Open Work Permits in Canada: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, with no job offer. You qualify only in set situations, such as after graduation, as the spouse of a worker or student, on a working holiday or while your permanent residence application is processed. Find your situation below.
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What is an open work permit?
An open work permit is a work permit that is not tied to one employer. You can work for any employer in Canada except those on the non-compliant list or those that regularly offer erotic services. Your own employer needs no LMIA, no offer of employment and no compliance fee.
Can anyone get one?
No. IRCC issues open work permits only in listed situations. Most people applying from outside Canada cannot get one, and most applicants apply from inside Canada. If you do not fit a listed situation, look at an employer-specific permit.
Key rules at a glance
- Fee: $155 for the permit plus a $100 open work permit holder fee
- Employers: any, except the non-compliant list and erotic services
- Limits: your permit may restrict the type of job or the place
- Medical: some jobs need a medical exam, and the condition can be removed
Which open work permit fits you?
Match your situation to a group.
An open permit fits if
- You are a recent graduate from an eligible Canadian program
- You are the spouse or child of a worker, student or PR applicant
- You hold a status that IRCC lists, such as a protected person or a victim of workplace abuse
- You have applied for permanent residence
Look at another route if
- You have a job offer and no listed situation: use an employer-specific permit
- You apply from outside Canada and do not fit a listed group
- Your employer is on the non-compliant list
Read our PGWP guide, the spousal open work permit guide or the LMIA guide.
Who can apply for an open work permit
IRCC lists these groups. See the IRCC page for current rules before you apply.
Post-graduation work permit applicants, International Experience Canada working holiday applicants and destitute students. The Hong Kong recent graduate permit is closed.
Family members of permanent residence applicants, of work permit holders and of some students, plus sponsored family members.
Vulnerable people
Refugees, asylum claimants and protected persons, victims of workplace abuse and people in crisis.
PR applicants and others
Permanent residence applicants, temporary resident permit holders, Indigenous peoples and Quebec investors.
Permit limits
Your permit may limit the type of work or the place. A provincial nominee permit may only let you work in that province.
Not sure which open permit fits you?
We check your status, program and family situation against IRCC’s list before you pay a fee.
Open work permit types we cover
For graduates of eligible programs. It is open, lasts up to 3 years and often leads to Express Entry.
For spouses of some workers, students and PR applicants. Rules tightened on 21 January 2025.
Working holiday (International Experience Canada), bridging (bridging open work permit) and vulnerable worker (vulnerable workers permit) permits follow their own rules. Read each guide before you apply.
Documents to prepare
Your list depends on your group. Start with these.
How to get an open work permit, step by step
Six stages from your first check to your permit.
Find your group
Match your situation to one of the listed groups.
Check the rules
Read the current IRCC rules for your group, since several changed recently.
Gather your proof
Collect status, relationship, study or PR papers.
Apply and pay
Apply online and pay $155 plus the $100 open work permit holder fee.
Biometrics and review
Give biometrics and a medical exam if asked.
Receive and extend
Follow every condition. Apply to extend at least 30 days before it expires.
Open work permit fees at a glance
From the IRCC fee list, checked 5 October 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
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Open work permit FAQs
What is an open work permit in Canada?
An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, with no job offer. IRCC issues it only in listed situations. Your employer needs no LMIA, offer of employment or compliance fee.
Do I need a job offer for an open work permit?
No. Open work permits are not job-specific, so you do not need an offer. Your employer does not need to apply for an LMIA, submit an offer of employment or pay the compliance fee.
Who can apply for an open work permit?
IRCC lists graduates and youth, spouses and dependent children, vulnerable people, and others such as permanent residence applicants, temporary resident permit holders, Indigenous peoples and Quebec investors. Each group has its own rules.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
Usually not. IRCC says most people applying from outside Canada cannot get an open work permit, and most open work permit applicants must apply inside Canada. Check your group’s rules first.
How much does an open work permit cost?
The IRCC fee is $155 for the work permit plus a $100 open work permit holder fee, so $255 in total. Some groups pay different amounts, so check the fee list for your case.
Can I work for any employer?
Almost any. You cannot work for an employer on the non-compliant list or one that regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages. Your permit may also limit the job type or the place.
Can my permit limit where I work?
Yes. For example, an open permit under the provincial nominee class may let you work only in a specific province. Some jobs also add a medical exam condition, which you can ask to remove.
Can my spouse get an open work permit?
Sometimes. Rules tightened on 21 January 2025, and they depend on the worker’s job or the student’s program. Read our spousal open work permit guide.
Is the post-graduation work permit an open permit?
Yes. It lets graduates of eligible programs work for any employer. The IRCC fee is $255. Read our PGWP guide.
Is the Hong Kong recent graduate open work permit still open?
No. IRCC lists it as closed. Other groups, such as working holiday and PGWP applicants, remain open.
Can a PR applicant get an open work permit?
Sometimes. IRCC lists permanent residence applicants among the eligible groups. The rules depend on your program, so read our Canadian Experience Class guide and ask us about your case.
When should I apply to extend my open work permit?
Apply at least 30 days before your permit expires. IRCC asks you to allow for in-Canada processing times. We can review your timeline and your options.