​Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)

The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is a way to keep a worker in Canada working while his / her application for Permanent Residency is being processed. 

In Canada applicants who have made an application to immigrate to Canada under either the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class, the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) class, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) may be considered for a Bridging Open Work Permit if their current Work Permit is due to expire within four months. A foreign worker legally working in Canada who has made, or will soon make, an application for Permanent Residence under one of these economic immigration programs ,may then continue to work until a decision is made on his / her application for Permanent Residence. ​

Bridging Open Work Permits and Express Entry

When an applicant for a Federal economic immigration program that is processed through the Express Entry selection system remits an electronic application for Permanent Residency, he or she receives an Acknowledgement of Receipt Letter which is automatically generated through the MYCIC account following the remittance of the electronic application for Permanent Residence (eAPR). Those applicants who are eligible to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) may apply immediately after receipt of this Acknowledgement of Receipt letter issued by immigration. 

To Be Eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit, the applicant must meet the following criteria;

• The foreign national must currently be in Canada
• He / She must have valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within 4 months
• He / She must be the Principal Applicant on an application for Permanent Residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, The Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• He / She must have received a positive assessment on his or her application
• He / She must have made an application for an Open Work Permit

A Foreign National Does Not Qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit if;

• He / She is in Canada under a Work Permit exempt position 
• He / She has let his / her status expire
• His / Her Work Permit is valid for longer than 4 months and / or he or she has a new LMIA that can be used for a new Work Permit Application
• He / She is applying for a Bridging Work Permit at the port of entry
• He / She is the spouse or dependent of the Principal Permanent Resident Applicant
• He / She is a Provincial Nominee who has submitted a copy if his / her nomination letter with the applicant for a Bridging Open Work Permit, or whose nomination letter specifically states employment restrictions. 

Spouse or Common Law Partner and Dependents 

Some conditions are required to be met by the holder of a Bridging Work Permit in order for his / her spouse to also be eligible for an Open Work Permit. These include the below;

• In every case, the bridging work permit must be valid for longer then six months
• For spouses of FSW applicants, the bridging work permit holder must be working in a skilled position
• For spouses of PNP applicants, the spouse is eligible for an open work permit for the duration of the work permit held by the Principal Applicant, no matter what the skill level of the PNP's applicant's occupation.
• For spouses of Federal Skilled Trades (FST) applicants, the Bridging Open Work Permit holder must be doing work that is within one of the qualifying occupations in a skilled trade.
• For spouses of Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, there are no set conditions to be met by the Principal CEC Applicant.