearing expiry should consider reviewing their eligibility as early as possible to take advantage of these temporary provisions and avoid interruptions to their ability to work in Canada.

Need Help Extending Your Work Permit?

If you have submitted a permanent residence application through the Provincial Nominee Program and are unsure whether you qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit, employer-specific work permit, or spousal open work permit, professional guidance can help ensure your application is prepared correctly and submitted on time.

Contact our team today for a personalized assessment of your immigration options.