How to Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit While Your Canadian Permanent Residence Application Is Processing

Who can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit?

A Bridging Open Work Permit, usually called a BOWP, is designed to bridge the period between an expiring Canadian work permit and a final decision on an eligible permanent residence application.

It is not available to every permanent residence applicant. You must be the principal applicant in a qualifying immigration program and reach the PR processing stage required for that program.

IRCC's current list of qualifying programs is available on the official Bridging Open Work Permit page.

Can Express Entry applicants get a BOWP?

Yes, if the required conditions are met. IRCC currently permits BOWPs for principal applicants under:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program;
• Canadian Experience Class;
• Federal Skilled Trades Program.

For these Express Entry programs, you must:

• live in Canada and intend to live outside Quebec when you apply;
• have valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit, have maintained status as a worker, or be eligible to restore status and obtain a work permit;
• be the principal applicant on the permanent residence application;
• have submitted a complete permanent residence application that passed the completeness check;
• have your acknowledgement of receipt letter.

Is an Express Entry profile enough?

No. Creating an Express Entry profile or being in the pool is not the same as applying for permanent residence.

You must first receive an invitation to apply, submit the permanent residence application and reach the stage required by IRCC before a BOWP becomes available.

Do you need an acknowledgement of receipt?

For the major BOWP routes, the acknowledgement of receipt is a key document showing that IRCC received your permanent residence application.

Express Entry applicants upload a copy of the acknowledgement of receipt in the Client Information field of the online application.

Depending on the PR program, IRCC may instead or additionally require an approval-in-principle letter, provincial nomination letter, CSQ or PR application-number letter.

Can Provincial Nominee Program applicants apply?

Yes, in qualifying cases. IRCC has separate rules for PNP applicants who applied through Express Entry and those who applied outside Express Entry.

For both routes, the provincial nomination must have no employment restrictions as a condition of nomination.

PNP through Express Entry

You must live in Canada and intend to live outside Quebec, be the principal applicant, meet the worker-status condition, have submitted a complete PR application that passed the completeness check and have your acknowledgement of receipt.

IRCC also requires your nomination letter. When applying online, upload both the acknowledgement of receipt and nomination letter in Client Information.

PNP outside Express Entry

You must be the principal applicant, meet the applicable worker-status condition, have no employment restriction on the nomination and have submitted a complete permanent residence application that passed IRCC's required PNP eligibility assessment.

The acknowledgement of receipt does not itself guarantee immediate BOWP processing. IRCC states that it will first confirm that the PR application meets the basic eligibility requirements under the Provincial Nominee Program.

Can Quebec skilled workers get a BOWP?

Yes, under separate rules. A Quebec skilled worker can qualify if they live in Canada and intend to live in Quebec, hold a Certificat de sélection du Québec or held a valid CSQ when the permanent residence application was submitted, are the principal applicant and passed the PR completeness check.

The applicant must also have a valid work permit and temporary resident status, maintained worker status or be eligible to restore status and obtain a work permit.

IRCC requires a copy of the CSQ and the letter showing the permanent residence application number beginning with the letter E.

Which other permanent residence programs are BOWP-eligible?

IRCC's current BOWP page also includes specific eligibility routes for:

• Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot applicants from the pilots opened between 2019 and 2024;
• the older Caring for Children Class and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class;
• the Agri-Food Pilot;
• Quebec investors.

These programs have their own requirements, often including approval in principle or another specific stage of permanent residence processing.

Are the 2025 Home Care Worker Immigration pilots eligible?

No. IRCC specifically states that applicants under the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots opened in 2025 are not eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit.

Does your current work permit need to be valid?

Not in every case. Depending on your PR program, IRCC can accept applicants who:

• have valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit;
• have an expired work permit but maintained status as a worker because they applied before expiry; or
• are eligible to restore their temporary resident status and obtain a work permit.

The exact rule depends on your permanent residence stream, so verify the section that applies to your program before submitting.

Can you keep working while the BOWP is processing?

If you submit an eligible work permit extension application before your current work permit expires, you may have maintained status and may be able to continue working under the conditions authorized by Canadian immigration law while IRCC decides the application.

This does not apply in the same way to someone who allowed their status to expire and is relying on restoration. Restoration and maintained status are different legal situations.

Follow IRCC's in-Canada work permit instructions before your existing permit expires.

How much does a Bridging Open Work Permit cost?

The standard BOWP application requires:

• $155 work permit processing fee;
• $100 open work permit holder fee.

The normal total is therefore CAD $255.

If IRCC requires biometrics, the individual biometrics fee is currently $85. If you need to restore your status, additional restoration fees apply.

