The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued an urgent bulletin on December 4 giving candidates whose work permits have expired—or will soon expire—just 12 days to request a provincial support letter. The letter is a mandatory first step for applicants who want to use the federal “Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective PNP Candidates,” which grants a two-year open work permit (OWP) while they await permanent-residence processing.
According to the bulletin, requests must reach MPNP by 12:59 a.m. EST on December 16, 2025. Eligibility is restricted to individuals who held valid work authorisation on May 7, 2024 and either still hold status or have applied for restoration. Nominees who have already received a provincial nomination are expressly excluded.
![Manitoba sets December 16 deadline for PNP candidates to secure two-year open work permit letters]()
The public policy was first introduced in August 2024 after lengthy lobbying from provinces complaining that work-permit expiry was forcing skilled workers to leave Canada mid-process. Ottawa renewed the measure in 2025, but provinces must issue a support letter before IRCC will accept an open permit application.
Immigration lawyers warn that the short timeline leaves little margin for error. Candidates must first gather proof of employment, identity and immigration history, then prepare an IRCC online application that references code “MBEOI2024” in the job description field. Failure to upload the support letter or to meet the policy’s narrow criteria will result in refusal.
For employers, the bulletin underscores the importance of tracking foreign workers’ permit end-dates and coordinating timely MPNP submissions. Losing key staff over paperwork gaps could disrupt production, particularly in Manitoba’s manufacturing and agri-food sectors that rely heavily on provincial nominees.
According to the bulletin, requests must reach MPNP by 12:59 a.m. EST on December 16, 2025. Eligibility is restricted to individuals who held valid work authorisation on May 7, 2024 and either still hold status or have applied for restoration. Nominees who have already received a provincial nomination are expressly excluded.
The public policy was first introduced in August 2024 after lengthy lobbying from provinces complaining that work-permit expiry was forcing skilled workers to leave Canada mid-process. Ottawa renewed the measure in 2025, but provinces must issue a support letter before IRCC will accept an open permit application.
Immigration lawyers warn that the short timeline leaves little margin for error. Candidates must first gather proof of employment, identity and immigration history, then prepare an IRCC online application that references code “MBEOI2024” in the job description field. Failure to upload the support letter or to meet the policy’s narrow criteria will result in refusal.
For employers, the bulletin underscores the importance of tracking foreign workers’ permit end-dates and coordinating timely MPNP submissions. Losing key staff over paperwork gaps could disrupt production, particularly in Manitoba’s manufacturing and agri-food sectors that rely heavily on provincial nominees.
