Open Work Permit

Open versus employer-specific work permits

Open permits can carry occupation or location restrictions. Certain non-compliant employers and businesses offering specified adult services are excluded. Read the conditions printed on your document and the official open work permit guidance. For other options, compare our Canadian work permit guide.

Who may qualify for an open work permit?

Use the table to identify a possible route, then check its full rules. Eligibility, application location and authorization to start work are separate questions.

Graduates: check PGWP eligibility separately

Graduating from a Canadian school does not automatically qualify you. Review the institution and program, full-time study history, application timing and applicable language and field-of-study rules. The usual application window is 180 days after confirmation of completion, with additional status requirements.

Some study programs are not PGWP-eligible even if the school is a DLI. Review IRCC's PGWP criteria and our study permit guide before relying on future work eligibility.

Spousal open work permits: which rules apply?

Spouses and partners of foreign workers

Under the general high-skilled-worker route for workers not on an eligible PR pathway, the principal worker must generally work in TEER 0 or 1, or a listed TEER 2 or 3 occupation, with at least 16 months of work authorization remaining when the application is received.

These are not universal rules for every family category. Eligible PR pathways, certain trade agreements and other specific measures can differ. Dependent children are not eligible under that general high-skilled-worker measure, but may qualify under another category or a permitted extension.

Check the exact route in IRCC's family-member eligibility guidance. Assess duties and the current NOC, not just a job title. A PGWP holder's spouse does not qualify simply because the principal worker holds a PGWP.

Spouses and partners of international students

Current eligibility includes spouses or common-law partners of students with valid study permits in master's programs of at least 16 months, doctoral programs, or specified professional and other eligible programs. It does not cover every college or undergraduate program.

Confirm the precise program against IRCC's student-spouse requirements. Prepare relationship and enrolment evidence. Extension criteria can differ from an initial application, so review the existing permit and the principal student's ongoing studies together.

Sponsored partners living in Canada

Eligible sponsored spouses, common-law or conjugal partners living with their sponsor in Canada may apply under the sponsored-family policy. An acknowledgement of receipt for the PR application is normally required. A limited exception exists where status expires within two weeks and the specified conditions are met.

Out-of-status cases require separate assessment; some applicants must wait for approval in principle. A PR submission is not permission to work. Use the official sponsored-family instructions and our spousal sponsorship guide.

Bridging open work permits and permanent residence

A BOWP can help eligible principal applicants continue working while a qualifying PR application is processed. For Express Entry, creating a profile or receiving an invitation is not enough: the complete PR application must reach the required stage, and the applicant must meet the residence and status conditions.

The rules differ by PR stream. Review IRCC's BOWP instructions for your program. Do not wait until the last day of a work permit while assuming a bridge will be available. Our Express Entry guide explains the distinction between pool entry and a PR application.

Vulnerable workers

If you hold an employer-specific work permit and are experiencing, or at risk of, workplace abuse, assess the vulnerable-worker open permit. It has its own eligibility and evidence rules. Changing employers because of ordinary preference is a different situation.

How to apply: organize the category before the forms

1. Identify the legal basis. Write down the category and why your facts meet it.
2. Check application location. Eligibility to apply inside Canada is separate from eligibility for the permit itself.
3. Collect category evidence. Use current records that demonstrate each condition.
4. Complete the correct application. Follow the current IRCC online instructions and personalized checklist.
5. Pay applicable fees and submit. Keep a complete copy and submission confirmation.
6. Monitor requests. Respond within deadlines and check the permit conditions after approval.

Start with the official inside-Canada or outside-Canada eligibility instructions. Do not assume a border trip is an available application method.

Documents to prepare

Common preparation includes a passport, current immigration records, relationship evidence where relevant, the principal person's work or study records, and proof of the qualifying application or program. For worker-family applications, employer letters should describe employment, duties and the relevant occupation; permit dates must support the required duration.

Use IRCC's family-permit document instructions where applicable. Resolve inconsistent names, dates or job details before submission. Explain genuine gaps with evidence rather than selecting answers only to obtain a preferred checklist.

Fees and processing times

The standard work permit processing fee is $155 and the open work permit holder fee is $100, totaling $255 before biometrics or other costs, unless an exemption applies. Verify the open-permit fee instructions for your category.

Processing depends on category, location and the application. Use IRCC's live estimates. An employer's desired start date does not establish a right to expedited processing or permission to start early.

Can you work while waiting for a decision?

Sometimes, but submitting an application alone is not enough. Eligible workers who apply to extend before expiry and remain in Canada may continue under the conditions of their existing authorization while the decision is pending. Applying for a first permit does not generally create immediate work authorization.

If you currently hold an employer-specific permit, an application for an open permit does not by itself let you change employers immediately. Check the extension and maintained-status instructions. Travel, expiry, restoration and category-specific exceptions need separate attention.

Before accepting a job

Compare the proposed duties and location with your current permit. Check any medical restriction and the date you are authorized to begin. Keep evidence of that authorization for your employer. If the position changes, review it again instead of assuming the original assessment still applies.

Common problems and refusals

Common application weaknesses include choosing the wrong category, relying on obsolete spouse rules, missing relationship evidence, insufficient remaining authorization and inconsistencies between employment documents. An expired passport can also affect planning.

If refused, examine the reasons and deadlines before reapplying. A stronger explanation cannot cure an unmet eligibility requirement. Concerns about inaccurate information or a procedural fairness letter need a response directed to the actual issue.

Open work permit FAQs