How do you apply for a BOWP online?

In most cases, IRCC requires you to apply online through your secure account.

1. Sign in to your IRCC account.
2. Start an application to extend or change the conditions of your work permit from inside Canada.
3. Answer the eligibility questions based on your current immigration situation.
4. Select Open work permit as the work permit type.
5. Complete the forms and personalized document checklist.
6. Upload the acknowledgement of receipt in Client Information.
7. Add any nomination letter, CSQ, approval-in-principle letter or other evidence required for your PR stream.
8. Pay the applicable work permit and open work permit fees.
9. Submit the application and keep proof of submission.

Use the official in-Canada work permit application instructions.

What documents should you prepare?

Your personalized IRCC checklist controls the final document requirements. Common BOWP documents include:

• passport and identity documents required by the work permit application;
• your current or previous Canadian work permit information;
• the acknowledgement of receipt for your permanent residence application;
• your provincial nomination letter if you are an eligible PNP applicant;
• your CSQ when required for a Quebec BOWP route;
• an approval-in-principle letter for programs where IRCC requires that stage;
• the permanent residence application-number letter where required.

Do not assume that another applicant's document checklist will be identical to yours.

Do you need a job offer or LMIA for a BOWP?

A BOWP is an open work permit, so the BOWP itself is not issued as an employer-specific LMIA-based permit.

However, if you are not yet eligible for a BOWP and need to extend your existing employer-specific work authorization, your employer may need a new Labour Market Impact Assessment or may need to submit another offer of employment under the applicable work permit rules.

Can you leave Canada while your BOWP is processing?

IRCC allows applicants in several BOWP categories to leave Canada temporarily while the application is processing, but travel can affect your ability to work.

If your work permit expires while you are outside Canada, or you leave after it expires, you may lose the temporary resident status that allowed you to work while waiting. If you return as a temporary resident, you cannot work until the new work permit is approved.

For PNP BOWP applicants, IRCC specifically states that you must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when it makes the BOWP decision or the application may be refused.

Do not book travel assuming that a pending BOWP application by itself guarantees re-entry or permission to work when you return.

Can you apply for a BOWP after losing status?

Some BOWP streams permit applicants who are eligible to restore their temporary resident status and obtain a work permit.

Restoration is different from maintained status. If your status has expired and you did not apply before expiry, you generally cannot continue working simply because you submitted a restoration or BOWP application.

Check the exact restoration requirements and fees before applying.

How long does a Bridging Open Work Permit take?

IRCC does not publish one guaranteed processing period specifically for Bridging Open Work Permits.

BOWP applications are processed as in-Canada work permit applications, and actual timing can change based on IRCC volumes, completeness, biometrics and whether an officer needs more information.

Use IRCC's official processing-time tool for the latest estimate.

What happens after your BOWP is approved?

If IRCC approves the application, you receive an open work permit subject to the conditions printed on the permit.

The BOWP lets you continue working while your eligible permanent residence application remains in process, without being tied to the specific employer named on a typical employer-specific permit.

The work permit does not guarantee permanent residence. IRCC continues assessing your PR application independently.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Applying after creating an Express Entry profile but before actually submitting permanent residence.
• Applying before your PR application reaches the required completeness or eligibility stage.
• Using an acknowledgement email that is not the required acknowledgement of receipt.
• Applying as an accompanying spouse instead of the principal PR applicant under the BOWP rules.
• Ignoring employment restrictions on a provincial nomination.
• Forgetting the nomination letter, CSQ or approval-in-principle document required for your stream.
• Selecting an employer-specific permit instead of Open work permit in the application.
• Paying only the $155 work permit fee and forgetting the $100 open work permit holder fee.
• Letting your existing work permit expire before applying when you intend to rely on maintained status.
• Leaving Canada after permit expiry and assuming you can automatically resume work on return.

Bridging Open Work Permit application checklist

• Confirm your PR program is currently eligible for a BOWP.
• Confirm that you are the principal applicant.
• Confirm that your PR application reached the required processing stage.
• Get your acknowledgement of receipt or other required IRCC letter.
• Check the expiry date and status of your current work permit.
• If relying on maintained status, submit before your existing permit expires.
• Prepare any PNP nomination letter, CSQ or approval-in-principle evidence required for your stream.
• Select Open work permit in the IRCC application.
• Pay the $155 work permit fee and $100 open work permit holder fee.
• Pay biometrics or restoration fees if applicable.
• Submit the complete online application and save confirmation of submission.
• Monitor your IRCC account for requests and the final decision.
• Check the immigration consequences before travelling while the BOWP is pending.