Open work permits

Overview

Open work permits

An open work permit allows work for most Canadian employers without a job-specific LMIA or Employer Portal offer. It is available only under specific immigration categories.

Eligibility comes from the applicant’s situation

Common categories include PGWP graduates, Working Holiday participants, certain spouses and family members, some permanent residence applicants, refugee claimants and vulnerable workers.

Each category has its own timing, location, relationship or underlying-status test. The words open work permit do not describe one universal application.

Open does not mean unrestricted

The holder cannot work for an employer on IRCC’s non-compliant list or one regularly offering specified adult services. A permit can also contain medical, occupational, provincial or other restrictions.

A medical exam may be needed to remove a condition affecting health care, child care or other public-health-sensitive work.

No job offer or LMIA is required

Because the permit is not tied to one job, an employer does not obtain an LMIA, submit an Employer Portal offer or pay the compliance fee for that employment.

The applicant still needs to prove the category and satisfy general work-permit and admissibility requirements.

Check the end date before accepting work

The permit can be limited by passport validity, the principal applicant’s document or the underlying program. Employment must stop when authorization ends unless maintained status or another rule allows it.

Renew a passport and identify extension eligibility early; many open permits are not renewable merely because the job continues.