Open Work Permits in Canada
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An open work permit authorizes a foreign national to work in Canada for any employer and in any location.
If you are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), then you are eligible to apply for an open work permit.
If you want to extend or change your work permit, then you can apply 30 days before your current permit expires.
What are the Types of Open Work Permits?
There are 2 types of open work permits:
Unrestricted open work permits allow you to work for any employer and in any location in Canada.
Restricted open work permits restrict you to work under certain occupations or a specific location.
Location restricted open work permits allow you to only work in Canada in certain locations, for example, a bridging open work permit under the Provincial Nominee Program would restrict work to the province or territory that you’re staying in.
An occupation-restricted open work permit restricts you from working in child care, primary or secondary school teaching, the health services occupations, and agricultural occupations.
Who is Eligible for an Open Work Permit?
To be eligible to apply for an open work permit, you must be:
- A spouse or common-law partner of a foreign skilled worker
- A spouse or common-law partner of an international student
- An international student that graduated from a study program that lasted longer than 8 months
- Applied for permanent residence through the inland spousal sponsorship
- A participant in programs offered by International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Living in Canada as a refugee or protected person and their family members
What are the Different Programs that Issue an Open Work Permit?
Openwork permits are most commonly granted through the following programs:
Inland Spousal Sponsorship Open Work Permit: The Inland Spousal Sponsorship Open Work Permit is for the spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
You must have a valid temporary residence permit and an application for permanent residency under process to be eligible to apply. An open permit will allow you to work anywhere for any Canadian employer.
Post-Graduate Work Permit: The Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is for international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI).
Open work permits allow students to gain Canadian experience after completing their study program. The validity of this permit is based on the length of your study program.
Bridging Open Work Permit: You are eligible to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if you have already applied for permanent residency under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
It is an open work permit, valid for 6 months, that allows you to work anywhere with any Canadian employer.
What are the Exceptions to an Unrestricted Open Work Permit?
An unrestricted open work permit still exempts you to work for the following employers:
- Ineligible employers that are noncompliant with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations
- Employers offering services like striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.
Questions 
FAQS
No, you do not require a job offer to apply for an open work permit.
You are permitted to work 2 jobs and more than 60 hours per week on an open work permit
There is no limit to the number of times an open work permit can be extended.
Work permits including open work permits require you to clear a medical exam for temporary foreign worker applications. If you fail your medical examination, you may be granted an occupation restricted work permit.
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