What this is. On March 13, 2026, the federal government announced a temporary measure to stop foreign workers in Quebec from losing their right to work while they wait to be selected for permanent residence. It is a federal measure — run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal immigration department — but it is aimed specifically at Quebec workers. So if you are working in Quebec on a temporary permit, it concerns you directly, as Canada.ca announced.
What it grants. The measure lets workers who hold an employer-specific work permit — a permit tied to a single employer, as opposed to an open work permit that allows you to work for any employer — keep working for their current employer for up to 12 additional months. This new permit is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the step an employer normally has to complete to hire a foreign worker.
Who it is for. It is not for everyone. You must have been invited to submit a permanent selection application (Demande de sélection permanente, or DSP) in Quebec and have submitted it under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, PSTQ), the program that replaced the former Quebec Experience Program. You must also keep working for the same Quebec employer listed on your previous permit, according to Canada.ca's public policy.
Why the 12 months. Before applying to the federal government for permanent residence, a candidate selected by Quebec must first obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, CSQ). Quebec's review of the file takes time. The federal measure provides the cushion: staying legally employed while the CSQ is issued.
The dates that matter. It covers employer-specific permits expiring between March 13 and December 31, 2026. The measure itself runs until December 31, 2026 — and, like any temporary policy, it can be changed or revoked by IRCC at any time. You can apply on IRCC's website, and applications get expedited processing.
A later step for families. Starting June 5, 2026, once the main worker is found eligible under this policy, their spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit, provided they have valid temporary resident status in Canada and are named on the worker's permanent selection application, as Canada.ca notes.
Good to know for newcomers. If your employer-specific permit expires this year and you have already been invited and filed your DSP in Quebec, do not let your permit lapse without acting. Check your eligibility on IRCC's website and apply before it expires so you can keep working without a gap. Because the rules of a temporary policy can shift, always rely on the official government pages — not a blog or a consultant — for the current conditions.
