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Bridging Open Work Permit(BOWP)

Bridging Open Work Permit(BOWP), which is also called bridging visa, allows those who have applied for permanent residence visa to work in Canada while their application is being processed. With this visa, temporary workers can continue to work in Canada even after their work permit is expired, until a decision is made on their PR application. The validity of a Bridging visa can be six months or a year. The dependent family members of a PR applicant under an economic immigration program can also apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit. But for the same, they must have an Associate in LMIA ( Labour Market Impact Assessment ) or an LMIA exemption demonstrating their special situation to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit.

Eligibility requirements for a Bridging Open Work Permit

To be eligible for a BOWP:

The applicant must hold a work permit
The applicant must be a resident of Canada
The validity of their passport should be at least six months
The applicant must have filed an electronic application for permanent residence.

The applicant should be the primary applicant under any of the following economic class immigration programs:

Who can apply for a BOWP, you must:

Live in Canada while applying.
Have a valid/expired work permit with maintained status, or be eligible for status restoration.
Be the principal applicant, with no employment restrictions, and have a complete PR application (not just an Express Entry profile).
Have received acknowledgement of receipt letter from IRCC after applying for PR.

Benefits of a Bridging Open Work Permit

The Bridging Open Work Permit allows the holder to stay in Canada even after their Temporary Resident Visa(TRV) is expired.
It gives the holder continued access to the Canadian labour market.
It allows the holder to gain more work experience, at least for six months.
With a BOWP, the holder can stay in Canada even if they lose their current employment and look for other opportunities.
It gives the holder more freedom to choose their employment or employer than a specialised work permit.

Open Work Permit for Spouse or Common-law Partner or Dependent

The spouse/common-law partner and dependents of a Bridging Work Permit Holder is eligible for an open work permit, provided they meet certain conditions:

The validity of the Bridging Open Work Permit must be at least six months.
If the BOWP holder has applied for permanent residence under Federal Skilled Worker Program, they must be working in an occupation classified under TEER categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification(NOC)
If the BOWP holder is a PNP applicant, the spouse will be eligible to obtain a work permit for the same duration of the work permit held by the PNP applicant.
If the BOWP holder has applied under the Federal Skilled Trades Program, they must be working in an occupation classified under Skilled trades NOC groups for the spouse to apply for an open work permit.
For CEC applicants, there are no conditions to be met by the BOWP holders.

Dependent children of the BOWP holder

Dependent children of a BOWP holder may also apply for work permit. But they must obtain an LMIA or an LMIA exemption in order to apply for a work permit.

BOWP for PNP applicants

For the BOWP holders who have applied for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program, the employment location of the work permit will be limited to the nominating province.

Applying for Bridging Open Work Permit

One should apply for a BOWP before their current work permit expires. If their work permit expires before their BOWP application is approved, they will have to work in Canada under maintained status until a decision is made on their BOWP application. But if their application is denied, they will have to stop working immediately. If they were found to be working illegally in Canada, they may not be able to apply for immigration to the country in the future.

Express Entry candidates may apply for Bridging Open Work Permit once they receive the Acknowledgement of Receipt letter.

Applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit from Quebec

Permanent Residence applicants from Quebec may also apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit. The requirements include:

They must have submitted a permanent residence application as a principal applicant and as a skilled worker in Quebec.
They must have received an acknowledgment of receipt confirming that their application for permanent residence has been accepted.
The spouse or common-law partner of the applicant can also obtain a Bridging Open Work Permit.

Documents required to apply for Bridging Open Work Permit

The main documents required is given by :

Acknowledgement of Receipt for PR(AOR)
Provincial Nomination certificate(if required)
Signed employment contract(for live-in caregivers)
Filled-in application forms
Proof of status in Canada
Marriage certificate(if applicable)
Copy of the passport
Medical clearance certificate(if required)
Proof of payment of necessary government fees

It will take around three to four months to complete the processing of the application for Bridging Open Work Permit.

Travelling outside Canada

If you are a BOWP holder and you need to travel outside Canada, you must have a valid eTA or Temporary Resident Visa to return to Canada.

Extending Bridging Open Work Permit

The IRCC may extend the BOWP for 12 months if a decision is not made on the PR application of the BOWP holder before the work permit is expired.

What if the PR application of a BOWP holder is refused?

If the PR application of a BOWP holder is refused, they can continue to work in Canada until the validity of their work permit expires.

Over 120,000 temporary residents transitioned to permanent residents in Canada in 2022. Do you wish to know more about your options for becoming a permanent resident in Canada? Talk to the Canada immigration experts of CanApprove. Contact us now!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change employers while on a BOWP?

Yes, a BOWP is an open work permit, meaning you are not restricted to one employer. You can change jobs or employers while holding a BOWP.

How long is a BOWP valid?

A BOWP is usually valid for 12 months or until a decision is made on your permanent residence application, whichever comes first.

Can I extend my BOWP?

If your PR application is still being processed, you may be eligible to extend your BOWP. However, you’ll need to apply for an extension before your current BOWP expires.

Can my spouse or common-law partner apply for an open work permit while I hold a BOWP?

What happens if my PR application is refused while I am on a BOWP?

If your PR application is refused, your BOWP will be valid. After expiring BOWP, you may be required to leave Canada unless you are eligible for another type of permit or legal status.

How do I apply for a BOWP?

You can apply for a BOWP online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal. You will need to submit all necessary documentation and pay the applicable fees.

Do I need to pass a medical exam to get a BOWP?

A medical exam is not usually required unless your previous work permit or your PR application requires one due to your occupation (e.g., healthcare workers).

Do I need a job offer to get a Canada PR?

A job offer is optional to receive an invitation and get a Canada Permanent Residence. However, a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a nomination from a province will increase the CRS points and can help you receive an ITA quickly.

Can I update my express entry profile after creating it?

Yes. You can update your Express Entry profile now and then, adding new educational qualifications, improved language scores, or increased work experience, which would increase your chances of receiving an ITA.

Is there any specific time during the year of creating an Express Entry profile?

No! You can submit your profile under the Express Entry Program at any time of the year.

Is the Canada PR requirements for Indians different from others?

No. The requirements for applying for a PR is same for all and it doesn’t differ for countries.