Provincial Nominee Work Permit Canada: PNP Work Permit Guide 2026

1. What Is a Provincial Nominee Work Permit?

A Provincial Nominee Program nomination is part of a pathway to Canadian permanent residence. It is not, by itself, permission to work in Canada.

A provincial nominee who needs temporary work authorization must separately qualify for an appropriate Canadian work permit.

One important option is an employer-specific LMIA-exempt work permit supported by the nominating province or territory under paragraph 204(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

This category is commonly associated with administrative code T13.

Depending on the stage of the permanent residence process, a nominee may instead qualify for another work permit category, such as a Bridging Open Work Permit.

For the broader framework, see the Work Permit Canada: Requirements & Complete Guide .

2. Does a Provincial Nomination Let You Work in Canada?

No.

Receiving a provincial or territorial nomination does not automatically give the nominee legal authorization to work in Canada.

The nominee must continue to hold valid work authorization or obtain a new work permit under an available category.

3. What Is a T13 Provincial Nominee Work Permit?

T13 is an administrative LMIA-exemption code used for certain provincial or territorial nominees whose temporary employment is supported under paragraph 204(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

This route can be relevant where the nominee has:

• a valid provincial or territorial nomination;
• a qualifying job or employment;
• an appropriate work permit support letter from the province or territory; and
• the other documents required for the employer-specific work permit.

Eligibility must be assessed under the particular provincial program and the federal work permit requirements in force when the application is submitted.

4. Legal Basis: IRPR 204(c)

Paragraph 204(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations permits a work permit to be issued for work covered by an agreement entered into by the federal immigration minister with a province or group of provinces under subsection 8(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Federal-provincial and federal-territorial immigration agreements provide the framework through which provinces and territories can support qualifying nominees for temporary work authorization.

The province's support does not eliminate IRCC's responsibility to assess the work permit application, including eligibility and admissibility.

5. PNP Work Permit Support Letter

A provincial or territorial work permit support letter is central to many T13 applications.

The letter demonstrates that the nominating jurisdiction supports temporary work authorization for the nominee.

Depending on the applicable agreement and provincial process, the province or territory may confirm matters such as:

• the applicant's nomination;
• the genuine nature of the employment;
• the economic benefit of the employment;
• the need for the nominee to begin or continue working;
• whether the employment is full-time and non-seasonal; and
• whether wages and working conditions meet the applicable provincial standards.

A nomination certificate and a work permit support letter should not automatically be treated as the same document.

6. Who Can Receive a PNP Work Permit Support Letter?

Provincial and territorial nomination programs determine when they will issue work permit support letters.

A nominee should therefore check the rules of the specific province or territory rather than assume that every nomination includes a support letter.

The applicable stream can impose additional conditions concerning:

• employment;
• employer eligibility;
• location;
• nomination validity;
• continued compliance with nomination terms;
• the stage of the PR process; and
• the need for continued temporary employment.

7. Is a T13 PNP Work Permit Open or Employer-Specific?

The standard T13 provincial nominee work permit is generally employer-specific.

This means the authorization is connected to the employer and employment described in the application.

It should not be confused with a Bridging Open Work Permit or a temporary public policy open work permit.

For more information, see the Employer-Specific Work Permit Canada guide .

8. Does a PNP-Supported T13 Work Permit Require an LMIA?

A qualifying T13 work permit is LMIA-exempt.

The employer therefore does not obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment for employment that qualifies under this exemption.

However, LMIA exemption does not mean that the employer or worker can skip the applicable International Mobility Program requirements.

See the LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Canada guide .

9. Employer Portal and Compliance Requirements

For an employer-specific LMIA-exempt work permit, the employer generally needs to complete the International Mobility Program employer process before the worker submits the application.

In most cases this includes:

1. submitting an offer of employment through the Employer Portal;
2. entering the required employer, worker and job information;
3. using the appropriate LMIA-exemption code;
4. paying the employer compliance fee; and
5. giving the worker the generated offer of employment number.

The offer number generally begins with the letter “A” followed by seven digits.

10. Employment Requirements for a PNP Work Permit

Where the provincial nomination and work permit support are based on employment, the job should remain consistent with the nomination and the provincial support.

Relevant issues can include:

• employer;
• occupation and NOC;
• job duties;
• work location;
• wage;
• hours;
• full-time status;
• non-seasonal employment; and
• continued employer eligibility.

A material change in employment can affect both work permit authorization and the underlying provincial nomination.

11. How to Apply for a Provincial Nominee Work Permit

1. Confirm that the provincial nomination remains valid.
2. Confirm that the province or territory supports the work permit application.
3. Obtain the required work permit support letter.
4. Confirm that the employment remains consistent with the nomination.
5. Have the employer complete the required Employer Portal process where applicable.
6. Obtain the offer of employment number.
7. Prepare the work permit application and supporting documents.
8. Submit the application before the current status expires where applicable.
9. Complete biometrics or a medical examination if required.

See the How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada .

12. Provincial Nominee Work Permit Document Checklist

Documents depend on the particular nomination and work permit category, but a T13 application can include:

• valid passport;
• provincial nomination certificate;
• provincial or territorial support letter;
• employment contract or job offer;
• Employer Portal offer number;
• proof of employer compliance submission;
• current work permit where applicable;
• evidence of current immigration status;
• education and professional credentials;
• occupational licensing where required;
• biometrics where required;
• medical examination evidence where required;
• family documents where applicable; and
• supporting explanation addressing the applicable LMIA exemption.

See also the Canada Work Permit Documents Checklist .

13. Provincial Nominee Work Permit Fees

For a standard employer-specific PNP-supported work permit, the worker normally pays the applicable work permit processing fee.

