A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets you work for any employer in Canada while IRCC decides on your permanent residence application. Apply once you have your AOR and your current work permit will expire within 120 days. Fee: $255 CAD. Processing: 3–5 months. Apply before your permit expires — maintained status protects your right to work while you wait.
What Is a Bridging Open Work Permit?
When you submit a permanent residence application, IRCC can take anywhere from 6 months to over 2 years to reach a decision. If your current work permit expires during that wait, you face a problem: without a valid permit, you cannot legally work in Canada.
The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) solves exactly this. It is an open work permit — meaning you can work for any employer, in any job — issued specifically to bridge the gap between your expiring work permit and your PR approval. Once you receive PR status, the BOWP becomes void automatically, replaced by your permanent resident work rights.
Unlike a closed work permit that ties you to one employer, a BOWP gives you full labour market flexibility for the entire duration of your PR wait.
Photo by Phil Desforges / Pexels
Are You Eligible for a BOWP?
All four conditions below must be true at the same time. Missing even one means your application will be refused.
1. You Have a Valid Work Permit or Maintained Status
You must currently hold a valid work permit, or have maintained (implied) status by applying for an extension before your permit expired. If your permit already expired and you did not apply for an extension in time, you are ineligible.
2. You Are the Principal Applicant in an Eligible PR Program
Only the principal applicant on a PR application qualifies — not dependants. Eligible programs include:
- Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): non-employer-restricted streams only
- Quebec Skilled Worker Program
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot
If your provincial nomination certificate restricts you to a specific employer, you do not qualify for an open BOWP. You must apply for a closed, LMIA-exempt work permit instead. Check your nomination certificate before applying.
3. You Have Your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) alone is not enough. You must have submitted your full PR application, passed IRCC's completeness check (R10), and received your official AOR letter. For Express Entry applicants, the AOR typically arrives within 24 hours of submission. PNP applicants may wait weeks.
4. You Are Physically Inside Canada
The BOWP application must be submitted from within Canada. You cannot apply from abroad.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki / Pexels
The 120-Day Rule: When Exactly to Apply
This is where most applicants make costly mistakes. The timing window for a BOWP is strict and unforgiving in both directions.
❌ Too early: permit has more than 120 days remaining → refused, fees lost
❌ Too late: permit already expired → no maintained status, illegal to work
Applying Too Early
If your work permit has more than 120 days of validity remaining when you submit, IRCC will refuse your BOWP application outright. You will lose the $255 fee and gain nothing. Wait until you are inside the 120-day window before submitting.
Applying Too Late
If your permit expires before you apply, maintained status never activates. You are in Canada without valid status — a serious immigration violation — and you must stop working immediately. You would then need to apply for restoration of status, which costs an additional $229 plus the work permit fee, and is not guaranteed.
The Ideal Timing
Submit your BOWP application the moment two things are simultaneously true: (1) you have your AOR in hand, and (2) your work permit is within 120 days of expiry. Do not wait for a more "convenient" time — every day of delay is a day closer to an unauthorized gap.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya / Pexels
How to Apply: Step by Step
The BOWP application is submitted entirely online through your IRCC portal account. Flagpoling at the border is not permitted for BOWP applications.
Gather Your Documents
You will need: your valid passport (must not expire before the intended BOWP validity period), a copy of your current work permit, your AOR letter with your PR application number, and the completed IMM 5710 form ("Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker").
Log Into Your IRCC Account
Use the same IRCC account you used to submit your PR application. Go to "Apply to come to Canada" → "Work permit — extend or change conditions."
Complete IMM 5710
Select "Open work permit" as the type. In the reason field, indicate that you are a principal applicant awaiting a PR decision. Enter your PR application number from your AOR letter exactly as it appears.
Pay the $255 CAD Fee
The total government fee is $255 CAD: $155 for work permit processing plus $100 for the open work permit holder fee. Pay by credit or debit card through the IRCC portal. Police certificates, medical exams, and employment letters are not required for a standard BOWP.
Upload and Submit
Upload clear scans of your passport biographical page, your current work permit, and your AOR letter. Submit the application and save your confirmation number. If IRCC requires biometrics and your existing biometrics are expired or were never collected, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter and must visit a designated collection site.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | Must cover the intended BOWP validity period |
| Current work permit copy | Full document, not just the expiry date |
| AOR letter | Contains your PR application number |
| IMM 5710 form | Completed and signed |
| $255 CAD fee | $155 processing + $100 open WP holder fee |
Photo by Kampus Production / Pexels
Processing Times and Maintained Status in 2026
With approximately 1.4 million work permits set to expire during 2026, demand for BOWPs has surged dramatically. Processing times have extended significantly as a result.
| Scenario | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Fast-track cases | 6–8 weeks |
| Typical processing | 3–5 months |
| Complex or high-volume cases | 5–6+ months |
| IRCC official estimate (mid-2026) | ~181 days (6 months) |
The good news: as long as you applied before your current permit expired, maintained status protects your right to work throughout the entire processing period. You continue working under the same conditions as your expiring permit — same employer, same occupation — until IRCC decides on your BOWP.
What Maintained Status Means in Practice
Maintained status (also called implied status) automatically extends your legal stay in Canada from the moment your work permit expires until IRCC reaches a decision. It is not a separate document — your expired work permit plus your BOWP application confirmation together serve as your proof of legal status.
Departing Canada — even for a weekend trip to the United States — immediately and permanently terminates your maintained status. You cannot re-enter and resume work until your BOWP is approved and physically in your hands. Wait until you have the approved permit before any international travel.
If Your BOWP Is Refused
If IRCC refuses your BOWP, your maintained status ends on the date of the refusal decision. You must stop working immediately. You still have legal status in Canada for 90 days to apply for restoration — but you cannot work during that period. Seek advice from a regulated immigration consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer promptly if you receive a refusal.
Photo by Tim Gouw / Pexels
Spousal Open Work Permit: Can Your Partner Work Too?
If you hold a valid, approved BOWP (not just maintained status), your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for their own open work permit — provided all of the following conditions are met:
- You hold a valid BOWP (approved, not pending)
- You work in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- Your BOWP has at least 6 months of remaining validity
- Your spouse has valid temporary resident status in Canada
- Your spouse is physically present in Canada
Dependent children are not eligible for open work permits under this provision, but they can apply for visitor records or study permits depending on their age and circumstances.
What Happens When Your PR Is Approved
Once IRCC approves your permanent residence application, your BOWP automatically becomes void — you no longer need it. As a permanent resident, you have unrestricted work authorization in Canada and can work for any employer in any occupation without any permit.
You will receive a PR confirmation document (COPR) and, eventually, your PR card. The transition is seamless: your legal right to work continues without interruption from BOWP through to PR status.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Work Permit Guides
LMIA-exempt categories, PGWP eligibility, maintained status, and more — all in plain English.
Browse All GuidesSources: IRCC Bridging Open Work Permit page (canada.ca); IRCC Work Permits for Permanent Residence Applicants (canada.ca); IRCC processing times (June 2026); SoonToBeCanadian BOWP Guide 2026; Liberty Immigration BOWP Guide 2026. Processing times reflect community-reported data and IRCC official estimates as of June 2026 and are subject to change. Always verify current rules at canada.ca. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.