New Quebec Bridge Work Permit for Skilled Workers Awaiting PR 2026

Canada and Quebec have introduced a new temporary work permit option to help skilled foreign workers stay in the province while they wait for permanent residence approval. This employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit acts as a 12-month bridge for eligible applicants. Launched on March 13, 2026, it targets workers in Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program who face expiring permits.

Key Features of the New Permit

The permit lasts up to 12 months and skips the Labour Market Impact Assessment, or LMIA, requirement. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada promises to process these applications within 30 days. Workers must apply before December 31, 2026, and stay with the same employer.

This measure fills a gap for those whose temporary status ends before their permanent residence decision arrives. It keeps skilled workers employed and helps Quebec businesses retain staff. The policy uses the identifier PPTR2PRQC2026 in the employer portal.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility depends on a worker’s status in Quebec’s immigration process and their work permit history. Applicants must work in Quebec, receive an invitation under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ in French), and submit a Demande de sélection permanente. They also need a closed, employer-specific permit from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or International Mobility Program.

Three main groups qualify:

1. Current permit holders: Those whose employer-specific permit expires on or before December 31, 2026.
2. Workers on maintained status: People who applied to extend their permit before it expired and now wait for a decision.
3. Recent expiry cases: Workers whose permit ended between March 13, 2026, and December 31, 2026, who seek a new permit and status restoration.

Who Does Not Qualify?

Not everyone can use this bridge. Workers who let their permit expire and switched to visitor status in Canada cannot apply. Those whose permit expired before March 13, 2026, even within the 90-day restoration window, fall outside the rules.

Open work permit holders or people without a Quebec Skilled Worker invitation do not qualify. The policy stays narrow to focus on workers already deep in the permanent residence process.

How to Apply

Employers start by posting a job offer in the portal with the code PPTR2PRQC2026. The worker then submits the federal work permit application under this public policy. Since it is LMIA-exempt and employer-specific, it ties the worker to that job.

The 30-day service standard speeds things up compared to standard paths. This setup rewards workers who kept their status active and supports ongoing employment.

Why This Matters for Workers and Employers

For foreign workers, the permit prevents job loss during the wait for permanent residence. It maintains their path in Quebec’s selection system without starting over.

Employers gain stability by keeping trained staff on site. Quebec’s focus on skilled labor benefits from reduced turnover in key roles. The temporary nature, ending December 31, 2026, makes it a targeted fix rather than a long-term change.

Frequently Asked Questions