Manitoba to Offer Two-Year Work Permit Ext. for MPNP Candidates

The Manitoba government has announced a two-year extension for work permits of eligible candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino confirmed that, starting April 22, individuals whose work permits have expired in 2024 or are set to expire this year can apply for an extension through a temporary public policy—provided they have the support of their employers.

This new policy applies to temporary foreign workers who meet the following criteria:

• Had an active MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) profile as of January 15, 2025;
• Maintain a valid EOI profile at the time of application;
• Are currently employed in Manitoba; and
• Intend to settle permanently in the province.

Qualified candidates can request a work permit support letter by completing an online form, available as of April 22.

This measure offers Manitoba employers an opportunity to retain valued workers without going through the more time-consuming Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. It’s important to note, however, that this extension is not a guaranteed pathway to permanent residency. Instead, it allows for continued employment under a simplified process.

By contrast, the LMIA process currently takes over 70 business days and requires a $1,000 application fee. Under the new Manitoba pathway, employers can initiate the process immediately after receiving a work permit support letter, with a lower processing fee of $230.

To qualify under this temporary policy, foreign workers must either:

• Hold a valid work permit expiring in 2025;
• Have had a valid work permit on May 7, 2024, and since applied for a new work permit under Section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR);
• Have applied for an extension of temporary resident status under Section 181 of the IRPR;
• Have submitted an application for restoration of status under Section 182 of the IRPR; or
• Have been working under IRPR paragraph 186(u) on May 7, 2024, and applied for either a new work permit or an extension of temporary resident status.

Since its inception in 1998, the MPNP has played a key role in addressing Manitoba’s labour shortages by attracting skilled workers. In September 2024, the province took similar steps by granting temporary work permit extensions to 6,700 eligible foreign workers. Despite a federal push to reduce the number of foreign workers, Manitoba saw a record intake of 9,540 individuals through the MPNP in 2024.