What a Bridging Open Work Permit Actually Does
If you’ve applied for Canadian permanent residence and your current work permit is expiring, the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is the tool that prevents a gap in your legal employment. It’s an open work permit — meaning you’re not tied to one employer — and it’s available only to principal applicants who have already submitted a complete PR application under specific economic programs. Spouses or dependants cannot apply for a BOWP based on your application; they need their own work permit routes. A frequent point of confusion: the BOWP is for the principal applicant alone, not the whole family.
IRCC created the BOWP to fix a structural problem in the permanent residence pipeline. Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and other streams can take months to finalize, and many applicants would otherwise be forced to stop working or leave Canada simply because their temporary status ran out. By issuing a BOWP that typically matches the expected processing time, the government lets you continue to earn, pay taxes, and build Canadian experience — which can even boost your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score if you’re in the pool for future draws. The key is timing: you must apply before your current work permit expires, and you need your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC to trigger the application. Without that letter, you’re not yet eligible, and submitting a BOWP application too early will be refused.
At a glance
If your Permanent Residence application has been submitted, the Bridging Open Work Permit provides critical income continuity while IRCC reviews your file.
- The BOWP is a temporary work authorization linked only to your pending PR application.
- It ensures income stability during the gap between application and status.
- The permit is strictly conditional and expires if your PR application pauses.
- Always ensure that all core PR eligibility documents are complete and accurately submitted.
Who Qualifies for a BOWP — and Who Doesn’t
Eligibility is program-specific. The primary route is through Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. You also qualify if you applied through the Provincial Nominee Program and received a nomination that doesn’t restrict your employment. In all cases, you must live in Canada at the time of application (and intend to live outside Quebec, which has its own separate immigration agreements — Quebec applicants generally do not benefit from the BOWP and should explore Quebec-specific work permit options). You also need either valid temporary resident status with a valid work permit, or you must have already applied to extend/restore that status and maintained your worker status under the law.
The eligibility checklist has non-negotiable items. You must be the principal applicant on the PR file, not a spouse or partner. Your PR application must have been submitted completely and passed IRCC’s completeness check — simply having an Express Entry profile in the pool is not enough. The completeness check is the step where an officer confirms all required documents are included before assigning a file number and issuing the AOR. If your application is returned as incomplete, you never reach the stage where a BOWP is possible. Processing times for the completeness check vary, but typically you’ll receive the AOR within a few weeks to several months after submission. Once you have that letter, you can apply for the BOWP, even if your current work permit hasn’t expired yet. Applying without the AOR is a guaranteed refusal, so wait for the letter before paying the processing fees.
When You’re Not Eligible Yet: Extending Your Current Permit
If you haven’t yet received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or your PR application hasn’t passed the completeness check, you can’t apply for a BOWP. In that scenario, don’t let your existing work permit expire. An expired permit without a timely extension application leaves you out of status, and restoring status later is more complicated and often requires leaving Canada. Instead, apply to extend your current work permit. This usually means renewing an employer-specific permit, which may require your employer to obtain a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or submit a new offer of employment through the Employer Portal. That can add weeks of processing, so start early.
Applicants in this position sometimes assume that a BOWP application will protect them while they wait for an ITA. It won’t. The BOWP application requires an AOR as evidence, and without it, IRCC will refuse the application and you’ll lose the time and fees. The safer path is to extend whatever open or closed permit you currently hold, using the regular work permit extension process. If your current permit is employer-specific and you lose your job, that creates a separate challenge — you may need to find a new employer willing to sponsor an LMIA, which is its own lengthy ordeal. This is why planning around permit expiry dates is crucial from the moment you enter the Express Entry pool.
How to Apply: Online, Paper, and the Documents That Matter
The default application method is online through your IRCC secure account. You’ll select “Open work permit” as the permit type and pay the work permit processing fee plus the open work permit holder fee (fees are subject to change, so check the application guide for current amounts). For Express Entry applicants, the supporting documents include your AOR letter and the standard identity documents listed in the document checklist. Upload the AOR letter in the “Client information” field. If you’re applying via the PNP, you also need to include a copy of your provincial nomination letter, uploaded alongside the AOR in the same “Client information” field — you can merge multiple files into one PDF first.
