Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): Eligibility and How to Apply

A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets you keep working in Canada while you wait for a permanent residence decision. If you are already working under a valid permit and have submitted a PR application, you may face a gap: your current work permit expires before IRCC processes your PR. The BOWP is designed to fill that gap without forcing you to stop working or leave the country.

What a BOWP Is

A BOWP is an open work permit, meaning it is not tied to a specific employer or job. You can work for any Canadian employer in any occupation while holding one. It is temporary. It bridges the period between the expiry of your current work permit and a final decision on your PR application. Once your PR is approved or refused, the BOWP is no longer valid.

The BOWP does not extend your PR timeline or affect your application. It is strictly a mechanism to keep you legally authorized to work in Canada while you wait.

Who Qualifies

To be eligible for a BOWP, you must meet all of the following conditions at the time you apply:

• You hold a valid work permit. You must currently be authorized to work in Canada. If your work permit has already expired, you are not eligible for a BOWP through the standard stream.
• You have submitted a complete PR application. A profile in the Express Entry pool does not qualify. You must have received an ITA and submitted the full PR application, or applied under a paper-based program.
• Your PR application is under a qualifying program. (See the list below.)
• Your current work permit will expire within four months. IRCC's guidance states you should apply when your permit expires within four months, though the exact window can vary by case.

Which PR Programs Qualify

Not every PR application pathway qualifies for a BOWP. The following programs do:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry)
• Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry)
• Provincial Nominee Programs (both Express Entry-linked and paper-based) where the nominee has applied for PR
• Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
• Agri-Food Pilot
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
• Atlantic Immigration Program

Spousal sponsorship and refugee applications do not qualify for a BOWP. However, sponsored spouses waiting for PR have a separate open work permit stream available to them.

How to Apply

You apply for a BOWP through the IRCC online portal. The application requires:

• Your current work permit (copy)
• Your PR application receipt or acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC
• A copy of your passport biographic page
• The applicable government fee (currently CAD $255 for an open work permit)

Apply online through your IRCC secure account. Processing times for BOWPs have ranged from a few weeks to several months depending on volume. Check the current processing time estimate on IRCC's website before you apply and submit your application well before your current permit expires.

Processing Time

BOWP processing times are not fixed. As of early 2025, processing times have ranged from 4 to 16 weeks depending on how applications are submitted and the current backlog. Apply at the four-month mark before your permit expires to give yourself adequate buffer time.

If your BOWP is still being processed when your current permit expires, you may be able to continue working under implied status.

Implied Status

If your work permit expires and you applied for renewal (or a BOWP) before it expired, you automatically maintain your existing conditions under implied status while IRCC processes the new application. Under implied status you can continue working for the same employer under the same conditions as your expired permit. You cannot start working for a new employer or change job conditions until your BOWP is formally issued.

Implied status does not apply if you let your permit expire without applying for renewal first. In that case, you are out of status and cannot legally work.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed RCIC.