Foreigners who are eligible can work for any employer in Canada if they have an open work permit. The best thing about having an open work permit is that it lets you work in any job or for any employer you want.
There are two distinct kinds of work permits that can be obtained in Canada: closed work permits, which are restricted to a specific employer, and open work permits, which provide foreign nationals the freedom to work in Canada for any business.
A work permit that is unaffiliated with a specific employer or area is referred to as an open work permit. This means that someone from outside of Canada who has a valid open work permit can work for more than one employer in more than one place in Canada. Open work permits do not require a labour market effect study (LMIA).
Which Open work permits are offered by immigration programs?
Most open work permits are given out through these immigration programs.
- Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Inland Spousal or Common-Law Sponsorship
- Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP)
Who is eligible for Open Work Permit?
Foreign nationals may be qualified to apply for an open work permit under the following conditions:
- An foreign student who has completed their studies at a recognized institution of higher learning and is qualified for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
- A student who is no longer able to pay for their education (destitute student)
- If You have a work permit for a specific employer and are being mistreated or are at risk of being mistreated at your job in Canada.
- If You requested Canadian permanent residency.
- If You are a dependent member of the family of a permanent resident who submitted an application.
- If You are a skilled worker’s spouse, common-law partner, or international student.
- If You are an applicant for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program’s spouse or common-law partner.
- If You are a protected person, a refugee, a refugee claimant, or a member of their family.
- An arbitrary removal order is in place against you.
- You have a permit for temporary residence.
- You are a young employee who is involved in special programs.
Click here! Also read this interesting: Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Canada
Eligibility requirements for open work permit program.
Different requirements and application procedures apply depending on the particular circumstances of each person. The following are a few examples of basic criteria that can qualify someone for an open work permit
Canadian citizens seeking permanent residence
You may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit if you and your spouse or common-law partner are Canadian citizens, you have a work permit that is due to expire, and you have filed for permanent residence through a federal or provincial economic class programme (Note: the BOWP is not available in Quebec, but alternative work permits exist in Quebec).
Spouses or common-law partners are the sponsored individuals under inland sponsorship
Spouses and common-law partners of Canadians or Permanent Residents may be granted an open work visa if they are sponsored for permanent residence via Inland Sponsorship and meet the requirements for that sponsorship immigration programme.
Spouses and common-law partners of international temporary workers
If you live in Canada or intend to do so and are the spouse or common-law partner of a temporary foreign worker who has been employed there for at least six months in a job that falls under Skill Level 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), you may qualify for an open work permit.
International students'spouses or partners-in-common-law
To qualify for an open work permit as the spouse or common-law partner of a foreign student, you cannot be enrolled as a full-time student.
- Your spouse or partner who is an international student must possess a valid study permit and be a full-time student at a college or university in Canada.
Foreign Graduates and their spouses or common-law partners
Students who have graduated from a certain programme of study in Canada must meet the requirements of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program in order to get an open work permit. A foreigner must be at least 18 years old and have studied full-time in Canada for at least 8 months at a Designated Learning Institution to be eligible for a PGWP (DLI).
If you are married to or live with someone who has a post-graduation work permit, you may also be able to get an open work permit. Most of the time, these open work permits are good for the same amount of time that their spouse is allowed to work in Canada.
International Experience Canada Participants
People who take part in the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme may also be able to get a Working Holiday open work permit. IEC is open to young adults who live in other countries with which Canada has a reciprocal agreement. Depending on the country, the age range is between 18 and 35, but it’s usually between 18 and 35.
How to apply?
You can apply for an open work permit from inside or outside of Canada. Depending on where you live, the application process and forms you need to fill out will be different. In both cases, the process will involve sending in a certain form and paying both the open work permit holder fee and the work permit processing fee at the same time.
Advantages of Work Permit in Canada
In Canada, having a work permit comes with a number of benefits; what are they? You may or may not be aware of the additional benefits that come with getting a Canadian work visa in addition to the other advantages that come with working in Canada.
1. It might pave the way to a permanent residence
If you intend to work and remain in Canada on a temporary basis at first, this may pave the way for you to submit an application for permanent residence at a later time. In order to assist those with Canadian provincial job experience in settling permanently in Canada, each province offers at least one immigration programme.
2. You and your spouse/cohabitant can both work in Canada
If you’re moving to Canada with someone you love, they can also work there. To do so, they will have to apply for their own work permit.
They might be able to apply for an open work permit, which would let them work anywhere in Canada for any company. This is usually only for people applying for a Post-Graduate Work Permit, travelling with an international student or Atlantic Immigration programme applicant, or waiting for their status as a permanent resident.
3. Extension of the Canadian work permit's validity
The programme through which you apply for a work permit in Canada will determine the maximum number of years for which the permit will be valid.
Applicants for a Post-Graduate Work Permit have the opportunity to obtain a work permit in Canada that is valid for a period of time ranging from one to three years, depending on the duration of their educational degree. Caregivers who live in the same household as their clients are eligible for work permits that are valid for up to four years.
Perks of Working in Canada
Employment Insurance (EI)
Both the employer and the worker pay into the Employment Insurance programme. This programme gives unemployed workers a short-term boost to their income so they can improve their skills or look for work.
Aside from that, the EI programme gives special benefits to workers who take time off due to particular life events.
Canada's citizenship
After you’ve worked and become a permanent resident, you may have a better chance of becoming a Canadian citizen and gain other benefits.
Permanent residents or people with a valid work permit in Canada who want to become citizens must show proof that they have lived in the nation for a minimum of three years in the last five years.
Reasonable price for Living
Compared to other developed countries, Canada’s cost of living is low. Depending on where you choose to live, housing, gas, cars, and food are all cheaper. The crime rate in this country is very low, which makes it one of the world’s most secure locations. To know you can also visit Government of Canada official website here.
Click here! Also read this interesting: Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
- Prove of leaving Canada after your work permit expires
- Show that you have enough capital to spend for living in Canada even with the accompaning family.
- Have a valid study or work permit
- Hold a temporary resident permit i.e. valid for at least 6 months
To know more refer to the above content.
For a person traveling alone for the work permit requires a minimum of 26,620 CAD.
Yes, IELTS is a must-have requirement for a Canadian work permit.
If you’re sponsoring your spouse under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, then you can apply for a spousal open work permit.
Yes, a lack of a marriage certificate or missing relationship evidence may lead to the rejection of the spouse’s open work permit.
It takes nearly 30 days to process the Canadian open work permit. Even if someone is willing to extend their permit, they should definitely apply for an extension of the open work permit prior to 30 days of the permit’s expiry.
After you get a positive LMIA from a Canadian employer, you can apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
A work permit allows you to work in a specific country that is employer specific. However, an open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific.
The open work permit holder fee is nearly around 100 CAD.
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