Paper applications are only accepted if you’re having problems applying online and require an accommodation. The forms are the same: IMM 5710 for an open work permit, plus the document checklist from the application package. The most common mistake online is attaching the wrong document or failing to include the AOR altogether. Double-check that the PDF is readable and that the letter clearly shows your application number and the date IRCC received your PR package. Also, ensure your current address in Canada is accurate, because the BOWP will only be mailed to a Canadian address. Processing times for BOWP applications fluctuate; many Reddit users report a wait of 3–4 months, but official times can be longer. You can keep working under maintained status while you wait, as long as you applied before your existing permit expired.
Maintaining Status and the Travel Trap
If you apply for a BOWP before your current work permit expires, you’re covered by “maintained status” — you can legally continue working under the same conditions as your previous permit until a decision is made on the BOWP. This is a critical safety net that keeps you employed without interruption. However, maintained status ends the moment you leave Canada. If you travel internationally after applying but before the BOWP is approved, you abandon the application for status purposes, and you may not be able to resume work upon return. You can still re-enter as a visitor if you have a visa or eTA, but you won’t have work authorization until the BOWP is physically approved and you have the permit in hand.
Leaving Canada after your existing work permit expires, even if you’ve applied for the BOWP, carries a double risk: you lose maintained status, and you may be denied re-entry in a worker capacity at the border. The rule from IRCC is clear: if you leave Canada after your work permit expires, you can’t work until your new application is approved. This catches applicants who travel for family emergencies or holidays and assume their BOWP application will be processed quickly. Always check current processing times before booking travel. If you must travel while waiting, bring your BOWP application receipt, your AOR letter, and be prepared to explain your situation to the border officer — but know that you likely won’t be allowed to work until the permit arrives. For those with urgent travel needs, it’s sometimes smarter to wait for the BOWP approval before leaving, even if that means a short gap in employment.
If Your PR Application Is Refused or Stalls
A BOWP does not guarantee permanent residence, and if your underlying PR application is ultimately refused, the work permit becomes invalid. You’ll need to stop working immediately and either apply for restoration of status (if eligible) or prepare to leave Canada. IRCC generally won’t issue a BOWP if the PR application is already refused at the time of processing, but if you’ve already received the BOWP and then the PR is refused, the permit is no longer valid. There’s no grace period — you must cease employment the moment you learn of the refusal. This harsh reality underscores why you should never treat the BOWP as a long-term solution; it’s a bridge, not a destination.
Processing delays in the PR stream can also leave you in limbo. If your PR application seems stuck — for example, in security screening or additional document requests — you may need to apply for a second BOWP if the first one expires. This is sometimes necessary, and IRCC will usually process the renewal if your PR file is still active and you remain in compliance. Keep a close eye on the expiry date on your BOWP and apply to extend at least 30 days before it runs out. For further context on how long these stages can take, see our overview of the Express Entry timeline in Understanding Canadian Work Experience, which explains how work experience builds your CRS score while you wait. If your PR application is complex or you’re unsure of your status, consulting a licensed immigration advisor can help you avoid a dangerous misstep.
Your First Step: Secure the Acknowledgement of Receipt
Everything hinges on the AOR letter. Without it, the BOWP window never opens. So your immediate action — even before worrying about forms or fees — is to ensure your PR application is as complete as possible to pass the completeness check swiftly. That means triple-checking the document checklist for your specific stream, ensuring all translations are certified, and that your police certificates and medical exams are valid when you submit. A rejected application not only wastes time but resets the clock and may require a new profile entry, delaying your AOR by months.
Once you have the AOR in hand, log into your IRCC account and start the BOWP application alongside the document checklist from the official BOWP page. Gather your digital photos, proof of current status, and the AOR letter itself. If you’re PNP-nominated, include the nomination certificate. Submit and pay the fees. Then, while you wait, continue working under maintained status and avoid international travel until you have the new permit in your passport. For a broader look at how your work authorization options compare, revisit Temporary vs. Permanent Residence in Canada. The BOWP is one of the most practical tools in the immigration system — but only if you treat the rules, especially the AOR requirement and travel restrictions, with absolute respect.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
