Canada Extends Work Permits for Quebec Skilled Workers Awaiting Permanent Residence

The announcement was made on March 13 by the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, on behalf of Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. 

Key Takeaways 

• Eligible workers whose work permit is expiring between now and December 31, 2026, can receive a new employer-specific work permit of up to 12 months. 

• You must have received an invitation to submit a Demande de Sélection Permanente (DSP) under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program. 

• Your work permit must be tied to a specific employer under either the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program. 

• Rural employers in some provinces may be able to increase their cap on low-wage temporary foreign workers from 10% to 15%, till March 31, 2027. 

Work Permit Extensions for PR Applicants in Quebec 

According to IRCC’s press release, eligible Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in Quebec who’ve applied for permanent selection under the Skilled Worker Selection Program will be able to receive a new employer-specific work permit under the International Mobility Program. This work permit will be valid for up to 12 months and will allow them to keep working for their current employer.  

This measure will give Quebec more time to issue Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) before applicants can move forward with their permanent residence applications. It will also create more predictability for foreign workers who are in the process of transitioning to permanent residence and the businesses that employ them. 

The announcement aligns with the broader federal push to retain temporary workers who are already contributing to the Canadian economy and bridging skill gaps. Although Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan aims to reduce overall foreign worker arrivals to 220,000 by 2028, it also commits to accelerating the transition of up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. 

Who Qualifies for These Work Permit Extensions 

The measure is specifically designed for workers who have received an invitation to submit a Demande de Sélection Permanente (DSP) under Quebec’s new Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP, or PSTQ in French).Eligible workers will receive a new employer-specific work permit under the International Mobility Program. This work permit will be for up to 12 months and allow them to continue working for their current employer. 

To qualify for a work permit extension, you must meet both these conditions: 

• You were invited to apply for permanent selection under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (also known as the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés or PSTQ) and have submitted your Demande de Sélection Permanente (DSP). 

• You hold or recently held an employer-specific work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP), with an expiry date between now and December 31, 2026. 

If your work permit is open (not tied to a specific employer), this measure does not apply to you. You also need to have received a DSP invitation. Merely having submitted an expression of interest under the SWSP is not enough. 

Background: Why Work Permit Extensions Are Needed 

The measure is a direct response to a transition in Quebec’s immigration system that left thousands of workers in an uncertain position. 

In November 2024, Quebec partially suspended its Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), a fast-track to permanent residence for workers and graduates that had been running since 2010. The province ended it entirely about a year later, replacing it with the new Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP). 

Under the old PEQ, workers who met the criteria received their Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ or Certificat de sélection du Québec) directly, often within a few months. The CSQ is the document that allows workers to apply for permanent residence. With an application for PR in process, the applicant can then transition to maintained status during the processing of their federal permanent residence. 

On the other hand, under the SWSP, candidates submit an expression of interest through the Arrima portal, and Quebec invites applicants to submit a DSP based on labour market priorities. However, simply being invited to submit a DSP isn’t enough to extend an applicant’s stay in Canada. Quebec still needs to review each worker’s eligibility and issue a CSQ before they can apply for permanent residence. This extra step leavesmany workers with no clear way to extend their stay in Canada during this processing time. 

The federal government has acknowledged that many of these workers have been in Canada for a considerable time, are employed, and have become valued members of their communities. This measure is designed to support their transition to permanent residence rather than risk losing workers who are already contributing to Quebec’s economy. 

Around 80,000 candidates have submitted expressions of interest since the program launched on July 1, 2025, while Quebec is aiming to admit roughly 29,000 economic immigrants this year. 

What to Do Next 

If your work permit is expiring this year and you’ve been invited for permanent selection application under Quebec’s SWSP and submitted a Demande de Selection Permanente (DSP), apply for your new work permit as soon as possible.  

Do not wait until your permit expires. Applying before expiry will allow you to maintain your status and continue working while your application is processed. 

You can apply online through your IRCC account. Applications are open until December 31, 2026, and IRCC has indicated that processing will be expedited. You’ll need to include proof of your DSP invitation and your current employment. 

Once Quebec completes its review and issues your CSQ, you can then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. The 12-month work permit is a bridge to that point, not a permanent solution. Once your PR application is submitted, you may be able to qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), if needed. 

Possible Easing of TFW Cap for Rural Employers 

In a separate announcement, the federal government also introduced targeted measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for rural employers. The measures will remain in place until March 31, 2027. 

At the request of provinces or territories, rural employers in eligible regions will be allowed to retain their current number of low-wage temporary foreign workers and temporarily increase the permitted ratio from 10% to 15% of their workforce.  

This does not impact sectors that already have exemptions from the cap, including health care, construction, and food processing, or seasonal sectors like seafood processing and tourism. 

If Quebec opts in, employers in rural areas in the province could benefit from this change. The federal government has indicated that measures can be implemented in two weeks after a province or territory makes a positive request.