Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Canada 2026: Eligibility & When to Apply

Current RCIC guidance on BOWP eligibility, PR-stage requirements, maintained status, restoration and when you can apply in 2026.

Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)

A Bridging Open Work Permit can let an eligible permanent residence principal applicant continue working in Canada while the PR application is processed. BOWP eligibility is stream-specific and depends on the applicant’s location, worker status, PR stage and any nomination restrictions. If your post-graduation work permit is nearing expiry, read our PGWP-to-BOWP timing and work-status guide before relying on a pending PR application to support continued work. Reviewed by Usman Khalil, RCIC R709592, after a fact check against IRCC sources on 5 November 2026 (fee amounts checked against the IRCC fee list that day).
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BOWP eligibility: choose your PR application route first

Express Entry — FSW, CEC or FST: You must be the principal applicant of a complete submitted PR application that passed the completeness check and have the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). A profile in the Express Entry pool or an ITA by itself is not a submitted PR application.
Express Entry provincial nominee: The PR application must pass its completeness check, you need the AOR and nomination letter, and the nomination must not restrict employment.
Non-Express Entry provincial nominee: IRCC requires that the submitted PR application passed the PNP eligibility assessment, and will not start processing the BOWP until it has reviewed this; an AOR alone does not prove that assessment. The nomination must not carry employment restrictions. Check any current special measure rather than assuming one document rule applies to every file.
Temporary IRCC source check — in-Canada PNP applicants without AOR: IRCC Operational Bulletin 699 permits officers to accept alternative proof of submitted PR applications for specified in-Canada PNP BOWP (A75), T13 and eligible PNP-spouse work-permit applications when the AOR has not yet been issued. The online PR submission-confirmation email together with proof of payment is one stated option. If the AOR has already been issued, the applicant must use it. The measure runs through December 31, 2026 unless instructions change; it does not waive other work-permit eligibility or R10 assessment. This is general information, not a determination on your case.
Quebec skilled worker: You must live in Canada and intend to live in Quebec, be the principal applicant, have a CSQ that was valid when you filed the PR application, and have passed the completeness check; the IRCC letter generally shows an E-prefixed application number.
Worker status and location matter for all routes: Check that you are in Canada and meet the route-specific valid-work-permit, maintained-status or restoration conditions. An expiring work permit alone does not make a BOWP available; do not assume you can work after leaving and returning to Canada.

Government fees: BOWP processing is normally CAD $155 plus the CAD $100 open-work-permit-holder fee, with biometrics where required. See IRCC’s program-by-program BOWP eligibility and documents and the current fee list.

For route selection and application-stage evidence, book an RCIC consultation. This is a pre-assessment aid, not a finding of eligibility. Official sources checked 5 November 2026.

What is a Bridging Open Work Permit?

A bridging open work permit (BOWP) lets an eligible permanent residence applicant keep working while IRCC decides their application, according to IRCC’s BOWP page. A Bridging Open Work Permit is available only to principal applicants in specific permanent residence classes who meet the BOWP requirements for their stream. A valid current work permit is one route to eligibility, but IRCC also recognizes applicants who have an expired work permit and maintained status as a worker, or who are eligible to restore their status and obtain a work permit. The permanent residence application must also have reached the required stage for the specific PR class. Applicants building toward permanent residence on Canadian work experience can also read the Canadian Experience Class requirements.

What do people get wrong about the BOWP?

Having applied for permanent residence does not by itself make you eligible: your application has to reach the stage IRCC requires for your program, and you must meet IRCC’s other conditions for that program. An acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter does not settle it either, especially for PNP applications made outside Express Entry. The temporary Operational Bulletin 699 measure described above changes only the proof of submission for some in-Canada PNP applicants.

What our RCICs see: one mistake we see quite often is people assuming that just because they have applied for PR, they can apply for a bridging work permit. They do not always check whether they have reached the required stage, and PNP applicants sometimes overlook restrictions on their nomination.

A lot of people also think getting an AOR automatically makes them eligible. That is not always the case, especially with non-Express Entry PNP applications. IRCC’s BOWP page says that for those applications it will not start processing the BOWP until it has reviewed the permanent residence application and confirmed the basic PNP eligibility requirements for permanent residence.

What causes the most delays or refusals, we would say, is applying too early, missing documents and leaving everything until the work permit is about to expire. By the time some people realize they do not qualify yet, they are already running out of options to maintain their work authorization.

If you are not eligible yet, IRCC’s page tells Express Entry applicants waiting for an invitation, including provincial nominees in Express Entry, not to let their work permit expire and to extend it, and says the employer may need a new labour market impact assessment or a new offer of employment. Not every permit can simply be extended: IRCC says an open permit can be extended only while you are still eligible for that type of permit, and describes extending a post-graduation work permit only where your passport shortened it. Check your own route well before expiry.

Check the extension steps early: IRCC says you should apply at least 30 calendar days before the permit expires. If you have less time than that, do not assume it is too late: IRCC says an online application must be submitted before midnight UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, which is earlier than midnight in Canada) on the day the permit expires, and applying before expiry lets you stay legally and keep working under the same conditions while it is processed.

