The BOWP (bridging open work permit) is a method to keep a worker in the country working during the time his/her application for permanent residence is being processed.
Interestingly, In-Canada applicants who have made an application to immigrate to Canada under either the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class, the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class or one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) could be considered for a BOWP if their current work permit is about to expire – within 4 months. A foreign worker legally working in the country who has made (or will soon make) an application for permanent residence under one of these immigration programs could then resume to work up until a decision is made on the individuals application for permanent residence.
Furthermore, this is advantageous for the federal government, Canadian communities and employers, in addition to applicants and their families, because otherwise applicants and their dependants such as the spouse and children would have to either leave the country (temporarily), stay in the country (under visitor status), or obtain an employer willing to take on the process of applying for a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
An OWP (open work permit), which permits its holder to work for any employer in the country, is preferable as it gives applicants with more flexibility to integrate and navigate the Canadian labour market, given that they have already been found qualified for permanent residence and are currently working in the country.
Bridging Open Work Permits and Express Entry
Note that when an applicant for a federal economic immigration program that is processed via the Express Entry immigration selection system sends an electronic application for permanent residence, the individual gets an Acknowledgment of Receipt letter. This letter is automatically generated in the MyCIC account following the submission of the e-APR (electronic application for permanent residence). Applicants who are qualified to apply for a bridging open work permit could apply right away after receipt of this Acknowledgment of Receipt letter, rather then having to wait for a second Acknowledgment of Receipt letter issued by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).
Although, the application for a bridging open work permit will not be processed once the completeness check has been performed at the Centralized Intake Office. Bridging open work permit applications gotten before the completeness checks have been performed will be held once they are ready to be processed. If an electronic application for permanent residence is found to be incomplete, the applicant is no longer qualified for a bridging open work permit. In these sort of situations, the application for a bridging open work permit will be denied.
In order to be qualified for a BOWP, the following parameters have to be met:
- The foreign national is currently in the country
- The individual has valid status on a work permit that is about to expire (within 4 months)
- The individual is the principal applicant on an application PR under the CEC, the FSWP, the FSTP or the PNP
- The individual got a positive eligibility assessment on his or her application
- The individual has made an application for an OWP
Keep in mind that a foreign national is not eligible for a bridging work permit if:
- The individual is in the country bellow section 186 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (work permit exempt) situations
- The individual has allowed his or her status expire
- The individual's work permit is valid for longer than 4 months and/or the individual has a new LMIA that can be used as the basis for a new work permit application
- The individual is applying for a BOWP at the port of entry
- The individual is the spouse or dependant of the principal permanent resident applicant
- The individual is a provincial nominee who has not sent a copy of his/her nomination letter with the application for a BOWP, or whose nomination letter particularly indicates employment restrictions
Spouse or Common-law Partner and Dependents
Particular conditions are needed to be met by the holder of a BOWP in order for the individuals spouse to also be qualified for an OWP (open work permit):
- the bridging work permit has to be valid for longer than 6 months – in all cases
- the bridging work permit holder has to be executing work that is at a level that falls within National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A or B – for spouses of FSW applicants
- the spouse is qualified for an OWP for the course of the work permit held by the principal PNP applicant, regardless of the skill level of the principal PNP applicant’s occupation – for spouses of PNP applicants
- the BOWP holder has to be executing work that is within one of the qualifying occupations in NOC Skill Level B – for spouses of FST applicants
- there are no set preconditions to be met by the principal CEC applicant – for spouses of CEC applicants
In order to apply for a work permit, dependent children of an applicant in any of these economic classes need to get an LMIA or have LMIA exemption based on their particular situation.
Employment location
PNP - As issuing a BOWP to an applicant for permanent residence under a PNP (Provincial Nominee Program), the employment location on the work permit have to be restricted to the nominating province. Thus, the province of destination has to be selected and then the city of destination value must be picked to show the province/territory.
FSW, FST, CEC - For a BOWP issued to applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Class, Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Worker Class, there are zero restrictions to employment location.