A T13 work permit is an employer-specific work permit for people nominated by a province or territory for permanent residence. The employer does not need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA), but a nomination on its own does not give you the permit.
What is a T13 work permit?
A T13 work permit lets an eligible provincial nominee work for one employer in the nominating province without an LMIA. T13 is IRCC’s administrative code for this exemption, under paragraph 204(c) of the immigration regulations.
IRCC’s T13 overview lists 3 kinds of work under this code: significant investment projects, exceptional or unforeseen events, and people nominated by a province for permanent residence. This guide covers only the third. IRCC says “province” here also means territories, and that Quebec cases fall under a different paragraph. IRCC’s T13 pages are instructions for its staff, posted as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Omer Khalil, RCIC R710149, answers five questions on the T13 work permit, including status and the employer fee. The support letter IRCC requires comes from the province or territory, not the employer. General information, not advice for your case.
Who qualifies for a T13 work permit?
You need a valid nomination, or proof your permanent residence application was submitted before it expired, plus an LMIA-exempt job offer from an employer based in the nominating province and a provincial support letter. Meeting these does not make approval automatic, because you must also meet the general work permit requirements and an officer still decides.
IRCC’s instructions for nominees set out the three conditions:
- a valid nomination from a province other than Quebec, or proof that your permanent residence application was submitted before the nomination expired
- an LMIA-exempt offer of employment from an employer based in the nominating province
- a provincial support letter showing the urgent need for you to begin the job before permanent residence
You can apply before you submit your permanent residence application, unless the nomination has expired before submission or is paused. IRCC gives two examples of a pause: a withdrawn job offer, or an investigation by the province. IRCC’s employer-specific page adds that the employer must not be on the list of non-compliant employers.
Is the nomination letter the same as the support letter?
No, they are separate documents, and IRCC’s instructions list them separately. Even with a support letter, IRCC still has to assess the work permit application.
What our RCICs see: a lot of people think the nomination letter and the work permit support letter are the same thing. They are not.
| Document | Who it comes from | What IRCC says it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation of nomination letter | The provincial government | Verifies that you have been nominated for permanent residence |
| Provincial support letter | The province or territory | Shows the urgent need for you to begin the job before permanent residence |
| Statement from the province | The province or territory | Says the province has determined that the required factors are met |
| Offer of employment | The employer, through the Employer Portal or an approved alternate submission | Sets out the job, and comes with proof the compliance fee was paid |
The required factors are that you are urgently required by the employer, the job offer is genuine and will create economic benefits or opportunities, the job is not part-time or seasonal, and the wages and working conditions would be enough to attract and keep Canadians and permanent residents. IRCC says “urgently required” means no unreasonable delay between approval and the start of the job. Check that what your province gave you covers both the support letter and this statement. The steps can differ by province and a support letter may not come automatically, so ask your province how to get one. This guide does not cover those steps.
What does the employer have to do for a T13?
The employer must submit an LMIA-exempt offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal, or an approved alternate submission, and pay the employer compliance fee. IRCC’s hiring page says that in most cases the employer must pay the $230 compliance fee.
What our RCICs see: a common mistake is assuming that once you are nominated, you can simply apply for a work permit. People overlook the employer’s part of the process, especially the Employer Portal submission and supporting documents.
IRCC says the offer must include information about the business, the worker, the job details, and the wage and benefits. After submitting it, the employer gets a 7-digit offer of employment number and must give it to you. Once you have that number, you can complete and submit your work permit application. T13 and provincial nominees do not appear on IRCC’s list of compliance fee exemptions as we read it on 5 November 2026.
What documents does a T13 application need?
IRCC’s instructions call for the offer of employment with proof the fee was paid, a copy of the confirmation of nomination letter, the provincial support letter, and the province’s statement that the required factors are met. The same instructions say applications that do not include the requested information “will be refused”.
If your nomination has expired, you also need the proof described below, and you must meet the general work permit requirements.
IRCC also tells officers not to ask for a nomination certificate, and says provincial nominees are not issued a copy. Officers must also be satisfied that you can do the job: if not, they cannot issue the permit.
How long does a T13 last, and what are its conditions?
IRCC’s instructions tell officers to issue a T13 for the length stated in the offer, up to 3 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier. It ties you to one employer, one occupation and the location or locations on your permit in the nominating province, so it is not an open work permit.
