CIMM – Open vs. Employer-Specific Work Permits – November 07, 2023

Key Facts and Figures

• In 2022, 77% of work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) were open, while 23% were employer-specific. Of these employer-specific work permits, 42% were issued under the International Mobility Program, and 58% were issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Key Messages

• Employer-specific work permit holders are authorized to work for the employer who supported their work permit application. Open work permit holders may work for any eligible employer anywhere in Canada immediately upon entry.
• Employers of employer-specific work permit holders are subject to a compliance regime which seeks to ensure the protection of foreign workers through a suite of regulatory obligations. This aims to promote safe and fair working conditions for temporary foreign workers.
• Under the TFWP, employers must meet certain wage requirements to avoid wage suppression for foreign workers and Canadians alike.
• IRCC has implemented facilitative measures to support employer-specific work permit holders, including the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers, to enable workers to leave abusive situations. Also, the Changing Employers Public Policy permits workers to change employers and begin working with that new employer more quickly.
• IRCC is continuing to analyze its suite of programs to ensure they are effective in safeguarding the rights and safety of temporary foreign workers.

Supplementary Information

• The employer compliance regime does not apply to employers of open work permit holders, as there is no listed employer on which to impose the requirements.