T13 Work Permit After OINP Nomination: Layman’s Guide to Employer Portal, Conditions & Documents (2026)
You got your OINP nomination — congratulations. Now what? If your Certificate of Nomination came with a support letter that mentions Exemption Code T13 and Section R204(c), this guide explains — in plain English — what that means, how your employer helps you get a work permit, exactly what documents you need, and what happens if the job doesn’t work out.
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Contact Us →What is a T13 Work Permit? (In Layman’s Language)
A T13 work permit is a special LMIA-exempt work permit that Canada gives to people who have been nominated by a province (like Ontario through OINP) and who have a job offer from an employer in that same province.
“LMIA-exempt” means your employer does NOT need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — which is the long, expensive process most foreign workers need. Instead, your provincial nomination and the federal-provincial agreement do that job for you.
Think of T13 as a bridging work permit: it lets you (and often your family) come to Canada or stay in Canada and start working for your nominating employer while your permanent residence application is being processed.
Why T13 Exists — The Big Picture
Permanent residence takes time. IRCC can take several months to finalize a PR application, even after the province has nominated you. Rather than making nominees wait outside Canada or leave jobs on hold, IRCC created the T13 route so nominees can begin working right away for the employer who supported them.
Official reference: Canada.ca — Exemption Code T13: Federal–provincial–territorial agreements and the specific section on Nominated by a province.
How Do You Qualify for a T13 Work Permit?
You qualify if all of the following are true:
T13 qualifying factors (from Ontario’s official work-permit support letter)
- You have been issued a Certificate of Nomination by a Canadian province or territory (in this case, Ontario through OINP).
- You have a genuine, permanent, full-time job offer from an employer in the province that nominated you.
- The job offer is in a skilled occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
- The wage offered meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for that NOC in that location.
- The employer has submitted the offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and paid the compliance fee.
- Your nomination is still valid and has not been cancelled or expired.
What Happens After Your OINP Nomination Is Approved?
Once OINP approves your nomination and issues an employer-support work-permit letter, your Nomination Approval Letter comes with a list of binding conditions. These are not optional — breaking any of them can lead OINP to cancel your nomination, and IRCC can refuse or revoke your work permit and PR application.
The 6 Conditions on Your OINP Nomination (Verbatim)
From the OINP Nomination Approval Letter — Employer Job Offer Stream
- The nominee must accept the job offer from the nominating employer.
- The nominee must work for the nominating employer in the position and location specified in the nomination approval letter.
- The nominee must not work for any other employer in Canada while on the T13 work permit tied to this nomination.
- The nominee must apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six (6) months from the date of the nomination approval letter.
- The nominee must reside in the Province of Ontario once they arrive in Canada or while continuing to live in Canada.
- If the job offer is withdrawn, declined, or the employment is terminated for any reason, the nominee must notify OINP immediately, and the nomination may be cancelled.
How Your Employer Uses the IRCC Employer Portal to Issue Your T13 Job Offer
Before you can apply for the actual work permit, your employer has one critical step to complete: submit an “offer of employment” through the IRCC Employer Portal and pay the $230 employer compliance fee.
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This is where most delays happen. If your employer has never used the portal before, help them start early. Here is the step-by-step process from IRCC’s official Employer Portal user guide.
Your employer visits the IRCC Employer Portal sign-in page and registers using a GCKey or Sign-In Partner. They will need their business number (BN9 or BN15) and business details ready.
Inside the portal, the employer fills out the “Submit an offer of employment” form. They will enter your details (name, date of birth), the job title, NOC code, wage, hours, location, start date, and select LMIA-exempt category T13 — Provincial Nominee.
Payment is made online through the portal. The fee is non-refundable. Current fees are listed on the IRCC fee list.
After successful submission and payment, the portal generates a unique reference number that starts with the letter A followed by 7 digits (for example: A1234567). This is your key to the T13 work permit.
You need this number to complete your work permit application. Without it, IRCC will refuse the application.
You submit your work permit application (online, or at a port of entry if visa-exempt) with the A-number, the OINP nomination package, the support letter, and supporting documents.
The Complete Document Checklist for Your T13 Work Permit Application
Ontario’s official work-permit support letter instructs you to include the following documents with your work permit application:
Documents you must include (verbatim from OINP support letter)
- This work-permit support letter issued by the OINP.