General information, not advice for your case. IRCC makes all final decisions.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a BOWP, applicants must meet these conditions:

Residence and worker-status pathway: You must live in Canada at the time you apply (except in the two Quebec classes, IRCC also says you must intend to live outside Quebec) and meet one of these worker-status routes:
- Have valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit.
- Have an expired work permit but maintained status as a worker.
- Be eligible to restore status as a worker and obtain a work permit. Normally, a restoration application must be made within 90 days of losing status, and you must stop working until you are authorized again. Limited special measures may change the deadline. Check IRCC’s restoration requirements.
Permanent Residency Application:
- Be the principal applicant in a BOWP-eligible permanent residence class. Common current categories include:
  - Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  - Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  - Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  - Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), if your nomination has no employment restrictions
  - Agri-Food Pilot (closed to new PR applications; BOWP rules can still apply to eligible pending files, and IRCC requires approval in principle for this route)
  - Quebec Skilled Worker Class (QSWC)
- Meet the PR-stage requirement for your stream. Express Entry and Express Entry-linked PNP applicants must have submitted a complete PR application and passed the completeness check. Non-Express Entry PNP applicants must have passed the PR eligibility assessment. An acknowledgement of receipt is also required, but an AOR by itself should not be treated as proof that every BOWP requirement is met.

PNP decision-stage requirement: For both Express Entry-linked and non-Express Entry PNP BOWP applications, In its Leaving Canada guidance for PNP applicants, IRCC says you must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when it makes the BOWP decision, or the application may be refused.

Temporary PNP AOR-proof measure through December 31, 2026: IRCC Operational Bulletin 699 allows eligible in-Canada PNP BOWP (A75) applicants to submit specified alternative proof of PR submission when no AOR has yet been issued. It provides an alternative form of proof only: Bulletin 699 says it does not change the underlying program eligibility requirements or the outcome of completeness or eligibility assessments, and usual eligibility and admissibility requirements still apply. If the PR application is later found incomplete and returned, future work permit eligibility can be affected. If an AOR has already been issued when you apply, use the AOR. See our PNP work permit without an AOR guide and the official IRCC Operational Bulletin 699.

IRCC also maintains BOWP rules for certain legacy caregiver classes and Quebec investors. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots opened in 2025 are not BOWP-eligible under the current IRCC BOWP instructions. See all Canadian work permit options in our work permit overview.

BOWP Fees

The standard IRCC government fees for a BOWP total CAD $255: CAD $155 for processing and CAD $100 for the open work permit holder fee. Biometrics (CAD $85 per person) or other applicable government fees may be additional, including the CAD $246.25 restoration fee if you are restoring your status. MAK professional preparation or representation fees are separate; see our published service fees. Confirm amounts in IRCC’s current fee schedule before paying.

Work Flexibility and Restrictions

BOWP holders typically have the flexibility to work for any employer in Canada. However, restrictions may apply:

PNP Applicants: Employment is limited to the province of nomination.
Quebec Applicants: For Quebec skilled worker applicants, the work permit location must be restricted to Quebec.

Validity of a BOWP

Do not assume every BOWP will be issued for a fixed 24-month period. IRCC’s officer instructions set a standard validity of 24 months from issue (for Quebec skilled workers and investors, 24 months or passport validity if shorter), but the date on your permit is what counts. The actual validity shown on the work permit depends on IRCC’s decision, the applicant’s passport validity and the circumstances of the file. If permanent residence is still pending when the BOWP is approaching expiry, eligibility for another work-permit application should be reassessed using the rules in force at that time.

Spouses and Dependents

A BOWP does not automatically give a spouse or child an open work permit. Family members have separate eligibility rules. For many economic-class permanent residence applicants, a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child may qualify for an open work permit when IRCC’s current family-member requirements are met. IRCC’s family page looks at whether the principal’s work permit was issued or approved because of an eligible economic-class PR application and stays valid for at least 6 months after IRCC receives the family member’s application, and its officer instructions also refer to the family member being included in the PR application. The principal applicant’s authorization to work, remaining permit validity and occupation can matter depending on the category. Minor children may instead need visitor or study status depending on their circumstances.

Applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit

How to apply

In most cases, BOWP applications are submitted online. Follow the current IRCC work-permit extension instructions, select an open work permit where required, and include the supporting documents for your permanent residence class. Quebec skilled worker and Quebec investor applicants: IRCC’s instructions tell you to answer yes to the form’s approved-in-principle question.

When can you apply for a BOWP in 2026?

IRCC’s current standard BOWP instructions do not set a universal rule that every applicant must wait until the final 4 months of a work permit before applying. Timing instead depends on the permanent residence program, the stage of the PR application and the worker-status route that applies to you.

