Bridging Open Work Permit Canada 2026
Waiting for a permanent residence decision can create another concern when your current Canadian work permit is approaching its expiry date.
For some permanent residence applicants already working in Canada, a bridging open work permit can provide a way to continue working while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processes the PR application.
A bridging open work permit, commonly called a BOWP, is not available simply because someone has entered the Express Entry pool or plans to apply for permanent residence. The PR application must have reached the required stage, and the applicant must meet the conditions for the immigration program involved.
Understanding these requirements early can prevent a gap in your ability to work legally in Canada.
A Bridging Open Work Permit Connects Your Current Status to Your PR Application
A bridging open work permit allows certain permanent residence applicants to continue working in Canada while waiting for a decision on their application.
Because it is an open work permit, it generally allows the holder to work for most employers without being tied to one specific company, although restrictions may appear on an individual permit.
The BOWP does not speed up a permanent residence application or increase the chance of approval. Its purpose is to give eligible applicants temporary work authorization while their qualifying PR application continues to be processed.
This distinction matters because submitting an Express Entry profile is not the same as submitting a permanent residence application. IRCC specifically requires applicants under Express Entry to have submitted a complete PR application and received an Acknowledgement of Receipt before qualifying for a BOWP.
Bridging Open Work Permit Eligibility Depends on Your PR Pathway
Not every permanent residence applicant qualifies for a BOWP.
For applicants who submitted permanent residence through Express Entry, including the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program, IRCC requires the applicant to be the principal applicant and to live in Canada when applying.
The applicant must also have a valid work permit and temporary resident status, have maintained their status as a worker after their permit expired, or be eligible to restore their status and obtain a work permit. The permanent residence application must have passed the completeness check, and the applicant must have received an Acknowledgement of Receipt. Canada
Provincial Nominee Program applicants can also qualify in certain circumstances. Those applying through Express Entry must have no employment restrictions attached to their nomination and meet the applicable PR and temporary-status requirements. Non-Express Entry PNP applicants have similar requirements, although IRCC must also confirm their basic eligibility under the provincial nominee class before processing the BOWP. Canada
IRCC also provides BOWP options for certain applicants under other permanent residence categories, including eligible Quebec skilled workers and some applicants from older caregiver and Agri-Food programs.
Receiving an ITA Is Not Enough to Apply
One important point for Express Entry candidates is the difference between receiving an Invitation to Apply and submitting a complete permanent residence application.
An ITA gives an eligible candidate the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. It does not by itself qualify the candidate for a bridging open work permit.
IRCC requires the complete PR application to be submitted and to pass the required completeness stage. The applicant must also receive the Acknowledgement of Receipt used as supporting evidence for the BOWP application.
Candidates approaching this stage can also review what happens after receiving an Invitation to Apply so the PR application and temporary work status can be planned together.
Applying Before Your Work Permit Expires Can Protect Your Ability to Work
Timing remains important, but not because applicants must wait until exactly four months before their permit expires.
Under current IRCC guidance, an eligible BOWP applicant may apply while holding a valid work permit. A person whose permit has already expired may also qualify if they maintained their status as a worker or remain eligible for restoration, depending on their circumstances.
If an eligible worker submits a work permit application before the existing permit expires, maintained status can generally allow them to continue working under the conditions of their previous permit while IRCC processes the new application.
This is why understanding how maintained status protects some workers after a permit expires is important when planning a BOWP application.
A worker who allows their status to expire without submitting the appropriate application is in a different position. Applicants seeking restoration are normally not authorized to continue working while the restoration and work permit application is being processed.
Provincial Nominees Have Additional Conditions
Provincial nomination does not automatically guarantee BOWP eligibility.
Express Entry PNP applicants must have a nomination without employment restrictions and meet the other applicable BOWP conditions. Non-Express Entry nominees must also have submitted their permanent residence application and meet the required eligibility stage before IRCC processes the work permit.
This makes the nomination certificate, PR application stage and current temporary status important parts of the assessment.
Applicants considering provincial nomination alongside other routes can review Canada’s permanent residence pathways in 2026 to understand how a PNP strategy fits into their wider immigration plans.
Your Spouse Is Not Automatically Covered by Your BOWP
A bridging open work permit is issued to the eligible principal applicant. It does not automatically give a spouse or common-law partner their own work authorization.
A spouse may qualify separately for an open work permit under Canada’s family-member work permit rules, but the requirements depend on the principal applicant’s immigration pathway, work authorization and other eligibility conditions.
Each application should therefore be assessed on its own requirements instead of assuming that one approved BOWP automatically extends work rights to the entire family.
Leaving Canada Can Affect Your Ability to Keep Working
Travel also needs to be considered carefully when a work permit application is still being processed.
IRCC allows BOWP applicants to leave Canada temporarily, but leaving after a current work permit has expired can affect the ability to continue working on return. A person returning as a temporary resident may have to wait until the new work permit is approved before working again.
A work permit is also not a travel document, so travellers may still need a valid temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization to return to Canada.
Conclusion
A bridging open work permit can provide valuable continuity for eligible permanent residence applicants whose current work authorization may end before IRCC reaches a decision on their PR application.
The key is understanding when the PR application has reached the required stage, maintaining valid immigration status and applying under the correct BOWP rules for your permanent residence pathway.
Submitting an Express Entry profile or receiving an ITA alone is not enough, and applicants who have already lost their status may face different restrictions on their ability to continue working.
If your work permit is approaching its expiry date and your permanent residence application is underway, book an appointment with Sehli Global to review your BOWP eligibility and next steps, or call +1 (226) 799-7149.
