Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) in Canada
A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) in Canada is designed to keep you in the workforce on legal footing while your permanent residency (PR) application is being processed. Essentially, it serves as a bridge between your expiring work permit and the final decision on your PR, keeping your career momentum intact and reducing the stress of work interruptions.
Who Qualifies for a BOWP?
You need to be already in Canada (and plan to remain outside Quebec) and have submitted a PR application under one of these key programs:
Express Entry (CEC, FSTP, and FSW)
- Residence: You must be living in Canada (excluding Quebec).
- Valid Permit: Your current work permit should be valid and due to expire within four months.
- Principal Applicant: You must be the main applicant on your PR file.
- Fully Submitted Application: Your permanent residency application must be completely submitted and have passed completeness checks.
- Acknowledgement of Receipt: Keep your AOR (acknowledgment of receipt) letter handy, which confirms that your PR application has been received.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- Residence: You should be residing in Canada (excluding Quebec).
- Nomination Conditions: You must have no restriction set as a nomination condition.
- Valid Permit: Your work permit should be valid and expiring in four months or less.
- Principal Applicant & Complete Application: You must be the principal applicant, and your PR application needs to be fully submitted with an AOR letter.
Care Worker Programs (Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot)
- Residence: Must be within Canada (excluding Quebec).
- Experience: A minimum of 24 months of qualifying work experience is required.
- Work Permit Status: You should either hold a valid work permit, be on implied status if your permit expired but you applied for renewal in time, or be eligible for status restoration.
- PR Application Status: At this stage, you should have your PR approved in principle.
Agri-Food Pilot Program
- Residence: Again, you need to be living in Canada (excluding Quebec).
- Valid Permit: Your work permit must be valid and expiring in four months or less.
- Principal Applicant & PR Approval: You have to be the main person in the PR application and must have received approval in principle for your permanent residency.
Processing Times and Fees
Processing Times: The processing time for a BOWP typically ranges between 3 to 5 months. Keep in mind that this timeframe does not include additional delays that might occur for biometrics processing. Biometrics appointment availability and processing times can vary depending on your country of application or the facility you visit.
Fees: The application fee comes to a total of CAD $255—this total includes both the open work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee.
Recent updates emphasize the importance of ensuring your application is submitted while your current permit is still valid. Even if you travel outside Canada during the processing of your BOWP, you can continue working as long as you maintain valid status and have applied before your work permit expires.
This refreshed overview not only breaks down the eligibility essentials in a cleaner, more direct style, but it also incorporates the newest updates—making it a practical guide if you’re navigating the transition to permanent residency in Canada.