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Bridging Open Work Permit

IMC Immigration  /  WORK PERMITS  /  Bridging Open Work Permit

Bridging Open Work Permit

The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is a valuable immigration option in Canada for foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada to extend their work permit while they await a decision on their application for permanent residency (APR). The BOWP is only available to those who have already submitted a permanent residency application and are already in possession of a valid work permit or expired work permit but maintained their status in Canada or are eligible for restoration of status as a worker.

To be eligible for the BOWP, applicants must have submitted an application for permanent residency (APR) under one of the following classes:

  • Permanent residence using Express Entry (Federal skilled worker class (FSWC), Canadian experience class (CEC) or Federal skilled trades class (FSTC).
  • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Provincial nominee class (PNC), for applicants for whom there are no employer restrictions on nominations.
  • Quebec skilled workers
  • Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot
  • Caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class
  • Agri-Food Pilot

In specific employer-driven streams within the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the province or territory making the nomination may place limitations on the employment of the successful nominee until they attain permanent residency. If such employment restrictions are enforced, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not grant an open work permit to the foreign national, excluding them from the exemption under the BOWP Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Provinces and territories may include an employer or the name of the occupation and the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code and still indicate that there are no employment restrictions. In such instances, applicants qualify for an open work permit, provided they meet the other eligibility criteria.

BOWP- Eligibility Requirements

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a bridging open work permit (BOWP), foreign nationals must

  • Have applied for an open work permit.
  • Have paid the work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee.
  • Have provided, as applicable, evidence that their provincial nomination is unrestricted (for example, nomination certificate)

To be eligible for a BOWP, foreign nationals must:

  • Be currently in Canada (if you leave Canada after your work permit expires, you can’t work until your new application is approved)
  • Have valid status on a work permit.
  • have an expired work permit but maintained your status as a worker.
  • be eligible to restore your status and get a work permit.
  • Be the principal applicant on permanent residence application.
  • have submitted a complete application for permanent residence and passed the completeness check.
  • have your acknowledgement of receipt letter.
  • have submitted an APR as the principal applicant under one of the following classes or pilots:
  1. federal skilled worker class (FSWC)
  2. Canadian experience class (CEC)
  • federal skilled trades class (FSTC)
  1. caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class before June 18, 2019
  2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for applicants for whom there are no employer restrictions on nominations
  3. Agri-Food Pilot (AFP)
  • Quebec skilled worker class (QSWC)
  • Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) or Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP)
  • Electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) submitted under Express Entry has passed the section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) completeness check;
  • APR under the QSWC has passed the section R10 completeness check
  • receipt of a positive eligibility assessment on their non-Express Entry APR submitted by mail or online under one of the following classes or pilots:
  1. caring for children
  2. caring for people with high medical needs
  • AFP
  1. PNP (where the applicant does not qualify for Express Entry)
  2. HCCPP or HSWP after completing their qualifying work experience.

Note: Foreign nationals in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are eligible for a BOWP only if they have provided a copy of the nomination letter issued by the nominating province or territory along with their application, and there is no indication that employment restrictions exist as conditions of the nomination.

Who is not eligible for a BOWP?

  • Foreign nationals in Canada under section R186 who are exempt from the work permit requirement.
  • Foreign nationals applying for a BOWP at a port of entry (POE) or visa office.
  • Spouses and dependants of principal permanent resident applicants.
  • Foreign nationals who are inadmissible to Canada.