If you are currently working in Canada and you have applied for permanent residence, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if your work permit will expire in four months or less. This means you can keep working while IRCC make a decision on your permanent resident application.
To qualify, you must have applied under the:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program,
- Canadian Experience Class,
- Federal Skilled Trades Program,
- Provincial Nominee Program,
- Caring for Children Class, or
- Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class.
You must also:
- currently be in Canada,
- have valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within four months,
- select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit when you complete your work permit application, and
- pay the work permit processing fee and the Open Work Permit Holder fee.
Note: If you applied under the Provincial Nominee Program, you must not have employment restrictions as conditions of your nomination.
Supporting documents
When you submit your application, you must provide all supporting documents listed in your document checklist. You must also include a copy of your Acknowledgment of Receipt letter.
- If you applied for permanent residence online through Express Entry, this letter is automatically sent to your account when IRCC get your application.
- If you applied outside of Express Entry, this letter is sent by the processing office after IRCC verify that your application is complete.
- If you applied under the Provincial Nominee Program, you must also include a copy of your nomination letter.
- If you apply for your work permit online, upload the above document(s) in the Letter of Explanation slot in the document checklist.
Note: If your permanent resident application is not complete, IRCC will refuse your bridging open work permit application and will not refund your processing fees.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)