The conditions in IRCC’s instructions say you are not authorized to work in any other location than your permit allows, for any other employer, or in any other occupation. IRCC says you must comply with all the information listed on your permit.
What mistakes cause problems with a T13?
The problems our RCICs see are missing documents, mistakes in the employer’s submission, and waiting until the work permit is about to expire. Sometimes the job details do not match what the province approved, and that can create unnecessary problems.
IRCC’s instructions say the information in the offer of employment should match the provincial support letter. So before the employer submits, compare the employer name, job title, occupation code, location and wage on the offer against what the province issued. If they differ, sort it out first, truthfully, with the employer and the province.
When should you apply if your work permit is about to expire?
IRCC says to apply at least 30 calendar days before your current work permit expires. If you apply before it expires and stay in Canada, IRCC says you can stay until a decision is made and keep working under the same conditions.
On an employer-specific permit, same conditions means the same employer, job and work location. On an open work permit, IRCC says you can usually change employers, jobs or locations unless your permit lists specific conditions. If you applied to change the employer or job on an employer-specific permit and that permit then expires, IRCC says you must keep working for the employer named on your original permit until a decision, unless you are approved or you request and receive authorization to work while IRCC processes your application.
If your permit has already expired and you did not apply before it expired, IRCC’s restoration page says you must stop working. IRCC must receive a restoration application no more than 90 days after your status expired, there is no guarantee it will be approved, and you normally cannot work until your status is restored and your new work permit is issued. If that application is refused, you have to leave Canada. Read that page, which also lists exceptions, and get advice on your own dates.
For status questions while waiting on a permanent residence file, MAK’s bridging open work permit guide explains another route, which is closed if your nomination letter restricts you to one employer.
What if your nomination has expired?
If your nomination has expired, IRCC normally requires the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter showing it received your permanent residence application before the nomination expired. If the nomination expired and you never submitted that application, you need a new nomination to extend your work permit.
There is a temporary measure for people in Canada. Operational Bulletin 699 says officers processing in-Canada applications may accept other proof when no AOR has been issued yet: the portal email confirming submission with proof of payment of the fees, or confirmation in IRCC’s systems. It stays in place until December 31, 2026, after which the normal AOR requirement returns unless further instructions are issued. It does not change the other requirements, and it does not guarantee permanent residence approval. Applications made outside Canada must still include the AOR, and IRCC warns that a returned permanent residence application may affect your future work permit eligibility. If you already have an AOR, you must submit the AOR. MAK’s guide to applying without an AOR covers this in detail.
Can you extend a T13 or change employers?
Yes, if you are eligible, but you need a new offer of employment each time. A new employer also needs a new support letter from the province or territory that nominated you, so speak to the province before you leave your current employer, because IRCC gives a withdrawn job offer as an example of a paused nomination.
IRCC’s instructions say you do not need new proof of nomination for the same employer, or a new confirmation of nomination for a new employer, if you submitted your permanent residence application before the nomination expired. If your nomination letter restricts you to a specific employer, you cannot apply for a bridging open work permit, though you can apply for another employer-specific permit if eligible. For both a same-employer and a new-employer extension, IRCC tells officers to follow the same processing instructions as for the first permit, so do not assume the province’s documents can be skipped when the employer stays the same.
Can your spouse or children work?
They may be able to apply for an open work permit. IRCC’s family page says eligibility depends on whether you are on a pathway to permanent residence or have applied, and on what type of worker you are.
The Provincial Nominee Program is listed there as an eligible pathway. In the routes for people who have applied for permanent residence or are on a pathway, IRCC also requires your permit to be valid for at least 6 months after it receives your family member’s application. Check the page against your own occupation and stage before you assume your family qualifies.
The worker’s documents and the employer’s submission have to line up. MAK’s RCICs can go through your nomination, support letter and job offer with you, from Mississauga, Scarborough or online. If you have not been nominated yet, see MAK’s Provincial Nominee Program guide, Express Entry page and LMIA-exempt work permit guide, or try the free Immigration Scanner.
Last checked against official sources: 5 November 2026. This page is general information, not advice for your case. IRCC’s instructions can change. IRCC makes all final decisions.
