New open work permits for recent permanent residence applicants

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Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that individuals who have applied for the recently opened pathway to permanent residence will be eligible for an open work permit while awaiting the results of their application. The pathway to permanent residence was opened to international students who graduated from a Canadian institution, health care workers and those in other designated essential occupations on May 6, 2021. To qualify for the pathway, individuals must be legally working in Canada at the time of their application and maintain their temporary resident status until a decision is made on their permanent residence application. Many whose status is set to expire are able to extend their work permit under existing programs, or receive a new permit under one of the temporary measures put in place as a result of the pandemic, such as the public policy for post-graduation work permit holders.

To qualify for this one-time open work permit, the applicants must show that they:

• Have successfully submitted an application under one of the new permanent residence pathway’s streams.

• Held a valid work permit, or were authorized to work without a work permit, at the time their permanent residence application was submitted.

• Hold a valid work permit that is set to expire within the next four months.

• Have temporary resident status, maintained status or are eligible to restore their status at the time their open work permit application is submitted.

• Are in Canada at the time their open work permit application is submitted.

• Were employed in any occupation at the time their permanent residence application was submitted.

• Meet the language requirements of the stream under which they applied at the time their permanent residence application was submitted.

A few quick facts:

• An applicant’s spouse or common-law partner and dependent children 18 years or older may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit under this policy, if they are also in Canada.

• Applications for the new work permit should be submitted online. Details on how to apply are available on IRCC’s website. Work permits issued under this policy will be valid until December 31, 2022. Those who have applied to extend their work permit before their current one has expired may maintain their status and have authorization to work without a permit under the same conditions as the original while the new permit is being processed.