Bridging Open Work Permit

Bridging Open Work Permit

Posted on 12/08/2025

Are you working in Canada on a temporary work permit that will soon expire and still waiting for your application for permanent residence to be approved? What you need is a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) to allow you to maintain status and keep working in Canada while your PR application finally gets approved.

As you probably know, or have heard, the transition from temporary status to permanent residence is a lot smoother if you’re in Canada for the whole process. Just ask a friend, family, or colleague who’s had to leave Canada before getting approved for that PR visa.

So, let’s see how the process for applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit, or BOWP, works.

Who’s Eligible?

You must currently be in Canada as a legal temporary resident – normally on a work visa.
You have to meet one of the following:
- You have have a valid work permit.
- You’ve applied to renew your work permit and thus maintain your status.
- You’re eligible to restore your temporary status with authorization to work on a work permit.
You have submitted an application for permanent residence under one of the following:
- Federal Skilled Workers Class (FSWC)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
- Caring for Children Class or Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class, before June 18, 2019
- PNP nominees with NO employer restrictions
- Agri-food Pilot (AFP)
- Quebec Skilled Workers Class (QSWC)
- Quebec Investor Class
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) or Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP)
You have completed one of the following stages of your application for permanent residence (APR), which depend on what class you applied under:
- Your online application for permanent residence under Express Entry has passed the completeness test – it is a complete application with no information or documentation missing – and the fees have been paid. This applies to the following classes:
  - Federal Skilled Workers Class, or FSWC
  - Canadian Experience Class, or CEC
  - Federal Skilled Trades Class, or FSTC
  - PNP nominees that have been accepted through that province’s Express Entry scheme
- Your application for permanent residence, or APR, under the Quebec Skilled Worker Class, or QSWC, has passed the completeness test.
- In other words – make sure your application for permanent residence has been accepted as complete with nothing missing before applying for a BOWP!
You have a positive eligibility assessment on your APR, application for permanent residence, having applied through a Non-Express Entry stream either online or on paper in one of the following:
- Caring for Children Class
- Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class
- Agro-food Pilot, or AFP
- PNP, where applicant does not qualify for Express Entry
- HCCPP or HSWC where applicant has completed their qualifying work experience

Who isn’t Eligible?

Let’s start with a potentially confusing area, spouses and dependent children of the principal applicant for permanent residence. The spouse and dependents are not eligible for a bridging open work permit (no BOWP) but they are usually eligible for an open work permit (OWP).

What is the difference?

Spousal & Dependents OWP	Principal Applicant BOWP
The *OWP* allows the spouse or dependent to work legally while the principal applicant studies or works.	The *BOWP* is only for the principal applicant to ensure that they can continue working on a work permit with legal status while their PR application is being processed.
They are *indirectly eligible* because of their relationship to the principal appllicant who has qualifying status and a work permit and a PR application in process.	They are *directly eligible* because of their PR application and their qualifying status.
When choosing application type in your online application for your OWP, *spouses or dependents should not choose LMIA-Exempt Code A75.* A75 is only for the principal applicant’s BOWP not for your OWP. Your LMIA-Exempt Code is generally C49 or C41. Always include a copy of the principal applicant’s Acknowledgement of Receipt Letter (AOR Letter) and a copy of the principal applicant’s work permit to show you – the spouse/dependent – are eligible for your own Open Work Permit.	Your application has LMIA-Exempt code A75 which only you as principal applicant can use. Your eligibility is – as shown above – based on factors like your completeness test of your PR application, your valid status and work permit and proof of your being in Canada.

Another group of people who are ineligible for a BOWP, are those who are already authorized to work in Canada without a work permit. These include:
- Family members of foreign representatives
- Members of certain foreign armed forces
- Officers of foreign governments under exchange agreements
- Business visitors
- Maritime law-enforcement officials under certain conditions
- Full-time students with study permits
- In-flight security officers
- Performers and athletes
- Foreign media
- Judges at specific events
- Experts testifying in Canada

Foreign nationals who try to apply for a BOWP at a Port of Entry or Visa Office are ineligible – this is because they have not been granted authorization to enter Canada as a temporary resident.
- This is why being in Canada is key for the transition between temporary to permanent status.

Foreign nationals inadmissible to Canada are also ineligible for a BOWP.

Are there any Specific Eligibility Requirements?

Yes, here are specific requirements depending on your class or pathway when applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit, or BOWP.

PNPs – Provincial Nominees: You also require the following:
- A copy of your nomination letter indicating that your employment is unrestricted.
- If there are restrictions/conditions imposed on your employment you are not eligible to apply for a BOWP.
- Your employment location must be restricted to the nominating province.
AFP – Agri-food Pilot: applicants must submit their Approval in Principle letter.
Quebec Skilled Workers & Investors: you require:
- A CSQ (Certificat de selection du Quebec) which shows your admissibility to Quebec. It must have been issued and still be valid when you applied for permanent residence in the province.
- The employment location on your work permit must be restricted to the province of Quebec.
HCCPP (Home Care Child Provider Pilot) & HSWP (Home Support Worker Pilot)
- You must first complete your qualifying work experience using an Occupation Restricted Work Permit (ORWP), and then receive a positive assessment, (an approval in principle).
- The length of the qualifying work experience has been reduced several times as follows:
  - June 18, 2019 to April 30, 2023: 24 months qualifying work experience
  - April 30, 2023 to June 16, 2024: 12 months qualifying work experience
  - June 16, 2024 to present (the time when this blog is written): 6 months qualifying work experience
- There are 2 categories that affect how you apply:
  - Category A – Gaining Experience Category: submit form IMM 5910 after having completed your qualifying work experience on an ORWP. Your ORWP will be converted to a BOWP when you pass stage 2 eligibility.
  - Category B – Direct to Permanent Residence Category: submit form IMM 5910 with your application for permanent residence. You will be issued a BOWP when you have passed eligibility on your application for permanent residence.

What Documents do I need?

Complete IMM5710: Application to change conditions, extend my stay, or remain in Canada as a worker.
- Answer “Open Work Permit” when asked “What type of work permit are you applying for?”
Include proof of payment of the following fees:
- Work Permit Processing fee
- Open Work Permit Holder fee
- Restoration fee – only if applicable
Proof that you’ve reached the appropriate stage in your permanent residence application. For example:
- Approval in Principle Letter or Eligibility Letter for:
  - Agri-food Pilot
  - Caring for Children Class or Caring for High Medical Needs Class
- AOR Letter for:
  - PNP applicants
  - Their BOWP will be on hold until they pass stage 1 eligibility of their permanent residence application after which they will be assessed for their BOWP.

Posted in News Tips and tagged Bridging open work permit, Open Work Permit