Open Work Permit

An open work permit refers to a work permit which is not tied to a single employer or location. This means that a foreign national with a valid open work permit may work for multiple employers in multiple locations throughout Canada. It should be noted that certain open work permits may have additional requirements or restrictions which must be respected by foreign nationals.

An open work permit enables a person to work for any employer for a specified period of time. An open restricted permit may restrict the occupation or location but not the employer.

An open work permit can only be issued to a foreign national under one of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemptions.

Open work permits are highly sought after for the freedom they give their holders. While most work permits are tied to a specific employer, an open work permit allows a foreign national to work for any employer in Canada and the freedom to move from location to location at their own discretion. By gaining Canadian work experience, many foreign nationals will improve their eligibility for Canadian permanent residency.

A foreign national may apply for an open work permit outside Canada, at a port of entry or after arrival to Canada, as per program requirements.

Eligibility

Foreign nationals in the following situations may be eligible to apply for an open work permit:

• Spouses or common-law partners of some temporary foreign workers
• Spouses or common-law partners of some international students
• Some international students who have graduated from a designated program of study in Canada
• Permanent residency applicants who have applied through the inland spousal sponsorship process
• Some young workers participating in programs offered through International Experience Canada (IEC)
• Refugees, refugee claimants, protected persons and their family members

The exact eligibility requirements and application procedure varies depending on which of the above-mentioned situations a foreign national meets.