Work Permit Options After Applying for PR in Canada: BOWP vs. Employer-Specific Work Permit
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Your work permit is expiring, your PR application is still in process, and you're not sure what to do next. Here's what every PR applicant in Canada needs to know about their work permit options, including a path many applicants don't realize is available to them.
If you have applied for permanent residence in Canada and your work permit is approaching its expiry date, you are not stuck. Canadian immigration law gives PR applicants two main pathways to keep working legally while their PR application is being processed. Choosing the right one and applying correctly can be the difference between a smooth transition to PR and a refusal that puts your entire status in Canada at risk.
At InfoPlace Canada, we work with PR applicants every week who are navigating this exact situation. In this post, we break down both options, share two recent client success stories, and outline the documents you need to give your application the best chance of approval.
The Two Work Permit Options for PR Applicants
When your work permit is expiring and you've already submitted your PR application, there are two main pathways to consider:
Option 1: Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Option 2: Employer-Specific Work Permit (with PNP nomination support)
Each option serves a different group of applicants, and the eligibility rules are strict. Here's how they compare.
Option 1: The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
The Bridging Open Work Permit is designed for foreign nationals in Canada who have applied for permanent residence and are waiting for a decision. It's called "open" because, in most cases, it allows you to work for any employer in Canada, you are not tied to one company.
Official IRCC eligibility criteria for a BOWP:
To be eligible, you must:
Live in Canada (and intend to live outside Quebec) at the time you apply for your BOWP. You can leave Canada while IRCC processes your application, but if you leave Canada after your work permit expires, you can't work until your new application is approved.
Have one of the following:
Valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit, or
An expired work permit but have maintained your status as a worker, or
Be eligible to restore your status and get a work permit
Be the principal applicant on your permanent residence application
Have submitted a complete PR application that has passed the completeness check (note: submitting a profile to the Express Entry pool is not the same as applying for permanent residence)
Have received your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC after your PR application was accepted
Who Is NOT Eligible for a BOWP
Meeting the IRCC eligibility criteria above is one part of the picture. But in practice, there are specific situations that disqualify applicants from the Bridging Open Work Permit — and these are the scenarios that catch many PNP applicants off guard.
Many foreign nationals start working for the employer who eventually nominates them, often holding a work permit linked to that employer. When their permit nears expiry, they assume they can simply apply for a BOWP because their PR application is in process. That assumption can lead to a refusal.
You are NOT eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit if:
Your provincial nomination carries an employment restriction. If your PNP nomination ties you to a specific employer, the BOWP pathway is not available to you. Your work authorization must remain tied to that employer through a different application route.
You are no longer on a valid work permit and are not eligible to restore your status. The BOWP requires you to either hold valid status, have maintained your status as a worker, or be eligible to restore your status and get a work permit. If you've fallen out of status and the 90-day restoration window has passed, the BOWP is not an option.
This is one of the most common scenarios we troubleshoot at InfoPlace Canada and getting the strategy wrong can lead to refusals, loss of status, and serious disruption to your PR pathway. If either of the situations above applies to you, the right next step is usually a new employer-specific work permit supported by your provincial nomination, not a BOWP.
Option 2: Employer-Specific Work Permit with a Provincial Nomination
This is where the second pathway comes in and it is often the right option for PNP applicants whose nomination is tied to a specific employer.
If you have been nominated by a province through an employer-supported stream and your employer is willing to continue employing you, you may be eligible to apply for a new employer-specific work permit. This pathway uses your provincial nomination as the basis for the application, supported by your employer's compliance with program requirements.
Who this option typically suits:
PNP applicants whose nomination is tied to a specific employer
PNP applicants whose existing work permit is expiring or has expired
PNP applicants whose employer is committed to continuing the employment relationship
Applicants whose situation makes a BOWP the wrong strategic fit
This is also a viable path for applicants who have unfortunately let their work permit lapse and need to restore their status alongside a new work permit application.
To succeed on this pathway, you need:
A valid provincial nomination letter issued for the purpose of the work permit application
Your employer's commitment to pay the employer compliance fee and submit a compliant offer of employment through the IRCC employer portal
Complete and accurate work permit application forms
Strong supporting documents (more on this below)
Client Success Story #1: Employer-Specific Work Permit and Status Restoration
Demetrie came to us in a stressful situation. He had already submitted his PR application through his Provincial Nominee Program to IRCC and applied for an open work permit when his existing PGWP expired. The open work permit application was refused because of missing documents from the employer in support of his application.
By the time he reached us, his work permit had expired and he had lost status in Canada.
