Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) — Canada

The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets you keep working in Canada while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes your permanent residence application. It’s meant to support your transition from temporary status to permanent residence without interrupting your employment.

A Bridging Open Work Permit is a type of Open Work Permit issued by IRCC to certain permanent residence applicants. It allows you to continue working in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application.

You use Form IMM 5710 to apply to extend or change your work permit conditions from inside Canada. Since it’s an open permit, it isn’t tied to a single employer.

BOWP connects directly to permanent residence pathways managed by IRCC, including:

IRCC processes work permit applications. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) handles admissibility at the border, not permit issuance.

Who it supports

BOWP is for those who have already applied for permanent residence and need to maintain valid work status in Canada while IRCC reviews the file.

It’s designed for workers transitioning from temporary status to permanent residence through programs such as:

• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

You benefit from a BOWP if you’re in Canada, have submitted a permanent residence application to IRCC, and need to keep working legally while waiting for a decision.

The permit helps you avoid gaps in employment authorization during processing. It does not grant permanent residence, but it allows you to remain authorized to work under open conditions while IRCC finalizes your PR application.

You apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The process centers on the correct form, complete answers, and proof that you’ve submitted a permanent residence application under a program such as Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Get the form

You must use Form IMM 5710 to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit. Download the most current version of the form and its instruction guide directly from IRCC.

Before you begin, confirm the eligibility category under which you applied for permanent residence, such as:

• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Review the instruction guide carefully. It explains how to answer each section of IMM 5710 and identifies the documents you must include.

Use the official IRCC source only. Outdated versions of the form can lead to delays or refusal.

Complete and submit

Complete all required sections of Form IMM

1. Provide accurate personal details, including your full legal name, telephone number, email address, Social Insurance Number (if applicable), and your current immigration status in Canada.

Include details about your current work permit and your status in Canada. If any section doesn’t apply, follow the form instructions rather than leaving required fields blank.

Sign the form as instructed. An unsigned application can be returned.

Submit the application to IRCC with all required evidence. Use the official IRCC instructions to determine how to file and where to send your application.

Prepare supporting documents

Your supporting documents must prove that you have already applied for permanent residence. This applies whether your file is under Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Gather documents that confirm your permanent residence application submission, your current work permit, and your legal status in Canada.

Include any additional documents requested in the instruction guide, such as residence-related records or other identification documents.

Ensure your documents match the information in IMM

1. Inconsistent details, like different contact information or work history, can cause processing issues.

Organize your documents clearly and submit them together with your completed Open Work Permit application to IRCC.

You must pay the required government fees and submit a complete application to avoid delays. As of March 2026, standard processing for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) takes 2 to 4 months, but timelines vary by category and location.

Processing time estimates

IRCC currently lists the standard processing time for a Bridging Open Work Permit as 2 to 4 months. This estimate applies to complete applications submitted inside Canada.

Processing times vary depending on your immigration stream (for example, Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)), the processing office handling your file, application volume at the time you apply, and whether your case is routine or requires additional review.

If you apply from outside Canada or the United States, add 3 to 4 months for mailing and handling time.

Fees are set by IRCC and must be paid in CAD (CA$). Use the IRCC fee calculator for the exact Open Work Permit and related charges before submitting Form IMM 5710.

How processing times are calculated

IRCC measures processing time from the day it receives your complete application until it makes a decision.

The clock starts only after IRCC confirms that your file includes a properly completed IMM 5710, all required supporting documents, and correct fee payment.

If your application is incomplete, IRCC may delay processing or return it. That resets your timeline.

Processing estimates reflect how long IRCC expects it will take to finalize applications received today. They are projections, not guarantees.

Processing times may also increase if more people apply to immigrate to Canada than IRCC can admit in a given year. Non-routine cases take longer.

Location and special-case notes

Processing times vary by category and processing location. A BOWP linked to an Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) application may move differently than one connected to a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) file.

If you apply for a minor (under 18) who lives outside Canada or the United States, expect additional mailing and handling time.

IRCC processes work permit applications. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) handles admissibility at the border, not work permit decisions.

Confirm your specific timeline through IRCC’s official processing time tool before submitting your application.

A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows you to keep working in Canada while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes your permanent residence (PR) application. The main objective is to secure approval of your PR application under a qualifying economic stream.

Qualifying PR streams

You must have already submitted a permanent residence application under an eligible program to apply for a BOWP. These programs are managed by IRCC and focus on economic immigration.

Common qualifying streams include:

• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program)
• Other Express Entry economic programs managed by IRCC
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams aligned with economic immigration

Your PR application must be complete and submitted to IRCC before you request the Bridging Open Work Permit. The BOWP does not replace your PR process.

It only provides temporary work authorization while IRCC reviews your file.

Common next steps

After submitting your PR application, you can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit using Form IMM 5710. This form covers applications to change conditions or extend your stay as a worker.

Follow these steps:

1. Submit your permanent residence application to IRCC.

2. Apply for the BOWP before your current work permit expires.

3. Maintain valid status while waiting for a decision.

The BOWP is an Open Work Permit, allowing you to work for most employers in Canada while your PR application is in process. It doesn’t guarantee PR approval.

IRCC makes the final decision on your permanent residence. If approved, you receive confirmation of permanent residence and transition from temporary worker to permanent resident.

If refused, your work authorization under the BOWP also ends according to the conditions on your permit.

Small documentation errors and timing missteps cause most Canada Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) refusals. You must prove that you properly filed your permanent residence application and that you maintained valid status when you applied.

Missing evidence and document errors

IRCC refuses many Open Work Permit applications because applicants fail to include proof that they submitted a permanent residence application. You must provide clear evidence that IRCC received your application under a qualifying program such as:

• Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

If you do not include proof of submission, IRCC cannot confirm eligibility and may refuse the BOWP.

Program-specific evidence also matters. Requirements differ depending on whether you applied through Express Entry or a PNP stream.

You must follow the document checklist that applies to your immigration category and complete Form IMM 5710 accurately.

Common document errors include:

• Leaving fields blank on IMM 5710
• Providing inconsistent personal information
• Uploading incorrect or missing supporting documents

Review every field and attachment before submission. IRCC assesses your application based strictly on what you provide.

Timing and status mistakes

You must hold valid temporary resident status when you apply for a BOWP. Applying too early or after your status expires creates problems.

If you submit before properly filing your permanent residence application, IRCC cannot approve the Open Work Permit. Waiting until after your current work permit expires risks losing status.

That mistake can lead to refusal even if your permanent residence file is complete.

Avoid these timing errors:

1. Applying before submitting your permanent residence application.

2. Applying after your current status has already expired.

3. Relying on assumptions instead of confirming IRCC receipt of your PR file.

Confirm that IRCC has accepted your permanent residence application under Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program before filing your BOWP. Your eligibility depends on both proper submission and valid status at the time you apply.