If you’re nominated (or in the pipeline) under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program and your work permit is approaching its expiry, you’re not alone — and you have options. The key is acting before your permit expires, not after. Here’s how to keep your status and your ability to work while your permanent residence application moves forward.
First rule: never let your status lapse
The single most important thing is timing. As long as you apply to extend or change your status before your current permit expires, you can usually continue working under maintained status (formerly “implied status”) while IRCC processes your new application. If you let your permit expire first, you lose that protection — and recovering from it is far harder.
Option 1: Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
If you’ve reached the stage of having a permanent residence application in process through the relevant federal stream, you may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit. A BOWP lets you keep working — often for any employer — while you wait for your PR decision, so a job offer or LMIA doesn’t have to expire alongside your permit.
Eligibility depends on where you are in the PR process and your current status, so confirm whether you qualify before relying on it.
Option 2: Extend or renew your existing work permit
If you’re not yet at the BOWP stage, you may need to extend your current work permit — for example, an employer-specific permit tied to an ongoing LMIA or a Manitoba nomination supporting your work. This keeps you authorized while your MPNP and PR steps catch up.
Option 3: Restoration (only if you’ve already fallen out of status)
If your permit has already expired, you may be able to apply for restoration of status within a limited window — but this is a recovery measure, not a plan. It carries risk and isn’t guaranteed. Our team handles complex restoration and refused cases regularly, but prevention is always better.
Why MPNP nominees especially need to plan ahead
The gap between a provincial nomination and a final PR decision can be long. During that window, your work permit may expire more than once. Mapping out — well in advance — exactly which extension or bridging permit you’ll use, and when to file it, is what keeps you working continuously and protects your PR application.
Don’t wait until the last minute
If your work permit expires within the next few months and you’re tied to the MPNP, now is the time to act. Book a consultation and we’ll build a status-maintenance timeline so you never have a gap in your right to work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep working while my work permit extension is being processed? Yes — if you apply to extend before your current permit expires, you can usually keep working under maintained status until IRCC decides. Apply late and you lose this protection.
What is a Bridging Open Work Permit? A BOWP lets eligible applicants with a permanent residence application in process keep working while they wait for their PR decision, so they don’t lose work authorization in the gap.
My work permit already expired — what now? You may be able to apply for restoration of status within a limited window, but it’s risky and not guaranteed. Speak to a licensed consultant immediately, as timing is critical.