Bridging Open Work Permit

The bridging open work permit helps in extending the status of foreign nationals that are working in Canada while they wait for a decision on their permanent residency application. It is only applicable to those who have submitted an application for a permanent residency and are already in possession of an official work permit.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for BOWP, a foreign national should first meet the following criteria:

• Reside in Canada with official temporary resident status
• Hold a valid work permit with temporary resident status
• Have submitted to renew their work permit
• Maintained status in Canada
• With authorization to work on a work permit, the applicant should be eligible to restore their temporary resident status
• After applying under an eligible non-express entry permanent residence stream applicant should have passed the R10 section completeness check for a QSWC application or express entry application or a positive eligibility assessment.

BOWP For PR Applicants

You might be eligible if you applied to any one of the permanent residence programs mentioned below:

BOWP Permanent Residency Programs

In the express entry program and provincial nominee program, you should:

• Live in Canada
• Have an original work permit expiring in or less than 4 months
• Be the principal applicant in your PR application and have submitted your PR application
• Must have your receipt of an acknowledgment, which is given after the submission of your PR application
• Have no limitations as a nomination condition (applicable only for provincial nominee program)

In the care worker program, you should:

• Live in Canada
• Have a minimum of 24 months of skilled work experience
• Have one of these: original work permit, on implied status, or your eligibility should be restorable.
• Be approved in principle for your PR application

In the agri-food pilot program, you should:

• Live in Canada
• Have an appropriate work permit expiring in or less than four months
• Be the principal applicant and approved in principle for your PR application

BOWP Documents Checklist

• AOR letter
• Provincial nomination certificate (if applicable)
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate (if applicable)
• Signed employment agreement (if live-in caregiver)
• Completed application forms
• Evidence of status in Canada
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Original copy of your passport
• Medical exam results (if requested)
• Evidence of payment for government fees