Bridging Open Work Permit
Applicants who submitted a Permanent Residence application to immigrate to Canada may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if they applied under one of the following categories:
- The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class
- The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- Caregivers Programs for Permanent Residence
Applicants who are currently in Canada may apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if their current work permit is set to expire within the next four months. This permit offers an excellent solution for both applicants and their dependents, as well as for the Canadian government, employers, and other stakeholders. Without it, applicants would either:
- Need to leave Canada until their application is processed, or
- Remain in Canada as visitors
Applicants residing in Quebec are not eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). However, if they hold a valid Quebec Selection Certificate, they may qualify for an employer-specific work permit.
BOWP Eligibility and Requirements
To qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), applicants must:
- Be the principal applicant on their Permanent Residence (PR) application.
- Reside in Canada (excluding Quebec).
- Hold a valid work permit set to expire in four months or less.
- Have received a positive assessment on their PR application.
- Submit an application for an open work permit.
Some foreign nationals are ineligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if:
- Their work permit has expired.
- Their current work permit is valid for more than four months or they hold a new LMIA for a different work permit application.
- They did not include a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) letter with their BOWP application, or the PNP letter contains employment restrictions.
- They are exempt from a work permit under section 186 of the IRPR.
- They are applying for a BOWP at a port of entry (POE) or from outside Canada.
- They are inadmissible to Canada.
Foreign nationals must have passed the positive eligibility assessment and completeness check at the Application for Permanent Residence (APR) stage, either through the electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) or paper APR, depending on the type of application.
Applicants can submit their Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) application if they meet all eligibility requirements, even before the APR is fully processed. However, the BOWP application will not be processed until the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) completes the APR’s completeness checks. If the APR is found incomplete, the BOWP application will be refused.
It is recommended to apply for a BOWP after receiving the Acknowledgment of Receipt letter for your APR.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Process
Once the applicant submits the correct form for the BOWP along with all requested documents, an officer will process the application. It is not necessary to include the employer’s name on the application, as the officer will assess it based on eligibility requirements.
After receiving the BOWP application and supporting documents, the processing office will confirm that all eligibility requirements are met.
Some applications may be deemed more complex and will be transferred to a local office for further review. If any issues are resolved, the same office may issue the work permit according to the established instructions.
To ensure that their spouse or common-law partner and dependents are eligible for an open work permit, the holder of the BOWP must meet specific required conditions.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Supporting Documents
In addition to the required forms and documents, applicants must pay the processing fees for both the work permit and the open work permit holder fee.
To ensure that a spouse or common-law partner and dependents are eligible for an open work permit, the BOWP must be valid for six months or longer.
Spouses receive an OWP for the same duration as the principal applicant, regardless of the skill level of the principal PNP applicant’s occupation.
Both the applicant and the BOWP holder must be performing work at Skill Level B NOC.
No special conditions need to be met by the principal applicant for their spouse or partner to obtain an OWP.
Applicants should follow the document checklist as instructed, taking into account the type of PR application of the principal applicant.
