Canada Clarifies Open Work Permit Rules for In-Canada PR Applicants

Canada has updated its Canada work permit processing guidelines for certain permanent residence applicants already in the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revised its operational instructions on August 10, 2026, for open work permits issued under LMIA exemption code A70 and Section R207 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The update reorganizes the guidance used by officers and provides separate instructions for different groups of permanent residence applicants.

The changes affect applicants who may qualify for an open work permit while their permanent residence applications are being processed in Canada. IRCC has clarified how these applications should be handled and reorganized the information into a more standardized International Mobility Program format.

Importantly, the update is administrative in nature. It does not introduce a new work permit category or create new eligibility requirements.

What Has Changed in Canada’s Work Permit Processing Guidelines?

IRCC has reorganized its instructions for permanent residence applicants in Canada under the R207-A70 framework.

Previously, the information was presented under the title “Applicants in Canada: Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption code A70 (International Mobility Program).”

The guidance is now titled “Permanent resident (PR) applicants in Canada [R207 – A70] – International Mobility Program.”

IRCC has also created an overview page that directs users and officers to separate pages covering individual applicant categories.

The department said the changes were made to improve navigation, clarity and consistency for officers processing these applications.

New instructions for Specific Applicant Groups

The revised structure provides separate instructions for several categories.

These include:

• Spouses or common-law partners in the relevant in-Canada class
• Persons with protected status
• Permanent residence applicants applying on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
• Eligible family members in Canada

Each category now has its own dedicated guidance under the International Mobility Program.

Who Can Be Affected by the A70 Work Permit Instructions?

The updated instructions are relevant to certain people who are pursuing permanent residence from within Canada and may qualify for an open work permit under the applicable provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

This includes some protected persons, spouses or common-law partners, applicants approved for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, and eligible family members in Canada.

However, the update itself does not mean that everyone in these categories automatically qualifies for a work permit.

Eligibility continues to depend on the requirements applicable to the specific permanent residence class and work permit provision.

IRCC Standardizes R207 and A70 Processing Information

One of the main features of the update is the standardization of the existing operational guidance.

IRCC has:

• Updated terminology
• Reorganized the information
• Added an overview landing page
• Created separate pages for individual applicant classes
• Expanded instructions for greater clarity
• Updated procedural links
• Aligned the content with the preferred International Mobility Program format

This can make it easier for officers to locate the instructions relevant to a particular application.

For applicants, the change is mainly about how the existing rules and procedures are presented rather than a major change to the underlying immigration program.

What Does the Update Mean for Permanent Residence Applicants?

For applicants, the most important point is that Canada’s updated work permit processing guidelines do not establish a new pathway to obtain an open work permit.

Instead, IRCC has reorganized and clarified existing instructions.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that the revised webpages automatically expand their eligibility. The applicable requirements remain tied to the relevant permanent residence category and the provisions under which the work permit is issued.

The update may nevertheless make the process easier to understand because information previously grouped together is now divided into more specific categories.

R207 and A70: What Do These Codes Mean?

The updated instructions refer to Section R207 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and LMIA exemption code A70.

The A70 provision is used in specific situations involving permanent residence applicants in Canada.

An LMIA exemption means that an applicant does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment for the applicable work permit. However, an LMIA exemption should not be interpreted as an automatic approval of a work permit.

The applicant must still meet the requirements that apply to their specific situation.

Separate Guidance for Family Members and Protected Persons

The restructuring is particularly relevant because different groups can be covered by different instructions.

IRCC has established separate guidance for:

Spouses or common-law partners: Instructions now specifically address the applicable in-Canada spouse or common-law partner class.

Protected persons: A separate page covers people with protected status under the applicable regulatory provision.

Humanitarian and compassionate applicants: Separate instructions are available for permanent residence applicants under humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

Family members in Canada: Eligible family members have their own section under the revised framework.

This division helps distinguish the procedures that apply to different groups instead of relying on a single broad set of instructions.

No New Work Permit Category Created

The August 10 update should not be interpreted as the launch of a new open work permit program.

IRCC has reorganized the information and clarified processing instructions, but the department has not announced a new eligibility category through this update.

For applicants, this distinction is important. A change to operational guidance can affect how officers access and apply instructions without changing the legislation or creating a new immigration pathway.

What Applicants Should Keep in Mind

Permanent residence applicants in Canada who are considering an open work permit should review the instructions that apply specifically to their immigration category.

Applicants should also make sure they are using current IRCC forms, instructions and procedural information when preparing an application.

Because work permit eligibility can depend on the applicant’s specific permanent residence class and circumstances, applicants should not rely solely on the existence of an A70 provision to determine eligibility.

Canada’s updated Canada work permit processing guidelines provide a clearer and more organized framework for processing certain open work permit applications from permanent residence applicants in Canada. The August 10, 2026 changes reorganize R207-A70 instructions, create separate guidance for specific applicant groups and align the information with the International Mobility Program format.

The update does not create a new work permit category or introduce new eligibility requirements. Instead, it focuses on making existing processing instructions clearer and easier for officers and stakeholders to follow.