The BOWP is an open work permit for foreign nationals in Canada whose permanent residence application under an eligible economic program has reached the required stage. Eligible programs include Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades), the Provincial Nominee Program, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, the Rural & Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). In most cases you must be in Canada, hold a valid work permit or be on maintained status, and have received IRCC’s acknowledgment that your permanent residence application is complete.
Timing is the whole game. Apply before you have the acknowledgment of receipt and you are not yet eligible. Apply after your permit expires and you may have lost both your status and your right to work. The window between those two points is often short, so we track the dates and file inside it.
Provincial nominees have an extra consideration. If your nomination is tied to a specific employer or occupation, IRCC may issue the bridging permit with that restriction rather than as a fully open permit. Your spouse or partner may also be eligible for their own open work permit once your BOWP is approved, depending on your occupation and the rules in force at the time.
Who this is for
- Express Entry candidates who have submitted a complete electronic application for permanent residence and whose work permit is expiring
- Provincial nominees whose PR application has been received by IRCC and who need to keep working during processing
- Post-graduation work permit holders who have applied for permanent residence and cannot get a second PGWP
- Spouses and common-law partners of BOWP applicants who may qualify for their own open work permit
What we do
- Confirm that your PR application, program and current status make you eligible, and pinpoint the earliest date you can file
- Check for provincial nomination conditions that could make your bridging permit employer- or occupation-restricted
- Prepare the application with your acknowledgment of receipt, nomination certificate and current permit evidence
- Advise on maintained status so you keep working legally while the application is processed
- Prepare a companion open work permit application for your spouse or partner where eligible
- Handle IRCC requests and coordinate the permit with the progress of your permanent residence file
How it works
- 1
Eligibility and timing
We review your PR application stage, your current permit expiry and your status in Canada, and confirm the exact window in which you can and should apply.
- 2
Documents
We gather the acknowledgment of receipt, nomination certificate where applicable, current permit, passport and proof of status, and identify any gap that needs an explanation.
- 3
Application
We file the BOWP online before your current permit expires, along with your spouse’s application where eligible, so maintained status protects your right to work.
- 4
Through to PR
We monitor the bridging permit alongside your PR file, advise on extensions if processing runs long, and prepare you for the final permanent residence steps.