Canadian immigration program
Open Work Permit
An open work permit lets the holder work for almost any employer in Canada without a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment; it is issued only to applicants who fall within a defined eligible category. Eligibility turns on qualifying for one of those categories. The requirements below are quoted from the governing regulation and IRCC guidance.
Sources on this page last verified Jul 16, 2026.
Eligibility criteria
The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Open Work Permit. Each is anchored to the verbatim source text, not a paraphrase, so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.
“Most people applying from outside Canada can’t get an open work permit. Most open work permit applicants must apply in Canada.”
“Work-permit routing requires a confirmed job-offer / open-permit basis fact.”
“You can apply for an open work permit only under specific situations.”
“need to make changes to the conditions on your work permit, such as the type of work you can do, the employer you can work for, where you can work”
“currently hold, or recently held an work permit requiring a labour market impact assessment for a job in Quebec”
“If your family member is in Canada, they must be in 1 of the following situations: They have valid temporary resident status. They’ve applied to extend their status before it expired (maintained status). They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a visitor, worker or student.”
“They meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.”
“They’re in a genuine relationship with you (the principal applicant) and are any 1 of the following: your spouse or common-law partner, a dependent child of you or your spouse or common-law partner, the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s grandchild).”
“They’re in a genuine relationship with you and are any 1 of the following: your spouse or common-law partner, a dependent child of you or your spouse, the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s grandchild).”
“the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP”
“need to change your gender on your work permit”
“want to extend your work permit”
“You don't need a job offer to apply for an open work permit.”
“Open work permits are not job-specific, so your employer doesn't need”
“still eligible to work in Canada with an open work permit”
“You may have restrictions listed on your open work permit related to the following:”
“Your work permit was issued or approved because you applied for an economic class permanent residence program or pilot.”
“You’re employed or will be employed in either any high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 (management) or 1 (professional) level of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application, or a select high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 2 or category 3 of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application”
“You’re living or plan to live in Canada while working.”
“You live and work in Canada or you plan to live and work in Canada.”
“You’re employed or will be employed in a low-skilled occupation (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities [TEER] category 4 or 5 of the National Occupation Classification system) at the time your family member submits their application.”
“You’re on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams, but haven’t applied for permanent residence yet.”
“are employed or have a job offer in an occupation at any TEER level”
“are or will be living in Canada while employed”
“have a valid work permit or letter of introduction for a work permit issued under a SIP agreement”
“You hold a valid work permit or are approved for a work permit (employer-specific or open work permit under a non-family member work permit category).”
“You have 1 of the following: a valid work permit, an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet, an authorization to work without a work permit.”
“Your work permit or authorization to work must be valid for at least 16 months after we receive your spouse or common law partner’s open work permit application, unless you’re the spouse of a foreign-trained medical professional recruited by Quebec.”
“Your work permit must be valid in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive your family member’s open work permit application.”
“submitted a demande de sélection permanente to Quebec for an application under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés”
“the requested duration of the renewal matches that of the existing study or work permit of the principal applicant”
“in-Canada family members (including spouses and dependent children) can apply to renew their work permit as long as they are applying under the same criteria as the current work permit, and the requested duration of the renewal matches that of the existing study or work permit of the principal applicant”
“they are applying under the same criteria as the current work permit”
“will work for the same employer in Quebec”
“If they’re in Canada, they must be in 1 of the following situations: They have valid temporary resident status. They’ve applied to extend their status before it expired (maintained status). They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a visitor, worker or student.”
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in doctoral programs”
“They meet the general eligibility requirement for a work permit.”
“They’re in a genuine relationship with the person (the principal applicant) who makes them eligible for this open work permit.”
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in master's programs that are 16 months or longer”
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in select professional and eligible programs”
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations”
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities”
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in - master’s programs that are 16 months or longer - doctoral programs, or - [select professional and eligible programs](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/help-your-spouse-common-law-partner-work-canada.html)”
“Most people applying from outside Canada can't get an open work permit. Most open work permit applicants must apply in Canada.”
“You may be eligible for an open work permit if you”
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in - [TEER](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/find-national-occupation-code.html) 0 or 1 occupations, or - select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities”
“the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP.”
Documents and eligibility gates
Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official source and linked back to it. Navisa reads and cites the governing text rather than restating a document name from memory. This is a reference summary, not immigration advice, and it does not replace review by a licensed RCIC.
Eligibility gate
“Work-permit routing requires a confirmed job-offer / open-permit basis fact.”
Eligibility gateowp_renewals
“they are applying under the same criteria as the current work permit”
Eligibility gatetemporary_foreign_worker_pr_pathway
“You live and work in Canada or you plan to live and work in Canada.”
Eligibility gateowp_renewals
“the requested duration of the renewal matches that of the existing study or work permit of the principal applicant”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“You’re living or plan to live in Canada while working.”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit_quebec_skilled_workers
“currently hold, or recently held an work permit requiring a labour market impact assessment for a job in Quebec”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“You’re on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams, but haven’t applied for permanent residence yet.”
Eligibility gatespouse_international_student
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in doctoral programs”
Eligibility gatespouse_of_international_student
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in select professional and eligible programs”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“You have 1 of the following: a valid work permit, an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet, an authorization to work without a work permit.”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“They’re in a genuine relationship with you and are any 1 of the following: - your spouse or common-law partner - a dependent child of you or your spouse - the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s grandchild)”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“They’re in a genuine relationship with you and are any 1 of the following: your spouse or common-law partner, a dependent child of you or your spouse, the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s grandchild).”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit_quebec_skilled_workers
“submitted a demande de sélection permanente to Quebec for an application under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés”
Eligibility gate
“need to make changes to the conditions on your work permit, such as the type of work you can do, the employer you can work for, where you can work”
Eligibility gatesignificant_investment_project_bc
“are employed or have a job offer in an occupation at any TEER level”
Eligibility gatespouse_foreign_worker
“the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP”
Eligibility gatetemporary_foreign_worker_pr_pathway
“Your work permit must be valid in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive your family member’s open work permit application.”
