Bridging Open Work Permit

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A bridging Open Work Permit program helps foreign residents in Canada continue to live in the country while waiting for a determination on their PR application.
You may be eligible for a BOWP if your existing work permit in Canada is about to expire. The program applies to a foreign citizen who has used the in-Canada route to apply for:

  • The Federal skilled worker (FSW) Class
  • The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class
  • The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  • A PNP ( Provincial Nominee Program)

As such, if a foreigner is lawfully working in Canada and intends to subsequently submit an application for permanent residency through one of the immigration schemes as mentioned above, they will be allowed to keep living and working in Canada while their application is decided upon.
The benefits of a BOWP extend to any party involved, including the applicants themselves and their family members.
The best thing about a BOWP is that while Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada are still processing the decision on the applicant's permanent residency request, the applicant will not have to vacate Canada temporarily while they wait for that outcome.
Another option would be to remain in Canada on the Visitor's Status, which prevents one from gaining certain advantages.
Still, another alternative would be to locate an employer willing to go through the lengthy process of obtaining an LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment). It's very unlikely that you'll receive one earlier than you will be required to exit Canada.

BOWP's eligibility requirements

  • To qualify for BOWP, the foreign applicant must be living in Canada.
  • The work permit status of the applicant mustn't have officially ended. The applicant's status should be expiring within the next four months.
  • The applicant is the principal claimant for permanent residency under the PNP, FSTP, FSWP, and the CEC.
  • A positive eligibility evaluation has been awarded to the applicant.
  • The person's application for an Open Work Permit is still under review.

A BOWP applicant may be deemed ineligible under the following scenarios:

  • The applicant is in Canada under Section 186 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (those who are exempted from the work permit requirements)
  • A foreigner who has allowed their visa to expire
  • A person holding a work permit that is valid for more than four months (or a person holding a new positive Labor Market Impact Assessment report that they can use to apply for a new work permit
  • BOWP applicant applying at a POE (port of entry) or at a visa office abroad
  • a dependent or spouse of a principal PR applicant
  • a person inadmissible to Canada

There are further requirements for Bridging Open Work Permit besides satisfying the general qualifying requirements.

  • medical clearance
  • Police clearance
  • Submit an entire application for PR
  • Evidence of academic status (for international students).
  • a contract (or written agreement) between an applicant and his or her employer (for Caregivers)

BOWP and family members

An immigrant who gets a BOWP may also apply for the same permit to allow their family members to remain in the country. A foreign citizen may qualify for the immigrant's common-law partner's or spouse’s BOWP only if they have a job that requires specialized skills. This means the person must be working in NOC (National Occupational Classification) at managerial occupations (Skill Type 0), or professional occupations (Skill Level A), or technical and trade occupations (Skill level B):

  • BOWP must still be having a validity period of longer than 180 days.
  • When applying under the FSW category, the job held by the BOWP bearer must be in a NOC job level A, or B or 0
  • The spouse of someone applying under a Provincial Nominee Program, regardless of their NOC skill level, is entitled to receive the length of the work visa of the principal applicant.
  • An FST candidate's spouse or common-law partner should note that, for them to qualify for FST, the Bridging Open Work Permit applicant must be employed in a NOC skill level B.
  • To a spouse of a CEC applicant, there are no stringent constraints like other categories.

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