FAQ

A Bridging Open Work Permit is a temporary work permit available to certain foreign nationals who have submitted eligible Canadian Permanent Residence applications and are awaiting a final decision.

Eligibility depends on the permanent residence program. Applicants generally must:

• Be physically residing in Canada.
• Be the principal applicant under an eligible permanent residence program.
• Have submitted a qualifying PR application.
• Have valid worker status, maintained worker status, or be eligible for restoration, as applicable.
• Meet the required PR application processing milestone.
• Satisfy the applicable work permit requirements.

Eligible programs may include:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
• Eligible Express Entry-linked Provincial Nominee Programs.
• Eligible non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Programs.
• Quebec Skilled Worker Class.
• Certain former caregiver immigration programs.
• Agri-Food Pilot.
• Quebec investor immigration applicants.

No. Creating an Express Entry profile or entering the candidate pool does not qualify an applicant for a BOWP.

Express Entry applicants generally need an AOR, along with a complete PR application that has passed the applicable completeness check. Other PR categories may require additional milestones, such as passing an eligibility assessment or receiving approval in principle.

Yes, provided you meet the requirements of the applicable BOWP category.

Potentially. Applicants who maintained worker status or are eligible to restore their status may qualify, depending on the applicable BOWP category.

Maintained status generally allows a temporary resident who submits an eligible extension application before their current status expires to remain in Canada while IRCC processes the application.

Eligible workers may continue working under the conditions of their previous work permit, subject to applicable rules.

Submitting a BOWP application does not automatically remove the restrictions on an existing employer-specific work permit. Once an unrestricted BOWP is issued, the holder may generally work for different eligible employers, subject to any conditions on the permit.

Yes. Eligible provincial nominees may qualify through either an Express Entry-linked or non-Express Entry PNP application. Applicants must generally have no employment restrictions imposed as a condition of their nomination and satisfy the applicable federal PR processing requirements.

No. A provincial nomination certificate alone does not establish BOWP eligibility. Applicants must also submit an eligible federal Permanent Residence application and meet the applicable acknowledgement, completeness, or eligibility assessment requirements.

Some applicants under previous caregiver immigration programs may qualify if they meet the applicable requirements, including approval in principle where required.

However, applicants under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots introduced in 2025 are not eligible for a BOWP through those pilots.

Potentially. A spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit under the applicable family-member work permit provisions.

Travel may be possible, but leaving Canada can affect maintained status and employment authorization.

Common reasons include:

• Submitting only an Express Entry profile without a PR application.
• Applying before reaching the required PR processing milestone.
• Not meeting temporary resident status requirements.
• Applying as a dependent rather than the principal PR applicant.
• Employment restrictions attached to a provincial nomination.
• Missing supporting documents.
• Failure to meet general work permit eligibility requirements.