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Bridging Open Work Permit

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The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) facilitates all foreign nationals to continue working in Canada legally for any employer while their permanent residency application is under process. All the candidates who have applied for permanent residence in the country through below cited economic immigration programs can be successfully considered for a BOWP:

You are Eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit, if:

  1. If you have been permitted to enter and live in Canada as a temporary resident and have a valid work permit or hold-maintained status under subsection R201(1) of the IRPR.
    2. You have submitted an application for Canadian permanent residence under one of the economic immigration programs as the primary applicant.
    3. You have completed the completeness check stage and received an official Acknowledgement of Receipt (AoR) letter. You can connect with our licensed RCICs to get detailed information on the same.

In addition to this, after your BOWP approval, your spouse too becomes eligible for an open work permit under standard spousal open work permit (SOWP) frameworks.

Eligibility Criteria for Your Spouse

• A valid work permit or authorization to work in Canada.
• The principal applicant’s job must fall under qualifying National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on the specific legal stream and provincial alignment guidelines.
• One must be physically residing in Canada.

How to Apply for a BOWP?

You are required to submit your application to the federal authority online along with the required processing fees. You must ensure that application is correctly filled and submitted. The required documents must be submitted along with the application.

In order to ensure that you and your spouse easily gain the BOWP, connect with our professionals at ImmigCanada Immigration Consulting Services now. Our experts will work along with you and guide you at every step till you receive your preferred Canadian work permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel outside of Canada while my BOWP application is pending under maintained status?

You are allowed to depart Canada, but doing so terminates your right to work under maintained status upon your return. To resume working, you must wait until your BOWP application is approved and issued. Re-entry to Canada also requires a valid travel document, such as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

What happens to my BOWP application if my Permanent Residence application is refused?

If your PR application is refused or rejected as incomplete, your eligibility for a BOWP is invalidated. If a decision on the BOWP has not yet been rendered, it will be refused. You will then have a 90-day grace period from the date of your status loss to apply for restoration of temporary status or prepare to leave Canada.

Can my spouse or common-law partner obtain a work permit through my BOWP?

Yes. Spouses and common-law partners of BOWP holders may qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). To qualify, the principal applicant must hold a valid BOWP and meet specific criteria regarding high-skilled employment (TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3) or overall permanent residency stream guidelines.

What should I do if my current work permit expires in more than 4 months?

You must wait until you are within the 120-day window before filing your BOWP application. IRCC automatically rejects BOWP submissions received earlier than 4 months prior to the current permit’s expiration date, resulting in lost time and processing delays.

Do I need to submit an LMIA or a job offer to get a BOWP?

No. The Bridging Open Work Permit is an open work permit under exemption code C10. It does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), nor does it require you to have an active job offer or stay tied to a specific employer.