Effective June 9, 2026, until December 31, 2026, individuals in Canada who applied for permanent residence (PR) under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may submit alternative proof of PR submission, rather than an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR), in support of their work permit applications.
Officers may temporarily accept alternative evidence of PR submission for PNP employer-specific work permits, PNP Bridging Open Work Permits, and eligible spousal open work permits for spouses or partners of PNP principal PR applicants.
Officers may be satisfied by either of the following in place of an AOR, only when an AOR has not yet been issued at the time the applicant submits their work permit application:
- A copy of the email confirming submission of the PR application through the online portal, together with proof of payment of applicable PR fees, or
- Confirmation in IRCC systems that an APR has been received and remains pending, including prospective applications visible in GCMS
This flexibility applies only to in-Canada processing and does not modify underlying program eligibility requirements or the outcome of R10 completeness or eligibility assessments. Work permit applications submitted outside Canada must continue to require a PR AOR before the work permit can be processed.
These temporary measures are intended to support in‑Canada work permit processing for PNP applicants affected by prolonged timelines for PR application completeness checks.
Extended completeness checks delay the issuance of an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) for PR applications, which is a mandatory eligibility requirement in several work permit categories to demonstrate that a PR application is in process.
The absence of an AOR has led to refusals of in-Canada work permit applications, which may in turn cause work interruptions, loss of temporary resident status, and increased administrative burden for provinces and territories due to the need to re-issue nominations.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.