Manitoba Temporary Resident Retention Pilot (TRRP)

Many foreign workers in Manitoba hold temporary work permits that will end. Their employers often want to keep them. The Temporary Resident Retention Pilot (TRRP) gives those employers a way to support their current workers for a provincial nomination through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

Manitoba launched the pilot in September 2025, at the same time it reopened its Employer Direct Initiative with updated rules. The two do different jobs:

• The Employer Direct Initiative mainly supports recruiting workers from outside Canada. See Skilled Worker in Manitoba.
• The TRRP helps employers keep workers who are already in Manitoba on work permits.

Because the positions are already filled, employers do not have to advertise them as part of a TRRP application.

A nomination is not permanent residence (PR). After nomination, the worker applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which makes the final decision. See our PNP overview and Manitoba guide.

The TRRP is employer-led. The usual order is:

1. The employer applies. A Manitoba employer submits a TRRP application to MPNP employer services for a position held by a current worker.
2. The MPNP reviews it. It checks the employer, the position, and whether the sector and occupation are eligible.
3. The employer refers the worker. Once approved, the employer can refer the worker to the MPNP.
4. The worker applies. The worker then takes the application steps the MPNP gives them, and must meet the MPNP's requirements for candidates.
5. Nomination and PR. If approved, Manitoba nominates the worker, who then applies to IRCC for PR.

The detailed rules for employers and workers, such as how long the worker must have been employed, language minimums, and employer requirements, are set by the MPNP. Read them on the official TRRP page rather than relying on summaries.

Manitoba made two changes to the TRRP effective February 4, 2026.

Hospitality and food services removed

The hospitality and food services sector is no longer eligible. TRRP applications in that sector, and worker referrals for already-approved TRRP applications in that sector, received after February 4, 2026 are not accepted or processed.

16 skilled trades added

Sixteen skilled trades occupations were added to the pilot's eligible list, including for employers in sectors that would otherwise be excluded:

This list comes from reports of the February 2026 update. Confirm the current eligible occupations on the MPNP employer services pages.

• You cannot apply on your own. The TRRP starts with your employer. Ask your manager or human resources team whether they plan to use it.
• You still have to qualify. Your employer's approval does not guarantee your nomination. You must meet the MPNP candidate requirements.
• Keep your work permit valid. The pilot does not extend your status. Apply for an extension on time if you are eligible. See maintained status and extending your status.
• No one may charge you for this. Manitoba law does not allow employers or recruiters to charge foreign workers recruitment fees. If someone asks you to pay for a referral, see our scam protection guide.
• Keep records. Pay stubs, your contract, and tax slips help prove your employment.

The TRRP is one option, not the only one. If you have worked in Manitoba for six months or more with a long-term job offer from the same employer, you may also be able to create your own EOI under the Manitoba Work Experience Pathway.

If you run a Manitoba business and want to keep a foreign worker, start with the MPNP employer services pages. They explain how to register, which sectors and occupations are eligible, and what documents you need.

Before you apply, check that the position is permanent and full-time, that the worker's pay and conditions meet provincial standards, and that you can support the worker's settlement. Remember that the hospitality and food services sector is excluded for applications received after February 4, 2026.

For a wider view of how employers use provincial programs, see our PNP employer streams guide.

The February 2026 change closed the TRRP to this sector. Other routes may still be open to you:

• Manitoba Work Experience Pathway. Check whether your occupation is eligible under the current rules for Skilled Worker in Manitoba.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Some hospitality jobs, such as cooks and food service supervisors, fall in TEER 2 or 3, which can count toward the Canadian Experience Class after one year of full-time work.
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot. If you work in or can move to Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, or Brandon, see the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
• Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. French speakers may look at St. Pierre Jolys under the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.

If your permit is ending soon or you have had a refusal, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC). See how to verify a lawyer or consultant. Employers can learn more on our PNP employer streams page.