- A copy of the OINP Nomination Approval Letter (or Acknowledgement of Receipt) confirming the nomination.
- Proof that the employer has submitted the offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and paid the compliance fee (the “A” number receipt/confirmation).
- A copy of the job offer from the nominating employer setting out title, duties, wage, hours, and location.
- Proof of your qualifications for the position (education credentials, work reference letters, licences or trade certifications where required for the NOC).
- Proof of relationship for any dependants included on the application (marriage certificate, birth certificates for children).
- Any other documents required by IRCC for a work permit application, including a valid passport, digital photograph, biometrics, medical exam results (if applicable), police certificates, and proof of funds if requested.
What Does It All Cost? (2026 Fees)
| Fee | Who Pays | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Employer compliance fee (Employer Portal) | Employer | $230 |
| Work permit processing fee | Worker | $155 |
| Open work permit holder fee (if applicable to spouse) | Spouse | $100 |
| Biometrics (single applicant) | Worker | $85 |
| Biometrics (family, 2 or more) | Family | $170 |
Current fees are always available on the IRCC fee list. Employer compliance fees are not refundable even if your work permit is refused.
How Long Is the T13 Work Permit Valid?
Ontario’s current work-permit support letters request a work permit valid for up to 2 years from the date of issuance. However, IRCC’s 2022 update to the T13 program allows officers to issue work permits for up to 3 years in certain cases — see the 2022 T13 program delivery update.
The exact duration issued is decided by the IRCC officer, based on the length requested in the provincial support letter and the length of your passport validity.
Critical Deadlines You Must Not Miss
- 6 months to apply for permanent residence: From the date of your OINP nomination approval letter (this is Condition 4).
- Apply for the work permit before starting work: You cannot begin working for the employer until you have the physical T13 work permit in your hand (or, if applying at a port of entry, until the officer issues it).
- Passport validity: Your T13 work permit cannot be issued for longer than your passport is valid. If your passport expires in 18 months, renew it before applying if you want the full duration.
What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?
If your employer withdraws the job offer
You must notify OINP immediately (Condition 6). OINP may cancel your nomination. IRCC may refuse your work permit if it has not yet been issued, or the work permit becomes effectively unusable if it has already been issued.
If you are terminated after starting work
Same as above — notify OINP immediately. In some cases, if you find another eligible employer in Ontario in the same NOC and OINP agrees, you may be able to transfer the nomination — but this is at OINP’s discretion and requires a new employer-support process.
If your PR application is refused
Your T13 work permit remains valid until its expiry date, but you should consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer immediately about restoration, reconsideration, or alternate PR pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my spouse and children to Canada on a T13?
Yes. Your spouse can typically apply for an open work permit (C41) as the spouse of a skilled worker, and your dependent children can apply for study permits or visitor status. Include their documents in your work permit application.
Can I apply for the T13 work permit inside Canada?
Yes, if you already have valid temporary status in Canada (as a visitor, student, or worker), you can apply online from within Canada. Otherwise, you apply from your country of citizenship or last legal residence.
Do I need a job offer letter and a work-permit support letter — or just one?
You need both. The job offer letter comes from the employer. The work-permit support letter is issued by OINP after they approve your nomination.
Can I change employers on a T13?
No. The T13 is employer-restricted. Changing employers requires a new nomination process or a different work permit category.
What NOC codes qualify?
For the OINP Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, the position must generally be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. In-Demand Skills and International Student streams have different NOC rules — see the Ontario OINP Employer Job Offer stream page.
Need Help With Your T13 Work Permit or OINP PR Application?
Our RCIC-IRB team has processed hundreds of OINP nominations and T13 work permits. We handle employer portal submissions, work permit applications, and the full PR file.
Official Sources
- IRPR s.204(c) — Justice Laws Canada
- Exemption Code T13 — IRCC
- T13 — Nominated by a Province — IRCC
- 2022 Program Delivery Update — Federal–Provincial Agreements (T13)
- IRCC Employer Portal — Sign-in Page
- IRCC Employer Portal — User Guide
- IRCC Fee List
- Ontario OINP — Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and each case is different. For advice on your specific situation, book a consultation with a licensed RCIC or lawyer.