Situation	Current BOWP significance
Valid temporary status + valid work permit	This is one accepted worker-status route. You must still meet the PR-stage and program-specific BOWP rules.
Work permit expired but maintained status as a worker	IRCC expressly recognizes maintained worker status as a possible BOWP route for the main current classes.
Eligible to restore worker status and obtain a work permit	IRCC also recognizes the restoration route. Losing the permit does not automatically make a person ineligible for a BOWP, but restoration rules and the PR-stage requirement still control.
Express Entry profile or ITA only	Not enough. IRCC states that submitting an Express Entry profile is not the same as applying for permanent residence.
Express Entry PR application submitted, completeness check passed and AOR issued	This satisfies the Express Entry PR-stage component, subject to the other BOWP eligibility requirements.

Do not import the wrong 4-month rule. IRCC’s separate temporary-resident-to-permanent-resident open-work-permit policy says some valid-work-permit holders under that specific pathway can apply up to 4 months before expiry. That is a different public policy and should not be treated as the standard BOWP timing rule. See the current IRCC BOWP instructions and, for comparison, the separate TR-to-PR open-work-permit policy.

For eligible in-Canada PNP applicants covered by the temporary 2026 alternative-proof measure discussed above, the AOR-document issue is assessed under that measure; it does not create a general exception for other BOWP classes.

Document Checklist

Original MAK document-planning worksheet | no data submission

Which BOWP application-stage documents should you check?

The same BOWP document list does not fit every PR program. Choose your filed PR stream, the stage of your PR application, and your current status. This produces a document-preparation checklist only; it is not an eligibility assessment or permission to work.

Your permanent residence application category PR application stage Are you the principal PR applicant? Your current worker status PNP nomination employment restriction, if applicable

Your preparation checklist will appear here.

Complete the five questions. Your responses remain in this browser; nothing is sent by this worksheet.

IRCC: route-specific BOWP requirements Book an RCIC consultation about work authorization

IRCC source checked 5 November 2026. For some eligible in-Canada PNP applicants without an AOR, temporary Operational Bulletin 699 proof provisions may apply until December 31, 2026, but other PR-stage and worker-status requirements remain. Special legacy pilot provisions are not screened here. This worksheet is a general planning aid and does not assess your file. Never work on the basis of this screening result alone.

Start with IRCC’s document checklist for your application, then the program letters IRCC lists on its BOWP page. Required documents may include:

Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letter where required; for an eligible in-Canada PNP BOWP application covered by Operational Bulletin 699 through December 31, 2026, specified alternative proof may be accepted when no AOR has yet been issued
Provincial nomination certificate (if applicable)
A Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) for applicants selected by Quebec (a CSQ, not a CAQ, is the Quebec document used at the permanent-residence stage)
Completed application forms
Proof of status in Canada
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Valid passport copy
Medical exam results (if requested)
Proof of fee payment

Quebec Applicants

Quebec skilled worker applicants have separate BOWP criteria. They must live in Canada and intend to live in Quebec, be the principal applicant, hold a CSQ that was valid when they applied for permanent residence, have passed the PR completeness check, and meet one of IRCC’s worker-status routes: a valid work permit with valid temporary status, maintained status as a worker, or eligibility to restore status and obtain a work permit.

Processing Times

Processing times for a bridging open work permit vary and change with IRCC operating conditions. Check the current estimate with the official IRCC processing-times tool; it is an estimate, not a guarantee.

For how to read IRCC’s current estimates, see our Canada work permit processing time guide.

Official IRCC Sources

Official IRCC sources checked: 5 November 2026 (fee amounts checked against the IRCC fee list that day).

FAQs about the Bridging Open Work Permit

1. Can I Leave Canada on a BOWP?

A BOWP is not a travel document. Depending on nationality and mode of travel, a valid temporary resident visa or eTA may be required to return, and re-entry is decided at the border. IRCC also warns that if your work permit expires while you are outside Canada, or you leave after it expires, you cannot work until the new work permit is approved. For PNP applicants, IRCC adds that this loses your temporary resident status, and that you must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when it decides your BOWP, or the application may be refused.

2. Can I Apply from Outside Canada?

No, you must reside in Canada to apply for a BOWP.

3. Why Was My BOWP Application Rejected?

A BOWP can be refused when the applicant does not meet the BOWP requirements for the specific PR stream. Issues to check include whether the applicant is the principal PR applicant, whether the PR file has reached the required stage, whether the worker meets the valid-status, maintained-status or restoration route, and for PNP applicants, whether the nomination carries an employment restriction.

4. Can I Apply for PR on a BOWP?

A BOWP is not a way to apply for PR. You must already have submitted a PR application, and it must have reached the stage IRCC requires for your program.

5. What Happens if My Work Permit Expires While Waiting?

The answer depends on when the BOWP application was filed and your status at that time. A worker who submits a qualifying work-permit application before the current work permit expires may have maintained status and may be authorized to keep working under the conditions of the original permit while IRCC processes the application. You must stay in Canada to benefit from maintained status, and an online application must be submitted before midnight UTC on the day the permit expires. A person applying through restoration after losing status normally cannot work until status is restored and the new work permit is issued.