If an employer misses the six-month deadline, the work permit pre-approval will be automatically cancelled.

Previously, an unused work permit pre-approval had to be replaced within two months, subject to a new paid quota approval and other labour fees.

Practical Considerations

• The application to replace a work permit pre-approval must be for the same job title and gender;

• Employers are limited to re-using a pre-approval for the same job title and gender up to four times.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers can now benefit from extended periods of time during which they can replace an unused work permit pre-approval without an additional fee.