Who's Eligible for Bridging Open Work Permit?

The BOWP can be a great way to remain in Canada while waiting for a decision on your permanent residency application.

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The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows foreign workers in Canada to keep working while waiting for a decision on their permanent residence (PR) application. However, its eligibility rules are strict and often misunderstood.

To be eligible for a BOWP, you must:

1. Be in Canada as a temporary resident

You need to physically be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when you apply.

2. Hold valid status in one of these ways:

• Have a valid work permit, or

• Be on maintained status (you applied to extend your work permit before it expired), or

• Be eligible to restore your worker status (within 90 days of work permit expiry)

3. Have submitted a PR application under one of the following eligible economic immigration programs:

• Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)

• Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (without employer restrictions)

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW)

• Agri-Food Pilot

• Caring for Children / High Medical Needs Pilot (if submitted before June 18, 2019)

4. Your PR application must have reached specific milestones

• For Express Entry and QSW: Your PR application has passed the completeness check (you'll get an official acknowledgment letter from IRCC).

• All other programs: You've received a positive eligibility assessment from IRCC on your PR file.

Pro tip: Don't apply too early. Many applications get refused because people send in an application before hitting these milestones.

Possible Implications & Considerations

1. Applying for a visitor record

If you apply for a Visitor Record, you’ve officially switched from foreign worker status to visitor status. This switch makes you ineligible for BOWP. This permit is strictly for people maintaining or restoring their worker status.

2. Employee-specific provincial nomination

If your PNP nomination restricts you to a specific employer, job, or location, you can't get a BOWP. The nomination certificate must be unrestricted for you to qualify to apply.

3. Duration and renewals

A BOWP is typically valid for up to two years and might be extended at the discretion of an immigration officer if the PR process takes longer than expected.

If Things Go Wrong

If you're in the grey zone—expired permit, pending restoration, expired permit, pending restoration, or unsure what to do next—talk to a licensed immigration consultant before submitting any application that could affect your status. One wrong application can jeopardize your entire immigration strategy.

If you are ready to add 🌶️ to your 🇨🇦 immigration plan, book some time with Westdale Immigration Consulting Inc.