Bridging Open Work Permit Canada: When and How to Apply

Your current work permit has a hard expiry date. Your PR application doesn't get processed overnight. That gap — sometimes six months or longer — is where a lot of CEC applicants quietly panic. The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) exists precisely to fill that gap and keep you legally working while IRCC reviews your permanent residence application.

Here's what you need to know.

What the BOWP Actually Does

The BOWP is an open work permit issued under the International Mobility Program (R205(a) of the IRPR). Unlike your current permit, which is likely tied to a specific employer, the BOWP allows you to work for any employer in Canada, in any occupation, for any hours.

That flexibility matters. If you get a better offer or your current employer situation changes while your PR is in progress, you're not trapped. You can switch jobs without jeopardizing your legal status.

The BOWP doesn't shorten PR processing time — it just ensures you're not forced out of work or out of status while you wait.

BOWP Eligibility Requirements

You qualify for a BOWP if you meet all four of these conditions:

1. You are physically in Canada (and intend to reside outside Quebec, since Quebec has its own rules).
2. You hold valid temporary resident status at the time you apply.
3. You have submitted a complete PR application through Express Entry — specifically, an e-APR (electronic Application for Permanent Residence) that has passed the Section 10 completeness check. You'll know this has happened when you receive an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC.
4. Your current work permit has not yet expired at the time of the BOWP application.

That third point is the one people trip over. Just having an active profile in the Express Entry pool is not enough. You need to have actually submitted your PR application and received the AOR. The ITA alone does not trigger BOWP eligibility.

When to Apply: The Timing Question

Apply for the BOWP as soon as you receive your AOR and your current permit's remaining validity is starting to look tight. You don't need to wait until you're close to expiry — applying early gives you a buffer.

Most critically: apply before your current permit expires. If you apply before expiry, you enter maintained status (formerly called implied status) under R186(u) of the IRPR. This means you are legally authorized to continue working under the exact conditions of your existing permit while the BOWP application is reviewed. You are not out of status. You can keep working.

If your permit expires and you haven't submitted the BOWP application, you lose your work authorization immediately. There's no grace period for this. Restoration of status is possible but it does not grant interim work authorization — meaning you can't work while that restoration is pending.

Set a calendar reminder at least 60 days before your permit's expiry to evaluate whether you need a BOWP. If your PR application has an AOR and your permit expires before the PR is likely to be finalized, apply for the BOWP.

How to Apply for the BOWP

The application is filed online through your IRCC secure account:

• Select "Apply for a work permit" from within your account
• Choose the open work permit category
• Indicate that you are a permanent residence applicant (this routes you to the BOWP stream)
• Pay the work permit fee (currently $155 CAD, plus biometrics if you haven't already given them)
• Upload supporting documents

You'll need to provide:

• A copy of your current work permit
• Your AOR letter (proof that your PR application passed the completeness check)
• A copy of your passport (valid beyond your intended stay)
• Proof of your Express Entry profile and draw history

Processing times for the BOWP vary but have generally run 4–8 weeks. If you're on maintained status, that's fine — you can keep working throughout that window.

What Happens to Your Status While Waiting

Once you've filed the BOWP application before your permit's expiry, you are on maintained status. Your authorization is the same as under your original permit — same employer conditions, same location restrictions. The BOWP hasn't been approved yet, so you aren't on an open permit yet. You're operating as if your old permit is still valid.

When the BOWP is approved, your conditions change to the open permit terms. You can then switch employers or change roles freely.

If IRCC approves your PR application before the BOWP is even processed, that's fine too — you'll become a permanent resident and the BOWP application becomes moot.

One Scenario Worth Knowing

Some CEC candidates receive their ITA and submit their e-APR very close to their permit's expiry. If you're in this situation, move fast on both fronts: submit the e-APR, get the AOR, and immediately file the BOWP application. The two applications can be in flight simultaneously. Your maintained status clock starts ticking from the BOWP application date, as long as that date is before your permit expires.

If you're mapping out the full CEC pathway from ITA to landing, the Canada Express Entry (CEC) Guide covers the complete timeline — including how the BOWP fits into your 60-day post-ITA sprint and what documents IRCC will scrutinize in your PR file.