Extend your work permit – Bridging open work permit
This type of work permit lets you keep working while you wait for the results of your permanent residence application.
You may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if:
- you applied for permanent residence
- your current work permit expires in 4 months or less
- you have valid status on your work permit
- you are currently in Canada
You can only qualify if you applied to one of these permanent residence programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Caring for Children Class
- Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class
If you applied through the Provincial Nominee Program and have employment restrictions as conditions of your nomination, you can’t get a bridging open work permit.
When you apply, you must:
- select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit
- pay the work permit processing fee and the Open Work Permit Holder fee.
Quebec residents are not eligible for a bridging open work permit. Instead, if you hold a valid Certificat de sélection du Québec, you may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit under Labour Market Exemption code A75.
Supporting documents
When you submit your work permit application, include the supporting documents listed in your document checklist and add a copy of your Acknowledgment of Receipt letter.
For Express Entry applications, we will send the letter to your account after we get your application. For other programs, we send you the letter after we check that your application is complete.
If you applied under the Provincial Nominee Program, also include a copy of your nomination letter.
Upload these documents using the “Letter of Explanation” entry in your document checklist.
Features
If you don’t send a complete permanent residence application, we will refuse your bridging open work permit application and will not refund your processing fees.
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