The Canada Open Work visa gives you the freedom to work for any employer anywhere in Canada. It also gives you direct access to the Canadian job market, which has 1 million job vacancies across 20+ sectors.
An Open Work Permit (OWP) allows foreign nationals to work for any Canadian employer (with or without an LMIA) in most job categories. It is not tied to a specific job, giving you flexibility to change roles, locations, or employers without needing a new permit.
The following immigration streams issue Canadian Open Work permits:
Spouses or common-law partners of full-time students or skilled workers (with valid study or work permits) may apply for an OWP.
Graduates from eligible Canadian institutions can apply for a PGWP—an open permit that enables full-time work anywhere in Canada.
Individuals who’ve applied for permanent residence and received an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC may apply for a BOWP to maintain work status while waiting for their PR decision.
Canadian Open Work Permits can be obtained from the different immigration streams offered by the country. The eligibility criteria vary depending on the type of Open Work Permit and the immigration stream chosen by the applicant. However, certain requirements are common to all kinds of Open Work Permits in Canada.
You would be eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit in Canada if you:
The following are the documents required to apply for a Canada Open Work Visa:
You will also be required to submit the following forms depending on the type of Open Work permit you have chosen:
The following are the steps to apply for a Canadian Open Work Permit:
Step 1: Determine which permit category applies.
Step 2: Create or log in to your IRCC online account.
Step 3: Upload required forms and supporting documents.
Step 4: Pay the application fee.
Step 5: Attend a biometrics appointment, if required.
Step 6: Receive an electronic or paper-based OWP once approved.
The table below has the breakdown of fees for Canadian Open Work Permit:
| Type of fees | Amount (in CAD) |
| Initial Work Permit application fees | $155 |
| Open Work Permit | $100 |
| Biometric fee | $85 |
| Total | $340 |
The processing time for a Canada Open Work Visa varies on the type of open work permit chosen. The table below has the details of the processing time for different types of Open Work Permits in Canada:
| Type of Open Work Permit | Processing time |
| Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) | 3 to 5 months |
| Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) | 1 to 4 months |
| IEC Working holiday | 4 to 5 weeks |
| IEC Young professionals | 1 to 2 months |
| IEC International Co-op | 4 to 6 months |
| Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) | 4 to 5 months |
Note: IRCC notifies selected candidates that their application has been approved via the email ID provided by the candidates. This may take around 6 weeks or 30 business days.
| Feature | Open Work Permit (OWP) | Closed Work Permit |
| Employer Flexibility | Can work for any employer in Canada | Can only work for the employer listed on the permit |
| Job Flexibility | Can work in any job or role (unless restricted) | Job and role are pre-approved by IRCC |
| LMIA Requirement | Not usually required | Typically required, unless exempt |
| Changing Jobs | No need to apply for a new permit | Must apply for a new work permit to change employer or job role |
| Examples | PGWP, Spousal OWP, Bridging OWP | Employer-specific permits under LMIA pathways |
| Restrictions | May have occupation or location restrictions in rare cases | Bound by specific employer, role, and location |
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The following type of candidates can apply for an Open work permit in Canada:
Open Work Permits are usually processed within 1 – 6 months, depending on the type of Open Work Permit chosen.
Your spouse can apply for a Canadian Open Work Permit if you have a valid Canadian visa that supports Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) for dependent spouses or common-law partners. However, your spouse has to come to Canada on a dependent visa and then apply for a SOWP.
Canadian Open Work Permits are usually valid for 1 to 2 years.
You can convert your closed work permit to an open work permit if you apply for Canada PR under the PNP or Express Entry program. If your PR application is through, then you can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) until your PR application is accepted.
The processing fee for Canada Open Work Permit is around CAD 155 along with an additional open work permit holder fee of CAD 100.
Canada Open Work Permit holders can apply for Canada PR only through certain pathways such as Express Entry, PNP, Business Immigration program, or Family Sponsorship.
You can apply for an Open Work Permit from within Canada if you meet certain conditions.
The processing time for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) is around 1 to 4 months.
you cannot directly convert your PGWP to a Canada Work Permit. You will be required to apply for a Canadian Work Permit separately if you get a full time job offer in Canada.
The Canadian open-work permit offers various benefits. You have flexibility in working for any employer in Canada, without a particular job offer or region. Some of the major benefits of the open work permit of Canada is given below.
Sponsor eligible dependents to migrate to Canada
An Open Work Permit (OWP) allows eligible foreign nationals to work for most employers in Canada without needing a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This type of permit is ideal for individuals who require job flexibility or are transitioning through different immigration statuses. It is available under several immigration streams and humanitarian programs.
You may be eligible for an OWP if you are:
