What is an open work permit?

An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. Because it is not job-specific, you will not need the following when you apply for your work permit:

• a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada; or
• proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

An Open Work Permit allows a foreign national to work in any job, without restriction.  An LMIA or confirmed offer of employment is not needed to apply for an Open Work Permit.Foreign spouses/common-law partners of temporary foreign workers, foreign students and Spouses/common-law partners being sponsored through the Inland Spousal/Common-law Sponsorship category are eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit .Graduating international students are also eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.

​International Experience class  candidates under the Working Holiday category are also eligible for an Open Work Permit.

Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies
• have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
• applied for permanent residence in Canada
• are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
• are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
• are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
• are under an unenforceable removal order
• are a temporary resident permit holder
• are a young worker participating in special programs