Am I eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit?

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

Without a BOWP, foreign nationals – alongside their families, including spouses, common-law partners and dependents – would need to leave Canada temporarily, stay in Canada under visitor status (which means they would have to cease working), or find an employer willing to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Note: Compared to work permits requiring an LMIA, open work permits like a BOWP provide flexibility for the permit holder.

This is because open work permits (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 BOWP, foreign nationals must:

• Currently be in Canada, after being authorized to enter as a temporary resident (TR)
• Hold valid status in Canada in one of three ways:
• Hold a valid work permit
• Have maintained status alongside authorization to work (after applying to renew their work permit)
• Be eligible to restore their temporary resident status*
• Have submitted a PR application under one of seven 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 to this program was submitted before June 18, 2019)
• Complete one of the following Application for Permanent Residence (APR) stages (depending on which economic immigration program the applicant applied to):
• Express Entry: Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) has passed the completeness check under Section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
• QSW Program: APR has passed the completeness check under Section 10 of the IRPR.
• All other BOWP-eligible programs: Candidate has received a positive eligibility assessment on their APR.

• They either hold a valid work permit, or they are authorized to work in Canada without a work permit
• They are authorized to work in Canada for a minimum of six months from the date that the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) application is received
• They are either physically residing in Canada or plan to do so while they are employed
• They are in a genuine relationship with their spouse/common-law partner
• They are employed in a manner that meets one of three criteria:
• 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 (Atlantic Immigration Pilot applicants only)
• In any occupation, if they formally hold a provincial nomination certificate or a Quebec Selection Certificate