An open work permit holder fee applies only where the applicant is applying for an eligible open work permit category rather than the standard employer-specific T13 permit.

See the Canada Work Permit Fees and Biometrics guide .

14. Can a Provincial Nominee Get a Work Permit Before Applying for PR?

Potentially yes.

The federal framework recognizes T13 employer-specific work permits for qualifying provincial nominees who may not yet have submitted their permanent residence application, provided the applicable nomination, provincial support and work permit requirements are met.

This is one reason the T13 route should be distinguished from a Bridging Open Work Permit, which is connected to a qualifying permanent residence application already submitted to IRCC.

15. Provincial Nominee Work Permit vs. Bridging Open Work Permit

A T13 work permit and a Bridging Open Work Permit are different immigration mechanisms.

See the Bridging Open Work Permit Canada guide .

16. Express Entry PNP and Work Permits

An Express Entry provincial nomination can provide a major benefit in the permanent residence selection process, but the nomination does not itself create temporary work authorization.

A nominee who is already working in Canada must continue to maintain valid authorization.

Depending on the circumstances and stage of the PR application, an appropriate work permit may include:

• a T13 provincial nominee work permit;
• a Bridging Open Work Permit;
• an LMIA-based work permit;
• another LMIA-exempt work permit; or
• another independently available category.

See the Express Entry Canada Complete Guide .

17. Can a Provincial Nominee Change Employers?

A provincial nominee should exercise particular caution before changing employers.

Two separate issues may arise:

1. whether the existing employer-specific work permit authorizes work for the new employer; and
2. whether the change affects the conditions or validity of the provincial nomination.

A worker should not assume that obtaining a new job automatically preserves the nomination.

The nominating province or territory should be consulted where employment formed part of the nomination.

18. Extending a PNP-Supported Work Permit

A PNP-supported work permit can potentially be followed by another work permit where the applicant continues to qualify.

Before applying, the nominee should confirm:

• that the nomination remains valid;
• that provincial support remains available;
• that the employment remains eligible;
• whether a new Employer Portal submission is required;
• whether the applicant has become eligible for a BOWP; and
• whether another work permit category is more appropriate.

See the Canada Work Permit Extension guide .

19. PNP Work Permits and Maintained Status

A worker who submits a qualifying application to extend their authorization before the current work permit expires may be able to remain in Canada under maintained status while IRCC processes the application.

The right to continue working depends on the applicable maintained-status rules and the conditions of the existing authorization.

Maintained status should not be confused with a provincial nomination or support letter. It arises from the immigration status and extension framework.

20. Special Open Work Permit Measures for Prospective PNP Candidates

Temporary public policies can sometimes create separate work permit options for selected prospective Provincial Nominee Program candidates.

These measures should not be confused with the standard T13 work permit for an already nominated applicant.

For example, IRCC currently maintains a specific temporary measure for certain workers in Manitoba who entered the Manitoba PNP Expression of Interest process and received the required provincial support letter within the prescribed period.

IRCC expressly distinguishes that temporary open work permit measure from work permits for people who have already received a provincial or territorial nomination.

21. Provincial Entrepreneur Candidates and Work Permits

Provincial entrepreneur candidates can operate under a different work permit framework from employee nominees.

Some provincial business immigration streams require the entrepreneur to establish or operate the business in Canada before final nomination.

Where the province supports temporary entry for this purpose, the work permit can be assessed under a significant-benefit framework rather than the standard employee T13 route.

The applicant should therefore identify whether they are:

• already a provincial nominee;
• a provincial business candidate;
• an entrepreneur completing an establishment period; or
• applying under another entrepreneur work permit category.

These categories should not be treated as interchangeable.

See the C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit Canada guide for the separate federal significant-benefit business-owner framework.

22. Common PNP Work Permit Refusal Risks

Assuming nomination equals work authorization

A nomination does not itself permit employment.

Missing or invalid provincial support

Where a T13 support letter is required, the application should contain valid provincial or territorial support.

Employment no longer matches the nomination

Changes to employer, occupation, location or other employment terms can affect the work permit and potentially the nomination.

Employer Portal problems

The required employer-side IMP process should be completed correctly before the worker applies.

Confusing T13 with a BOWP

These categories have different eligibility and documentation requirements.

Nomination expiry or withdrawal

The underlying nomination and provincial support should remain valid where required.

General inadmissibility or work permit issues

Provincial support does not remove IRCC's responsibility to assess federal eligibility and admissibility.

23. Provincial Nominee Work Permit FAQs

Does a PNP nomination give me a work permit?

No. A provincial nomination and work authorization are legally separate.

What is a T13 work permit?

T13 is an LMIA-exemption code associated with qualifying provincial or territorial nominees supported for employer-specific work under IRPR 204(c).

Does T13 require an LMIA?

No. It is an LMIA-exempt work permit route.

Do I need a provincial support letter?

A qualifying provincial or territorial work permit support letter is generally central to a standard T13 application.

Is a PNP work permit open?

The standard T13 provincial nominee work permit is generally employer-specific.

Can I get a work permit before submitting my PR application?

Potentially. The T13 framework can apply to qualifying nominees who have not yet submitted their permanent residence application.

Is T13 the same as a BOWP?

No. A Bridging Open Work Permit is a separate open work permit category linked to a qualifying permanent residence application.

Can I change employers after nomination?

A change can affect both the employer-specific work permit and the provincial nomination. The immigration consequences should be assessed before changing employment.

Can a PNP work permit be extended?

Potentially, where the applicant continues to qualify and the required provincial and employer support remains available.

Does Express Entry nomination automatically let me work?

No. Express Entry nomination affects the permanent residence process but does not itself provide temporary work authorization.

Are all PNP work permits T13?

No. A provincial nominee may qualify for another work permit category depending on their circumstances and stage of processing.