An open work permit (OWP) lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, unlike a closed (employer-specific) permit that ties you to one named employer. You do not qualify for an OWP because of a single job offer; you qualify because of who you are or your situation, for example a recent graduate (PGWP), the spouse of certain workers or students, a permanent-residence applicant whose permit is expiring (bridging OWP), a worker escaping an abusive employer, or a refugee claimant. Each category has its own eligibility rules, fees, and validity period, and several of them changed in 2024-2025, so it pays to confirm the current rule for your situation on canada.ca before you apply. This guide explains who qualifies, what each permit lets you do, and the practical 'what this means for you' of each category. It is educational information, not legal advice; an IRCC officer decides each application, and for your own case you should speak with a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
Open vs Closed Work Permits
| Feature | Open Work Permit | Closed Work Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Employer restriction | Work for any employer | One specific employer only |
| LMIA required? | Usually no | Often yes (or LMIA-exempt) |
| Can you change employers? | Yes, freely | No, must apply for new permit |
| Based on | Personal status/circumstances | Job offer from specific employer |
Open Work Permit Types: Who Qualifies
1. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
For graduates of PGWP-eligible Canadian designated learning institutions. This is usually the first OWP a former international student gets.
- • Validity generally ranges from 8 months up to 3 years and depends on the length of your program; graduates of a program at least 2 years long, and graduates of a master's degree program of any length, generally qualify for the maximum 3 years (verify your case on canada.ca)
- • You must apply within 180 days of when your institution confirms you met the requirements to complete your program, and your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days
- • Students who applied for their study permit on or after November 1, 2024 generally must graduate in an eligible field of study (the list is linked to long-term labour shortages and changes over time); some additional language requirements also apply. Confirm the current rules before you rely on them
- • Lets you work for any employer in (almost) any occupation, and is normally issued only once in a lifetime
2. Spousal / Family Open Work Permit (2025 rules)
For spouses and common-law partners of certain workers and students. Eligibility was significantly narrowed effective January 21, 2025, so older summaries are often out of date.
- • Spouse of a foreign worker: the principal worker generally must be employed in a high-skilled occupation at TEER 0 or 1, or in select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in priority sectors (for example certain health care, construction, or other listed jobs), and generally must have at least 16 months remaining on their own work permit
- • Spouse of an international student: generally limited to spouses of students in a master's degree program that is 16 months or longer (plus certain doctoral and select professional programs). Many undergraduate and shorter programs no longer make a spouse eligible
- • Spouse of an inland spousal-sponsorship PR applicant may instead apply for an OWP under that separate public policy
- • A family OWP is normally valid for roughly the same period as the principal applicant's status; dependent children are generally no longer eligible for these family OWPs (verify current eligibility on canada.ca)
3. Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
For foreign nationals already in Canada who have applied for permanent residence and whose work permit is expiring before a PR decision is made. It "bridges" the gap so you can keep working.
- • Generally for the principal applicant in an eligible PR program (for example Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program, including the non-Express Entry stream) whose application has passed the completeness check
- • You must hold valid status with the authority to work, or be eligible to restore your status, and you generally need to be in Canada with valid temporary-resident status when IRCC decides the BOWP
- • Your PNP nomination must not carry employment restrictions; processing usually does not begin until IRCC confirms you meet the basic PR eligibility
- • Lets you keep working for any employer during PR processing and does not have to match your previous occupation
4. Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers
For temporary foreign workers who are being abused, or at risk of abuse, in relation to their job in Canada. It lets you leave an abusive employer without losing your ability to work.
- • For workers who hold a valid employer-specific permit (or applied to extend before it expired) and are experiencing or at risk of abuse, which can be physical, sexual, financial, psychological, or reprisal
- • Lets you stop working for the abusive employer and work elsewhere in Canada while you regularise your situation
- • Based on the criteria in section R207.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
- • There is no fee for this work permit; when applying online you select the option indicating you are exempt from the fee, and you should include as much evidence of the abuse as you can
5. Refugee Claimant Open Work Permit
For people who have made a refugee claim in Canada and whose claim is pending before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board.
- • Generally available once a refugee claim has been found eligible and referred to the RPD, and after the required medical exam
- • Lets you work for any employer while you await your hearing, which helps you support yourself during processing
- • Generally valid until a decision is made on the claim or you leave Canada; check the conditions printed on your permit
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Generate Document ChecklistFrequently Asked Questions
Can I switch employers on an open work permit?+
Yes. An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada without restriction, you can switch employers, change industries, or work multiple jobs simultaneously. You do not need to notify IRCC when you change employers. The only exceptions are work permits restricted to certain geographic areas or those excluding specific occupations (e.g., occupations that require a health exam).
Is there any employer I cannot work for on an open work permit?+
Yes. Certain employers are on the "ineligible employers" list maintained by IRCC, these are employers who have been non-compliant with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Also, open work permits may be issued with conditions excluding specific occupations (such as working with vulnerable populations, which may require a separate medical clearance). Check your permit conditions carefully.
How do I know if my work permit is open or employer-specific?+
Look at the "Employer" field on your physical work permit document. If it says "any employer" or is left blank, it is an open work permit. If it lists a specific employer name and address, it is a closed (employer-specific) work permit.
Can I work full-time on a spousal open work permit?+
Yes. A spousal/family OWP allows full-time work for any eligible employer in Canada. There are no restrictions on hours, industry, or occupation, except for any conditions stated on the permit itself (such as a medical-clearance restriction on jobs that involve close contact with people, like health care or child care).
How much does an open work permit cost in 2026?+
For most open work permits you pay the work permit processing fee of $155 CAD plus the open work permit holder fee of $100 CAD, so $255 in total, and usually biometrics of $85 per person ($170 maximum per family). The open-work-permit-holder fee is what distinguishes an OWP from an employer-specific permit. The open work permit for vulnerable workers is fee-exempt (no fee at all). Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on canada.ca before you pay.
Does an open work permit count as a job offer or lead directly to permanent residence?+
No. An open work permit is temporary status that lets you work; it is not permanent residence and it is not itself a job offer. However, the Canadian work experience you gain on an OWP can help you qualify for PR programs such as the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry. PR has its own separate eligibility rules and an officer assesses each application on its own merits.
Is the International Experience Canada (IEC) permit an open work permit?+
It can be. IEC has different categories: the Working Holiday category is an open work permit, while the Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship) categories are employer-specific. Eligibility depends on your country of citizenship having a youth-mobility agreement with Canada and on annual quotas, so check the IEC pages on canada.ca for your country and the current pool rounds.
What happens if my open work permit expires before I can renew it?+
If you applied to extend or change your permit before it expired, you generally keep working under maintained status (formerly "implied status") while you wait for a decision. If your permit has already expired and you did not apply in time, you generally have up to 90 days to apply to restore your status, paying the work permit fee plus a separate restoration fee, and you usually cannot work until the new permit is approved. Verify the current fees and rules on canada.ca, and consider professional advice if your status has lapsed.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.