Here's what we did:
Conducted a full eligibility review of his situation, his employer's standing, and his provincial nomination
Prepared and submitted a restoration of status application alongside a new employer-specific work permit application
Built the application around his provincial nomination letter and a strong letter of support from his employer
Coordinated with his employer on the employer compliance fee and offer of employment submission
Addressed the previous refusal directly in the submission with proper legal reasoning
The result: Demetrie was approved in approximately two months and received a three-year work permit. His status in Canada was restored, his employment continued without further disruption, and his PR application remains on track.
Client Success Story #2: Bridging Open Work Permit Approval
Jules case was in a different situation. She had submitted her PR application under Express Entry and her existing work permit was approaching its expiry date. Because she met all of IRCC's BOWP eligibility criteria, with a valid status, principal applicant on a complete PR application, and an Acknowledgement of Receipt in hand the BOWP was the right pathway for her.
Our team:
Verified she met all IRCC eligibility requirements for a BOWP
Prepared her BOWP application with complete supporting documentation
Submitted within the eligibility window before her existing permit expired
Ensured continuity of work authorization throughout the bridging period
The result: Jules received her Bridging Open Work Permit, giving her the flexibility to work for any Canadian employer while her PR application continues to be processed.
Side-by-Side Comparison: BOWP vs. Employer-Specific Work Permit
Feature | Bridging Open Work Permit | Employer-Specific Work Permit (PNP) |
Work for any employer? | Yes (in most cases) | No — tied to nominating employer |
Best for | PR applicants who meet all IRCC BOWP criteria and whose application is not employer-restricted | PNP applicants whose nomination is tied to a specific employer |
Requires employer support? | No | Yes — including employer compliance fee and offer of employment |
Requires AOR letter? | Yes | Not required for this pathway |
Requires provincial nomination letter? | No (unless PNP-based) | Yes — issued for the purpose of the work permit application |
Typical duration | Up to 24 months | Varies, often up to 3 years |
Can be used with restoration of status? | Yes, if eligible to restore | Yes, if eligible to restore |
Documents You Typically Need for a Successful Application
The exact document list will depend on your specific situation, but applicants in either category should generally be prepared to provide:
For both options:
Application form - IMM Form - 5710
Valid passport (and copies of all previous passports if applicable)
Current and previous Canadian immigration documents (work permits, study permits, visitor records)
Proof of your PR application submission (Acknowledgement of Receipt or equivalent confirmation)
Up-to-date résumé reflecting your Canadian work experience
Recent pay stubs and T4s confirming ongoing employment
Employment reference letter or letter of employment from your current employer
Digital photo meeting IRCC specifications
Application fees (work permit + open work permit holder fee where applicable)
Additional documents for the BOWP pathway:
Your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC
Proof you are the principal applicant on the PR application
Proof of current valid status in Canada (or evidence of maintained status, or eligibility to restore)
Confirmation that you live in Canada and intend to live outside Quebec
Additional documents for the employer-specific work permit pathway (PNP):
Valid provincial nomination letter issued for the purpose of the work permit application
Detailed employer support letter confirming continued employment, position, salary, and duties
Proof that the employer has paid the employer compliance fee and submitted a compliant offer of employment through the IRCC employer portal
Evidence of the employer's compliance with provincial program requirements
All required IRCC work permit application forms, fully and accurately completed
If your status has expired, a complete restoration of status submission, with explanation and supporting documentation
If you have a previous refusal:
A clear legal explanation addressing the reasons for the previous refusal
Updated documentation demonstrating eligibility under the correct pathway
Why the Right Strategy Matters
Both of the clients featured above are now able to continue working in Canada while their PR applications are processed. But notice the key difference: one client was refused first because the right documents were not included to support his employer specific work permit, and only succeeded once the application was built correctly around his actual eligibility.
PR applicants often assume that because they have a nomination or an Express Entry profile, they automatically qualify for an open work permit. They don't. The rules are technical, and the consequences of choosing the wrong pathway refusal, loss of status, employment interruption — are serious.
Working with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) means your situation is assessed properly the first time, the right pathway is selected, and your application is prepared in a way that anticipates the questions an officer will ask.
Are You a PR Applicant With an Expiring Work Permit?
If your work permit is expiring and you've already applied for permanent residence, don't wait until the last minute. Whether you qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit or need to apply for an employer-specific work permit through your provincial nomination, the timing of your application matters.
Book a consultation with InfoPlace Canada today.
Our team of licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants will assess your eligibility, identify the right pathway for your situation, and prepare an application designed for approval.
📧 ask@InfoPlaceCanada.ca 📞 (519) 900-0199
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