Canadian work permits are issued with specific conditions that the holder must comply with for the duration of the permit. These conditions are set out under section 185 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and are printed on the work permit document. For closed (employer-specific) work permits, conditions typically include the name of the authorised employer, the occupation or NOC code, the work location, and the expiry date. For open work permits, conditions are less restrictive — the holder can generally work for any eligible employer — but even open work permit holders cannot work for ineligible employers on the IRCC non-compliant employer list or for employers in certain adult entertainment businesses. Working outside permit conditions constitutes non-compliance under IRPA and may have serious consequences including inadmissibility. This page explains the types of work permit conditions, the implied status rule for renewal applicants, prohibited employers, and what to do when conditions need to change.

For current work permit conditions information, refer to the IRCC work permits page and the IRCC help centre on work permit conditions.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 185 — lists all conditions that may be placed on a work permit: authorized employment, occupation restrictions, specific employer, work location, prohibition on certain employment
• IRPR, s 183(5) — the implied/maintained status provision; a foreign national who has applied to extend their work permit before the existing permit expires may continue working under the same conditions while the extension is pending
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s 41(b) — a foreign national is inadmissible for failing to comply with the conditions of their status, which includes work permit conditions
• IRPR, s 200(3)(h) — prohibition on issuing or using a work permit to work for employers who are on the non-compliant employer list or who provide adult entertainment services
• IRCC: Work in Canada — canada.ca/work-permits

Closed (employer-specific) work permit — conditions

A closed work permit (also called an employer-specific work permit) authorises the holder to work only for the employer named on the permit. The conditions printed on a closed work permit typically include:

• Employer name: the specific employer the holder is authorised to work for — the holder cannot take a second job with a different employer without a separate work permit authorising that employment
• Occupation: the NOC code and/or job title the holder is authorised to perform — the holder generally cannot work in a materially different occupation for the named employer without a new permit
• Work location: some work permits specify the city or province where work is authorised — if the employer transfers the worker to a different location, a new work permit may be required depending on the circumstances
• Expiry date: the permit is valid until this date; working after expiry (without a valid renewal under maintained status) is a breach of conditions

Open work permit — conditions and restrictions

An open work permit allows the holder to work for any eligible employer in Canada, in any occupation, without restriction to a specific employer. Despite the broader authorisation, open work permit holders have conditions and restrictions:

• Ineligible employers — IRCC non-compliant list: the holder cannot work for any employer that appears on the IRCC list of employers who have failed to comply with the TFWP conditions; this list is publicly available and is updated regularly
• Adult entertainment employers: the holder cannot work for employers who regularly provide striptease, erotic dancing, escort services, or erotic massages — this restriction applies regardless of the nature of the specific role offered
• Location-specific open work permits: some open work permits have a specific employment province or region noted on the permit; the holder must work in the specified location

Implied (maintained) status for work permit renewals

If a work permit holder submits an application to renew or extend their work permit before the existing permit expires, they benefit from "implied status" (also called maintained status) under IRPR s183(5). Key points:

• Under implied status, the holder can continue working for the same employer under the same conditions as the expired work permit — they remain authorised to work while the renewal application is pending
• The implied status applies only if the renewal application was submitted before the original permit expired — submitting after expiry does not attract implied status
• If the renewal application is refused, the implied status ceases on the date of the refusal — the holder must stop working immediately and may need to leave Canada or restore status
• Implied status does not extend to a different employer, occupation, or location — it continues the same conditions as the expiring permit

For more on implied status, see the implied maintained status page.

Consequences of working outside permit conditions

Working outside the conditions of a work permit is a breach of IRPA and may result in:

• An admissibility hearing before the Immigration Division
• A removal order (departure, exclusion, or deportation order depending on severity)
• An inadmissibility finding for non-compliance under s41(b) of IRPA
• Difficulty obtaining future Canadian immigration authorisations

Working for an ineligible employer (on the IRCC non-compliant list) is both a breach by the worker and a ground on which IRCC can refuse to issue future permits. For non-compliance inadmissibility details, see the non-compliance inadmissibility page.

Changing work permit conditions

If a work permit holder needs to change their employer, occupation, or work location in a way that is not permitted by the current permit conditions, they must:

1. Obtain a new basis for a work permit (new LMIA, new LMIA-exempt job offer, or qualify for an open work permit)
2. Apply for a new work permit reflecting the new conditions
3. Not begin working in the new capacity until the new permit is issued (unless under maintained status covering the transition)

For work permit renewal and extension details, see the work permit extension page.

Work permit conditions are a common source of inadvertent non-compliance — workers who are offered better positions at other companies, or whose employer changes their role or location, may find themselves working outside their permit conditions without realising it. The IRCC non-compliant employer list is an important resource for open work permit holders — accepting employment from a listed employer can result in a permit refusal or cancellation even for otherwise compliant workers. Workers who discover they have breached their permit conditions should seek advice promptly, as voluntary disclosure to IRCC and proactive restoration of status generally result in better outcomes than enforcement-driven discovery. The distinction between an open and closed work permit is fundamental to understanding Canadian work permit conditions; many misunderstandings arise from assuming all work permits are open. For current work permit conditions information, the ineligible employer list, and the implied status rules, refer to the IRCC work permits page.