Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): Keep Working While Your PR Application Is Processed

Permanent residence applications take months. Many applicants are already working in Canada on a temporary work permit that will expire before their PR decision arrives. Without a new permit, they would have to stop working, and sometimes leave Canada.

The bridging open work permit solves this. It "bridges" the gap between your current work permit and your permanent residence. Because it is an open work permit, you can work for any employer, which also gives you the freedom to change jobs while you wait.

The BOWP is only for people who are already working in Canada. If you applied for PR from outside Canada, it doesn't apply to you.

You may apply for a BOWP if you applied for permanent residence as the principal applicant under one of these:

Some programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, have their own work permit options instead. Check the program's page.

In addition to applying under an eligible program, you must:

• Be in Canada when you apply for the BOWP
• Be the principal applicant on your PR application. Spouses and partners can't get a BOWP, but they may have other options
• Have submitted a complete PR application that passed the completeness check by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), shown by an acknowledgment of receipt letter
• Have worker status, in one of these ways:
  • A valid work permit
  • An expired work permit, but you applied for a new one before it expired, so you are on maintained status
  • An expired work permit, and you are still within the 90 days to restore your status and get a new work permit
• For PNP applicants, have a nomination without employment restrictions, such as a condition that you only work for one employer

If your status has already run out and you are outside the 90-day restoration period, you can't get a BOWP.

Timing is the most important part of a BOWP.

1. Submit your PR application as early as possible, so that you receive your acknowledgment of receipt well before your current work permit expires.
2. Apply for the BOWP before your current work permit expires. If you do, you keep maintained status and can keep working while IRCC processes the BOWP.
3. If your permit expires before you get the acknowledgment of receipt, you may need another work permit to stay in status, or you may need to stop working until you can apply.

Don't wait until the last week. Delays in the PR completeness check are common. If your dates don't line up, talk to a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) early.

You can't get a BOWP at the border. Flagpoling for work permits ended on December 23, 2024, apart from limited exceptions. Apply online.

Fees as of September 2026, from the IRCC fee list:

IRCC decides how long your BOWP is valid. It is meant to cover the time you are likely to wait for your PR decision. If your PR application is still in process when the BOWP is close to expiring, you may be able to apply for a new one while you still meet the conditions. The permit cannot be valid past your passport's expiry date.

Your spouse or common-law partner can't get a BOWP, because it is only for principal applicants. However, spouses of people who have applied for permanent residence through an economic program may qualify for an open work permit even if the principal's job is not in the TEER levels that usually apply. See spousal open work permits for the rules. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the job levels used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Your children can usually keep attending school in Canada while you wait.

A BOWP is not the only option. Depending on your situation, you may be able to:

The BOWP is often the simplest choice because it is open and does not depend on your employer. But if your PR application is not yet complete, one of the other options may be the only way to stay in status. Plan early, and compare your permit expiry date with the expected date of your acknowledgment of receipt.

A BOWP depends on your PR application. If IRCC refuses your PR application, your BOWP may become invalid. Read your refusal letter carefully and act quickly to protect your status, for example by applying for another permit if you qualify. Our guide to refusals and GCMS notes explains how to find out why you were refused.