Founder and Principal Consultant
Key Information
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Purposelets you keep working while IRCC decides your permanent residence application.
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Typean open permit, so it is not tied to one employer and needs no LMIA and no job offer.
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Statusyou must still hold valid status, or be inside the restoration window, on the day you apply.
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Stageyour permanent residence application must already be confirmed as in processing.
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Validityusually issued for twelve to twenty four months, and can be applied for again while the permanent residence file is still open.
Eligibility criteria
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You must be physically in Canada.
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You must hold valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within four months.
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You must have applied for permanent residence under one of these programs.Federal Skilled WorkerFederal Skilled TradesCanadian Experience ClassProvincial Nominee Program
A bridging open work permit exists for one situation. You are already in Canada on a work permit, you have a permanent residence application in progress, and your work permit will run out before IRCC decides it. Without a bridge you stop working on the day your permit expires, even though there is nothing wrong with your PR application. That is the gap this permit closes.
It is an open permit, and that is the part most people underestimate. It is not tied to one employer, it does not need an LMIA, and it does not need a job offer. You can change jobs, move province, or take a promotion while you wait.
Two things decide whether you get one. The first is how far your permanent residence application has progressed, because IRCC will not bridge a file it has not yet confirmed is in processing. The second is your status on the day you apply, which is where most refusals come from, and which we deal with in detail further down this page.
The cost of getting this wrong is not simply a refused work permit. It is a gap in your employment, an employer who cannot keep you on payroll, and in the worst cases a loss of status that has to be restored before anything else can move. If your permit expires within the next four months, this is a live issue for you now rather than something to look at later.
90
days to apply for restoration once your permit expires
12 to 24
months, the usual validity of a bridging permit
124
days average processing, as at July 2026
Qualifying Permanent Residence Streams:
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Express Entry, covering the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program
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Provincial Nominee Program, both the Express Entry and non-Express Entry routes
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Quebec Skilled Worker Class, and Quebec Investors
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Agri-Food Pilot
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Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs classes, and the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots for the 2019 to 2024 intake only
You Must Be in One of These Positions:
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Holding valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit
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Holding an expired work permit but on maintained status, having applied to extend before it expired
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Eligible to restore your status and be issued a work permit
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Physically present in Canada throughout
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Intending to reside outside Quebec, except where you applied under a Quebec stream
WarningRestoration: the riskiest version of this file
Losing status does not close the bridging option straight away. It does make this the hardest version of the file to run, and the sequence matters more here than anywhere else on this page.
- You have ninety days, and the clock starts on expiry. Restoration must be applied for within ninety days of your work permit expiring, not ninety days from when you noticed.
- The two applications can be made together. Where your permanent residence application is already in processing, restoration and a bridging open work permit can be filed at the same time.
- You cannot work while restoration is pending. Restoration carries no work authorisation. Your income stops on the day your permit expires and does not resume until the permit is issued, even if everything is eventually approved.
- The permanent residence file must reach the processing stage inside those ninety days. If it does not, the bridging route is simply not open to you, however strong the rest of your case is.
- Falling back to a visitor restoration is not a clean escape. You have already told IRCC in writing that you intend to keep working. An officer assessing a request to restore as a visitor is entitled to take that at face value, and often does.
Do not let the ninety days run down while you wait to see what happens. If your permit has already expired, this is the same week problem, not the next month problem.
Practical Points:
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Apply before your current work permit expires, not after, so that maintained status protects your ability to keep working
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The permanent residence application must already have reached the required processing stage for your stream
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Both the work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee apply
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The permit is open, so you are not tied to your current employer, which matters if your circumstances change while you wait
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In-Canada work permit processing was running at approximately 124 days as at July 2026
Are you eligible to apply for a bridging open work permit?
I am physically in Canada.
I currently hold a valid work permit, or it expired less than ninety days ago.
I have already submitted a permanent residence application.
IRCC has confirmed that permanent residence application is in processing.
My work permit will expire before I expect a decision on permanent residence.
Who is eligible for a BOWP?
Applicants who have submitted a permanent residency (PR) application and hold a valid work permit that is expiring within four months are eligible for a BOWP. This includes applicants under federal immigration programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) (under Express Entry).
Can I apply for a BOWP from outside Canada?
No, you must be in Canada to apply for a BOWP
Can I apply for a BOWP if my PR application is under a provincial nominee program?
Yes, but if your PR application is tied to a specific job offer, you may not be eligible for a BOWP and will need to explore other work permit options.
Can I apply for a BOWP if my PR application was tied to a job offer with a specific employer?
If your PR application was tied to having a job offer with a specific employer, such as through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Employer Job Offer streams, you cannot apply for a BOWP. Instead, you must explore options for a closed work permit. Many closed work permits require employers to pay an employer compliance fee. Failure to meet this requirement can result in a refusal of the work permit.
What should I do if I cannot apply for a BOWP?
If you are not eligible for a BOWP due to the nature of your PR application or other reasons, you may need to apply for a closed work permit. Ensure that your employer is aware of and complies with the requirement to pay the employer compliance fee, as this is a critical part of the application process.
Can I switch employers with a BOWP?
Yes, a BOWP is an open work permit allowing you to work for any employer in Canada.
What happens if my BOWP application is rejected?
You may need to stop working in Canada and explore other immigration or work permit options.
Can I travel outside Canada with a BOWP?
Yes, but you need to ensure your travel documents are in order and be aware that re-entry may be scrutinized.
Can my family members also get a work permit if I have a BOWP?
Yes, your spouse may be eligible for an open work permit, and your children can study in Canada.
Do I need to continue working for the same employer with a BOWP?
No, a BOWP allows you to work for any employer in Canada.
Is there a limit to how many times I can apply for a BOWP?
No, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for a BOWP as needed.
Who Will Be Working on Your File
Barrister and Solicitor, Pallavi Law Office