Am I eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit?

Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs) allow foreign nationals to continue working in Canada while their permanent residence (PR) application is being processed.

Without a BOWP, foreign nationals and their families, including spouses, common-law partners, and dependents, would face three options: temporarily leaving Canada, staying in Canada under visitor status (which would require them to stop working), or finding an employer willing to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Note: Compared to work permits requiring an LMIA, open work permits (OWPs) like a BOWP offer greater flexibility. OWPs allow the holder to work for most employers in most industries across Canada.?

Who Is Eligible for a BOWP?

To be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), foreign nationals must meet the following criteria:

1.???? Current Status in Canada:

• Be in Canada as a temporary resident (TR).

2.???? Valid Status in Canada:

• Hold a valid work permit, or
• Have maintained status with authorization to work after applying to renew their work permit, or
• Be eligible to restore their temporary resident status*.

3.???? PR Application Submission:

• Have submitted a PR application under one of these eligible economic immigration programs: Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW) Agri-Food Pilot Program Caring for Children Class or Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class (if the application was submitted before June 18, 2019).

4.???? Application for Permanent Residence (APR) Stage:

• For Express Entry: The Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) has passed the completeness check under Section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
• For the QSW Program: The APR has passed the completeness check under Section 10 of the IRPR.
• For all other BOWP-eligible programs: The candidate has received a positive eligibility assessment on their APR.

*Foreign nationals eligible for TR status restoration must also have authorization to work on a work permit.

Are the Family Members of a BOWP Holder Eligible for an Open Work Permit?

Eligibility for an Open Work Permit (OWP) for family members of a BOWP holder varies based on their relationship to the BOWP holder.

Spouse or Common-law Partner

The spouse or common-law partner of a BOWP holder may be eligible for an OWP if the BOWP holder meets the following conditions:

• Holds a valid work permit or is authorized to work in Canada without a work permit.
• Is authorized to work in Canada for at least six months from the date the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) application is received.
• Is either physically residing in Canada or plans to do so while employed.
• Is in a genuine relationship with their spouse or common-law partner.
• Is employed in one of the following ways: In an occupation that falls under National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B. In an NOC 0, A, B, or C occupation (for Atlantic Immigration Pilot applicants only). In any occupation, if they hold a provincial nomination certificate or a Quebec Selection Certificate.

Dependent Children

Dependent children of a BOWP holder are not eligible for an OWP. To apply for a work permit, they must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or qualify for an LMIA exemption.

What Conditions Does IRCC Place on the Location of Employment for BOWP Applicants?

While Open Work Permits (OWPs) generally allow holders flexibility in choosing their employer and changing jobs, Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs) may have specific conditions on the location of employment for certain applicants.

PNP Applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires that Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants with a BOWP are restricted to employment locations within the nominating province or territory.

Quebec Applicants

Applicants under the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program must select Quebec as their place of employment when applying for a BOWP.