A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is an open work permit available to persons who have applied for Canadian permanent residence through an in-Canada pathway and whose permanent residence application has passed a completeness check (i.e., an Acknowledgement of Receipt has been issued). The BOWP allows the holder to work for any employer in Canada — they are not restricted to the occupation or employer listed on any previous work permit. The purpose of the BOWP is to allow PR applicants to continue working lawfully in Canada while their permanent residence application is being processed.

The BOWP is a distinct type of open work permit. It is separate from:

• Implied/maintained status — which allows a person to continue working under the same conditions as their expired permit while a renewal is in process
• The spousal open work permit — which is available to sponsored inland spouses/partners and has a separate eligibility pathway
• Other open work permits issued on compassionate or public policy grounds

For current processing times and application fees, refer to the IRCC processing times tool and the IRCC BOWP guidance.

The BOWP is authorised under IRPR s 207.1 (added as part of the regulatory framework for in-Canada PR processing) and is supplemented by IRCC public policy instruments. The legislative basis provides IRCC with authority to issue an open work permit to a PR applicant who is in Canada, holds a valid work permit or is under maintained status, and whose PR application has passed the completeness check stage.

Eligibility for a BOWP:

To be eligible for a BOWP, the applicant must:

• Be in Canada
• Be the principal applicant on a permanent residence application (not a secondary/dependent applicant)
• Have an in-Canada PR application that has passed a completeness check — evidenced by an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC
• Hold a valid work permit (or be under maintained status on a work permit) — the BOWP is typically applied for while the current work permit is still valid or while under maintained status
• Have at least 6 months remaining in Canada (the exact requirement varies and should be confirmed from the IRCC guidance)

Which PR pathways trigger BOWP eligibility:

BOWP eligibility applies to applications made under the economic immigration streams that process applications in Canada, including:

• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades)
• Provincial Nominee Program (in-Canada stage)
• Some caregiver programs

How to apply:

1. Submit the permanent residence application and receive the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC
2. Apply for the BOWP online through the IRCC Portal — the AOR letter is needed as supporting documentation
3. While waiting for the BOWP to be processed, the applicant may continue working under their existing work permit (or under maintained status if the permit has expired but a renewal was applied for in time)
4. Once the BOWP is issued, the applicant may work for any employer in Canada for the duration of the permit

Spousal open work permit (not a BOWP):

Where a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is sponsoring an inland spouse or common-law partner, the sponsored person may apply for an open work permit under a separate public policy. This is not technically a BOWP — it is issued under a different policy instrument. The sponsored spouse must:

• Be in Canada as a temporary resident (or under maintained status)
• Have an active inland spousal sponsorship application with an AOR
• In some cases, have received an approval-in-principle (AIP) letter before the open work permit is issued (depending on current policy)

The BOWP is a critical tool for economic immigrants who are currently on closed (employer-specific) work permits and are in the process of transitioning to permanent residence. Without the BOWP, these applicants could face a period of unemployment if their work permit expires before their PR is granted — particularly when PR processing times are long.

The BOWP is typically valid for a set period matching the expected PR processing time. If the PR application is still being processed when the BOWP expires, the applicant may apply to extend the BOWP or may fall back to maintained status (if they applied to extend the BOWP before it expired).

The BOWP does not create any permanent status — it is a temporary work permit. Its grant does not mean that the PR application has been approved or that PR will be granted. A negative decision on the PR application terminates the BOWP pathway.

For current BOWP eligibility criteria and application instructions, refer to the IRCC bridging open work permit page, as policy details may be updated.