Quick Answer
The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets you keep working while IRCC processes your permanent residence application. You qualify if you have a PR application in process under Express Entry, PNP, or certain other economic programs, AND your current work permit expires within 4 months. The BOWP is open (any employer) for most streams and typically issued for 24 months. Fee: $255 total ($155 + $100 open permit holder fee).
Who Qualifies
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| PR application stage | Express Entry: e-APR submitted and passed completeness check (you have your Acknowledgement of Receipt). PNP/other paper streams: application approved in principle or AOR received depending on stream |
| Current status | Valid work permit expiring within 4 months, OR on maintained status from a previous extension |
| Location | You must be in Canada when you apply |
| Eligible PR programs | Express Entry (FSW, CEC, FST), PNP, Agri-Food Pilot, caregiver pathways, Quebec skilled workers (with CSQ) |
The 4-month window is the detail most people miss: apply too early (permit expiring in 6 months) and the BOWP is refused as premature. Apply after expiry and you have a restoration problem.
This guide explains general BOWP rules. It is not legal advice. BOWP timing interacts with maintained status, PR processing stages, and PNP nomination conditions in ways that are case-specific. A refused BOWP while your work permit lapses can leave you unable to work for months — if your situation has any complication, spend the money on an RCIC consultation before applying.
BOWP vs. Regular Extension: Which One?
If you have a PR application in process, the BOWP is almost always better than extending an employer-specific permit:
- Open — you can change employers, take a second job, or survive a layoff without losing status
- No LMIA — your employer does nothing and pays nothing
- Long validity — typically 24 months, which covers most PR processing timelines
One exception: PNP nominees with employment-restricted nominations. If your provincial nomination requires you to work for a specific employer, your BOWP will carry that same employer restriction. Changing jobs could breach your nomination and unravel your PR. Check your nomination conditions first.
Step-by-Step Application
- Confirm your e-APR has passed the completeness check (you have the AOR in your account)
- Confirm your current permit expires within 4 months
- Log in to your IRCC secure account and apply for a work permit from inside Canada
- In the form, select that you are applying for an open work permit and identify the BOWP category (the questionnaire routes you based on your PR application)
- Upload: passport, current work permit, AOR letter or nomination documents, digital photo
- Pay $255 ($155 work permit + $100 open work permit holder fee); biometrics usually already valid from your earlier applications
- Submit before your current permit expires — maintained status protects your right to keep working under your current conditions while the BOWP processes
Spouses and the BOWP
Your spouse’s open work permit does not automatically renew with your BOWP. They generally remain eligible for a spousal open work permit while you hold a valid permit and meet skill-level conditions — apply for both at the same time so the timelines stay aligned.
Common BOWP Refusal Reasons
- Applying before the AOR / completeness check (the PR application is not yet “in process” for BOWP purposes)
- Applying more than 4 months before permit expiry
- PNP nominee applying for an unrestricted BOWP when the nomination is employer-restricted
- Applying from outside Canada
- PR application returned as incomplete after the BOWP was filed — the BOWP basis disappears
What Happens After PR Approval
When your PR is approved and you land (or complete the inland virtual landing), your BOWP becomes irrelevant — permanent residents do not need work permits. Do not pay to extend a BOWP if your PR is weeks from finalization; check your IRCC account messages or the processing-time tool to judge.
FAQ
My work permit expires in 5 months. Can I apply now?
No — wait until you are inside the 4-month window. An early application risks refusal as premature, and you lose the fee.
Can I get a BOWP if my PR application is spousal sponsorship?
Inland spousal applicants have their own open work permit category (SOWP under the inland sponsorship stream), which works similarly but is a different permit with different criteria. Don’t apply under BOWP rules for a sponsorship case.
How long does BOWP processing take?
It follows general inside-Canada work permit timelines — several months in 2026. Maintained status covers you the whole time if you applied before expiry.
Canadianow is an independent publisher, not a law firm. Last reviewed: June 2026.
Sources
- IRCC — Bridging open work permit program delivery instructions
- IRCC — Open work permit fees and eligibility
Written by Caglar Aybas. Last reviewed: June 2026.
For official, up-to-date details, see IRCC.
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