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Open Work Permit in Canada – All You Need To Know

Before you are allowed to work in Canada as a foreigner, you are required to have a Canadian work permit. A lot of countries abroad require foreigners to obtain this authorization in the form of a legal work permit.

The work permit makes you eligible to work in Canada for either an employer or yourself. There are two (2) types of work permits; employer-specific work and open work permits.

What is an Open Work Permit?

While an employer-specific work permit only permits you to take up one type of job and one employer, the open Canadian work permit allows you to freely work for any employer or any law-abiding organization.

Unlike the employer-specific work permit, the Canadian open work permit allows you to freely work in Canada even without a job offer from an employer in Canada. You are also not tied to a particular employer or location.

The requirements for applying for a Canadian open work permit are not strict. Some requirements like the need to provide a job offer or a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) can easily be maneuvered.

List Of Programs That Can Help You Obtain an Open Work Permit In Canada:

  • Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP)
  • Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
  • International Experience Canada (IEC)
  • Inland Spousal or Common-Law Sponsorship

Who is Eligible For a Canadian Open Work Permit?

See a list of those that are eligible for a Canadian open work permit:

  • Permanent residents in Canada.
  • A family member of a permanent resident or a dependent child.
  • Some Temporary residents.
  • Individuals with a working holiday visa or some other special programs. And
  • Refugee or refugees claimants whose cases are pending or protected persons and their family members.

Benefits Of An Open Work Permit

1). Open work permit holders have the freedom to work for any employer or in any part of Canada, unlike other work permits that tie people to a particular employer or job.

2). You can decide to take up several jobs which in turn improves your Canadian work experience.

Types Of Open Work Permit

There are two major types of open work permit: Restricted and Unrestricted.

1. Unrestricted: The unrestricted work permit allows workers from foreign countries to take any kind of job in any place or location.

2. Restricted: This type restricts workers from certain locations or jobs due to health, or locational restrictions due to the type of application or visa they entered Canada with.

So, an individual who has a bridging work permit who is also a provincial nominee class candidate will be restricted to a province.

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Samuel Jackson

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