Manitoba’s Temporary Resident Retention Pilot Program

Key Takeaways 

• This program is for employers wanting to retain existing temporary residents in Manitoba. 
• The focus of the program is on key sectors including agriculture, construction, IT, healthcare, food processing, and manufacturing. 
• Both employers and employees must meet strict eligibility criteria. 
• There’s no advertising requirement since the program applies to existing employees. 

What is the Temporary Resident Retention Pilot Program?

Manitoba’s Temporary Resident Retention Pilot is a new Manitoba initiative designed to help employers retain temporary residents who are already working in the province, by offering a pathway to more stable status and ultimately to permanent residence.

Purpose of the pilot

• To support employers in keeping the temporary workers they already employ, thereby improving workforce stability rather than needing to continually hire replacements.

• To align with Manitoba’s economic and immigration priorities, adjust which positions or sectors are targeted depending on emerging labour market needs.

Employer Eligibility Criteria 

The Manitoba Temporary Resident Retention Pilot is an employer-driven program. This means that the employer must be eligible and must be the party that completes and pays for the application. It is not allowed to ask the employee to pay you back for the application fee.  

Employers must: 

• Own and actively operate their business in Manitoba for at least 3 years. 
• Be incorporated/registered and in good standing federally or provincially. 
• Show at least $350,000 in annual revenue for each of the past 3 years. 
• Operate in eligible sectors (agriculture, construction, trades, IT, food processing, hospitality, healthcare, education, or manufacturing as of September 18, 2025 – these are subject to change). 
• Demonstrate at least a 50% retention rate for temporary workers over the past 3 years. 
• Maintain compliance with provincial/federal regulations and labour standards. 
• Provide contracts for permanent, full-time roles. 
• Hold a valid WRAPA certificate and cover IRCC’s $230 employer compliance fee. 

Some employers are not eligible for this program. They include:  

• Operate as placement-only agencies, 
• Solely contract with owner-operators or self-employed workers, 
• Plan to sell their business within 2 years, 
• Are listed on the federal suspension list, or 
• Have past violations under the TFWP or IMP. 

As you can see, the exclusions are typically based on past misconduct, temporary staffing arrangements, and exit planning.  

Candidate (Employee) Criteria for the Manitoba Resident Retention Pilot Program 

Employees must: 

• Work full-time (30+ hours/week) with the same employer for at least 18 months. 
• Live in Manitoba for more than half their time in Canada. 
• Hold a valid work permit expiring in less than a year (or be on maintained status). 
• Be aged 21–45 (unless employer requests otherwise). 
• Have language proficiency of at least CLB 5 for TEER 0–3 jobs, or CLB 4 for TEER 4–5. 
• Meet the minimum 60-point requirement under Manitoba’s assessment system. 
• Receive wages at or above the regional median wage for their occupation. 

For TEER 4–5 occupations with lower wage offers, employers must: 

• Pay for the worker’s permit fees. 
• Support settlement and integration.

No advertising is necessary:

• There are no advertising requirements for this pilot program because its purpose is to retain current employees in already filled roles.

Employees are not eligible if they qualify under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits or have been endorsed by a Regional Immigration Initiative. 

How To Apply for the Manitoba Temporary Resident Retention Pilot  

Employers should first check that they meet all eligibility criteria. Then, there’s a three-step process: 

• Identify the temporary worker you would like to retain and ensure they meet eligibility criteria.
• Complete the application form via the Immigrate Manitoba website.
• Submit the form and accompanying documents to [email protected].

Note: Meeting eligibility does not guarantee approval. Selection depends on Manitoba’s labour market priorities.