BOWP Rules for PNP Nominees
How provincial nomination terms impact your eligibility to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit.
You cannot get an **open** work permit under BOWP if your provincial nomination certificate has **employment restrictions** listed (e.g. stating you must work only for a specific employer). If restrictions exist, you must apply for a **closed work permit** supported by a provincial support letter instead of a BOWP.
PNP BOWP Eligibility Rules
If you are nominated by a province (e.g. OINP, BC PNP, SINP) and have applied for Permanent Residency, you can apply for a BOWP under these rules:
- Express Entry vs Paper PNP: If your PNP application is processed via Express Entry, you can apply for a BOWP as soon as you receive your automatic **AOR (Acknowledgment of Receipt)**. If it is a non-Express Entry paper-based PNP, you must wait for the manual AOR from IRCC (which can take 2-4 months).
- No Employer Restriction: Check Box 4 on your nomination certificate. It must state **"No"** under "Are there employment restrictions?".
- Work Location restriction: Your BOWP will be open, but it will restrict your work location strictly to the nominating province. You cannot use a PNP BOWP to work in another province.
Decision Matrix: BOWP vs. Closed Work Permit
Use this grid to determine what work permit to apply for based on your provincial nomination terms:
| Nomination Terms | PR Stage reached | Work Permit to File | LMIA Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Employment Restrictions | PR Application Filed + AOR received | BOWP (Open work permit) | Exempt (Code A75) |
| Employer Restrictions Present | PR Application Filed + AOR received | Closed Work Permit (Sponsoring employer only) | Exempt (Code T13 - PNP support letter) |
| Any Nomination Terms | No PR Application filed yet (waiting for ITA/Draw) | Closed Work Permit (requires PNP support letter) | Exempt (Code T13) |
How to Submit Your PNP BOWP Application
Follow this protocol when submitting your online application to IRCC:
- Complete IMM 5710: Fill out the worker extension form.
- Attach Nomination: Upload your provincial nomination certificate and the official IRCC AOR letter.
- Pay Fees: Pay the standard **$255 CAD** open work permit fee.
This guide compiles official work permit regulations and provincial nomination conditions sourced directly from:
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) BOWP PNP Eligibility: canada.ca/bowp-pnp-rules
• IRCC Exemption Code A75 Operational Guidelines: canada.ca/exemption-code-a75