Open Work Permit

The Canadian Open Work Permit (OWP) allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada without a specific job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (an assessment by the government to prove no Canadian is available for the job). Most applications must be submitted online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal. Paper applications are only permitted for individuals with disabilities or technical barriers.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Before applying, ensure you fall into one of the specific 2026 qualifying categories. General eligibility has been tightened, and you must meet one of the following:

• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): You graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (a school approved by the government). If you graduated from a college program, your field of study must be on the 2026 labor shortage list, and you must meet language requirements (CLB 7 for university or CLB 5 for college).
• Spouse or Partner: You are the spouse of a student in a Master’s, Doctoral, or professional degree program (e.g., Medicine, Law), or the spouse of a skilled worker in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation with a permit valid for at least 6 months.
• Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): You have already applied for Permanent Residency (PR) and your current work permit expires within 4 months.
• TR to PR Extension: You are an applicant under the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway (available until December 31, 2026).
• International Experience Canada (IEC): You are a young adult from a partner country applying for a Working Holiday visa.

Step 2: Create Your IRCC Account

Visit the IRCC website to create a secure account. Use the "Come to Canada" tool to answer a series of questions; this will generate a Personal Reference Code and a customized checklist of the documents you need to upload.

Step 3: Prepare and Upload Documents

Gather digital copies of the following:

• Application Form: Complete IMM 5710 if you are applying from inside Canada, or IMM 1295 if applying from outside.
• Proof of Eligibility: This includes your marriage certificate (for spouses), official transcripts and completion letter (for graduates), or your PR acknowledgment letter (for BOWP).
• Passport: Must be valid for the entire duration of the permit you are requesting.
• Digital Photo: Must meet specific IRCC size and quality standards.
• Medical Exam: Required if you will work in healthcare or childcare, or if you lived in certain countries for more than 6 months.

Step 4: Pay Fees and Submit

Pay your fees through your online account using a credit or debit card. Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. If you applied before your current permit expired, you have Maintained Status (the right to keep working under your old conditions) while you wait for a decision.

Step 5: Provide Biometrics

If you have not provided fingerprints and a photo to IRCC in the last 10 years, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter. You must book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or a Service Canada location to complete this step.

Item	Cost (CAD)
Work Permit Processing Fee	$155
Open Work Permit Holder Fee	$100
Biometrics Fee (Individual)	$85
Restoration Fee (if status has already expired)	$229

Total Estimated Cost: $255 (Standard) or $340 (including Biometrics). Note: TR to PR pathway applicants are exempt from the $100 Open Work Permit Holder fee. This total does not include costs for medical exams, police certificates, or certified translations for non-English/French documents.

Processing times vary based on your location and the volume of applications:

• Inside Canada (Initial/Extension): 120 to 220 days.
• Outside Canada: Varies by region (e.g., 10 weeks for India; 12 weeks for the Philippines).
• Fast-Track Processing: Applicants in essential healthcare or agriculture occupations may qualify for priority processing with a 2 to 4 week turnaround.
• Document Validity: Your work permit will typically be issued for the duration of your passport's validity or the duration of your spouse's/program's eligibility, whichever is shorter. Biometrics remain valid for 10 years.