Eligibility gatespouses_of_foreign_workers
“the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP.”
Eligibility gatehigh_skilled_worker_no_pr_pathway
“Your work permit or authorization to work must be valid for at least 16 months after we receive your spouse or common law partner’s open work permit application, unless you’re the spouse of a foreign-trained medical professional recruited by Quebec.”
Eligibility gatespouse_international_student
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in master's programs that are 16 months or longer”
Eligibility gatespouses_of_international_students
“Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in - master’s programs that are 16 months or longer - doctoral programs, or - [select professional and eligible programs](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/help-your-spouse-common-law-partner-work-canada.html)”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit_quebec_skilled_workers
“will work for the same employer in Quebec”
Eligibility gatetemporary_foreign_worker_pr_pathway
“You hold a valid work permit or are approved for a work permit (employer-specific or open work permit under a non-family member work permit category).”
Eligibility gatesignificant_investment_project_bc
“have a valid work permit or letter of introduction for a work permit issued under a SIP agreement”
Eligibility gatetemporary_foreign_worker_pr_pathway
“If your family member is in Canada, they must be in 1 of the following situations: They have valid temporary resident status. They’ve applied to extend their status before it expired (maintained status). They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a visitor, worker or student.”
Eligibility gatehigh_skilled_worker_no_pr_pathway
“If they’re in Canada, they must be in 1 of the following situations: They have valid temporary resident status. They’ve applied to extend their status before it expired (maintained status). They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a visitor, worker or student.”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“You have 1 of the following: - a valid work permit - an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet - an authorization to work without a work permit”
Eligibility gatespouse_foreign_worker
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities”
Eligibility gatespouses_of_foreign_workers
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in - [TEER](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/find-national-occupation-code.html) 0 or 1 occupations, or - select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities”
Eligibility gatehigh_skilled_worker_no_pr_pathway
“You’re employed or will be employed in either - any high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 (management) or 1 (professional) level of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application, or - a select high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 2 or category 3 of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application”
Eligibility gateworker_pr_pathway_eligible_streams
“You’re employed or will be employed in a low-skilled occupation (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities [TEER] category 4 or 5 of the National Occupation Classification system) at the time your family member submits their application.”
Eligibility gatespouse_foreign_worker
“Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations”
Eligibility gatehigh_skilled_worker_no_pr_pathway
“You’re employed or will be employed in either any high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 (management) or 1 (professional) level of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application, or a select high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 2 or category 3 of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application”
Eligibility gate
“Even with an open work permit, you can’t work for an employer that either”
Required document
“include the [Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier form [IRM 0002] (PDF, 1.47 MB)]”
Required documentsignificant_investment_project_bc
“a copy of your work permit application”
Required documentagri_food_pilot
“an acknowledgment of receipt letter from us confirming that your application for permanent residence is complete.”
Required documentcsq_holders
“Your Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) must have been valid at the time you applied for permanent residence”
Required documenthigh_skilled_worker
“port of entry letter of introduction”
Required documentfamily_members_of_pr_applicants
“family members of permanent residence applicants”
Required documentfamily_members_of_work_permit_holders
“family members of work permit holders”
Required documenthong_kong_recent_graduates
“Hong Kong recent graduates”
Required document
“Valid passport or travel document”
Required documentinternational_experience_canada_working_holiday
“International Experience Canada – Working Holiday category applicants”
Required documentgender_change
“include the Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier form \[IRM 0002\] (PDF, 1.47 MB).”
Required documentquebec_foreign_trained_health_professionals
“your letter of selection confirming that you’ve been admitted into one of the following programs:”
Required documentsignificant_investment_project_bc
“the letter of support you received from the provincial authority that shows the name of the SIP”
Required document
“proof of a medical exam”
Required documentopen_work_permit
“If you’re applying for an open work permit and you’re asked to submit any employment documents, upload a blank document with the words “Not applicable”.”
Required document
“a photocopy of your passport or travel document”
Required documentother_open_work_permit_applicants
“permanent residence applicants”
Required documentpost_graduation_work_permit
“post-graduation work permit applicants”
Required document
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Required documentvulnerable_people
“refugees, asylum claimants and protected persons”
Required documentsponsored_family_members
“sponsored family members”
Required documentspouse_of_international_student
“master’s programs that are 16 months or longer”
Required documentspouse_of_international_student
“select professional and eligible programs”
Required documentspouse_of_foreign_worker
“the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP”
Required documentspouse_of_foreign_worker
“select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities”
Required documentspouses_of_international_students
“spouses and common-law partners of international students”
Required documentother_open_work_permit_applicants
“temporary resident permit holders”
Required documentvulnerable_people
“victims of workplace abuse”
Government fees
The official government charges for Open Work Permit, read from the current published fee schedule. Navisa shows the verbatim wording it verified and links to the source page for each fee, so you can confirm every figure before you rely on it. Fees are set by the responsible authority and can change — always check the source.
| Fee | Amount | Verified wording & source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open work permit holder fee | See wording | “In most cases, you will have to pay the open work permit holder fee at the same time that you pay the work permit fee.”Official source ↗ | Jul 8, 2026 |
Recent policy changes affecting this program
Tracked changes Navisa has tagged to this program, dated and cited to their official source.
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Navisa is an AI file-prep engine for Canadian immigration firms. It reads the documents on a file, cross-checks them, runs the eligibility analysis against retrieved official sources, and flags what an officer would — citations attached. It does not replace the judgment of a licensed immigration professional; a consultant reviews and approves the work.
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