Program delivery update: Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently outside Quebec [R205(a) – A76] and Open work permit general processing and issuance – International Mobility Program

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

December 7, 2022

The instructions have been updated to clearly reflect that applicants can apply for an open work permit and be issued one under labour market impact assessment (LMIA) exemption code A76 before or after they submit their application for permanent residence.
Under “Eligibility requirements,” this new bullet was added:
- If an application for permanent residence has been submitted, it must have been submitted before the expiry of the CSQ and still be in progress.
Under “Documentary evidence,” instructions were added to clarify that, although the submission of the application for permanent residence is not mandatory, if the applicant has submitted an application for permanent residence to IRCC under 1 of Quebec’s economic immigration streams, the applicant must provide 1 of the 3 documentary evidence provided in the instructions.
Under “Receipt of open work permit applications,” the note was amended.
A comparative table of categories that are available under the International Mobility Program for CSQ holders was included as a reference tool. The same table was also included in the Quebec cases instructions.
The NOC field was updated to include instructions on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code that should be entered for applications received on or after November 16, 2022.
Two new sections were added (“Work permit application refusals” and “Previous updates”).

Under “Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS): Unrestricted,” a note was added related to the “City of destination” field.
The NOC field was updated to include instructions on the NOC code that should be entered for applications received on or after November 16, 2022.
Under the “Open work permit LMIA exemption categories,” the table was updated to include other categories of spouses or common-law partners who are eligible to apply for a LMIA-exempt open work permit (code C41) (for example, spouses of CSQ holders and spouses of provincial nominees). The instructions previously only indicated spouses of skilled workers.
Two new sections were added (“Work permit application refusals” and “Previous updates”).

Updated instructions