Bridging Open Work Permit Requirements & How to Apply
A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows eligible permanent residence applicants in Canada to continue working while IRCC processes their application. It is an open work permit that generally allows the holder to work for most employers without an LMIA or employer-specific job offer. For Express Entry applicants, BOWP eligibility generally begins after the permanent residence application passes IRCC’s completeness check and an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) is issued.BOWPs are also available under certain other permanent residence pathways, with eligibility requirements that vary by program.
Bridging Open Work Permit Eligibility
Eligibility for a Bridging Open Work Permit depends on the permanent residence program, the stage of the PR application, and the applicant’s current status in Canada. For Express Entry applicants, the BOWP is generally available only after the permanent residence application has been submitted and reached the required stage.
To qualify, an Express Entry applicant must generally:
- be living in Canada and intend to live outside Quebec;
- be the principal applicant on the permanent residence application;
- have submitted a complete permanent residence application under the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program;
- have passed IRCC’s completeness check and received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR); and
- either hold a valid work permit and temporary resident status, have maintained status as a worker after the previous permit expired, or be eligible to restore status and obtain a work permit.
Creating an Express Entry profile or receiving an Invitation to Apply through Express Entry draws, including Express Entry category-based selection, is not enough to qualify for a BOWP. Before receiving an invitation, applicants may use an Express Entry CRS Calculator to estimate their Comprehensive Ranking System score.
BOWP Eligibility for Other Permanent Residence Programs
BOWP eligibility also extends to certain applicants outside the standard Express Entry pathway, but the requirements differ by program.
- Provincial Nominee Program applicants: may qualify under eligible Express Entry or non-Express Entry streams. The nomination must meet IRCC’s BOWP requirements, including any applicable restrictions on employment.
- Quebec skilled worker applicants: may qualify if they meet the applicable BOWP requirements and hold the required Quebec selection documents, including a valid Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), where required.
Because BOWP eligibility and supporting document requirements vary by permanent residence program, applicants should confirm the requirements that apply to their specific pathway.
How to Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit
Once an applicant meets the BOWP eligibility requirements, the next step is to submit an in-Canada work permit application through IRCC while the Express Entry application process for permanent residence continues separately.
The application process generally includes:
- confirming that the permanent residence application has reached the stage required for the applicant’s immigration program;
- completing the in-Canada work permit application and required questionnaire;
- selecting “Open work permit” as the type of work permit;
- uploading the documents listed in the personalized IRCC checklist;
- providing the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) or other program-specific proof required by IRCC;
- paying the applicable government fees; and
- submitting the application online in most cases.
Applicants applying from inside Canada generally use IMM 5710, Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker.
Applicants should apply before their current work permit expires whenever possible. If an eligible application is submitted before expiry, the applicant may have maintained status and may continue working under the same conditions as the previous work permit while remaining in Canada and waiting for a decision.
If the applicant has already lost status, a BOWP may still be possible if they are eligible to restore their temporary resident status and obtain a work permit. Restoration is generally requested within 90 days of losing status, and the applicant normally cannot continue working until status and work authorization are restored.
BOWP Documents, Forms and Fees
The documents required for a Bridging Open Work Permit depend on the applicant’s permanent residence program and personal circumstances. IRCC generates a personalized document checklist as part of the online work permit application.
For an Express Entry BOWP application, documents commonly include:
- a valid passport or travel document;
- the current or most recent work permit;
- the permanent residence Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR);
- IMM 5710, where applicable;
- digital photographs, where requested;
- restoration documents, if the applicant is also applying to restore status; and
- any additional documents requested in the personalized IRCC checklist.
The documents required for a Bridging Open Work Permit depend on the applicant’s permanent residence program and personal circumstances and are separate from the broader Express Entry documents checklist for permanent residence.
Applicants under other permanent residence pathways may need different supporting evidence. Provincial Nominee Program applicants must also provide the required nomination documentation, including the applicable nomination letter and proof of the permanent residence application. Quebec skilled worker applicants must provide their Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) and the IRCC letter showing their permanent residence application number.
The standard government fees for a BOWP are:
- Work permit processing fee — $155
- Open work permit holder fee — $100
The standard total is $255.
Applicants who need to restore their status as a worker must also pay the applicable restoration and work permit fees. IRCC currently lists $401.25 for restoring worker status and obtaining a new work permit. Because a BOWP is an open work permit, applicants must also pay the $100 open work permit holder fee, bringing the total to $501.25 before any applicable biometrics fee.
Biometrics or other fees may apply depending on the applicant’s circumstances. Government fees can change, so applicants should confirm the current IRCC fee schedule before submitting the application.
How to Check BOWP Processing Time and Validity
BOWP processing times vary depending on IRCC’s current workload, application volume, application completeness and whether additional information is required. Applicants should use IRCC’s processing-time tool and select the category for a work permit application made from within Canada to see the current estimate.
The posted processing time is an estimate and does not guarantee when an individual BOWP application will be finalized.
Applicants who submit an eligible BOWP application before their current work permit expires may have maintained status. If the requirements are met, they can continue working under the same conditions as their previous work permit while remaining in Canada and waiting for a decision.
The validity period of an approved BOWP is determined by IRCC and appears on the work permit. The length can depend on the applicant’s circumstances and document validity, and a work permit generally cannot be issued beyond the validity of the applicant’s passport.
If permanent residence is still being processed when the BOWP is approaching expiry, the applicant should review whether another work permit extension or other temporary work authorization is available. A BOWP does not automatically remain valid simply because the permanent residence application is still in process.
Travel and Family Members with a BOWP
A Bridging Open Work Permit is not a travel document and does not by itself authorize a person to enter or re-enter Canada. Depending on nationality and method of travel, a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) may also be required.
An applicant can leave Canada while a BOWP application is being processed, but travel may affect their ability to work after returning. If the previous work permit expires while the applicant is outside Canada, or the applicant leaves Canada after it expires, they cannot rely on maintained status to continue working after returning. If permitted to re-enter Canada while the BOWP application is still being processed, the applicant generally must wait until the new work permit is approved before resuming work.
A spouse or common-law partner does not automatically qualify for an open work permit because the principal applicant has applied for or received a BOWP. For family members of eligible economic-class permanent residence applicants, the principal applicant must generally hold or be approved for a qualifying work permit, and that work permit must normally remain valid for at least six months after IRCC receives the family member’s application.
Depending on the applicable category, supporting evidence may include:
- proof of the relationship to the principal applicant;
- proof of the principal applicant’s valid work authorization;
- information about the principal applicant’s occupation or permanent residence pathway, where required;
- proof of the principal applicant’s permanent residence application, such as an Acknowledgement of Receipt; and
- any additional documents requested by IRCC.
Family-member open work permit eligibility depends on the principal applicant’s circumstances and the rules in effect at the time of application.
