Work permits
Canadian Open Work Permit
A work permit that lets the holder work for almost any employer in Canada without a job offer or Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
Open work permit holder fee and processing fee amounts were not verified against a live official fee page; confirm current fees on canada.ca before publishing.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Canada government website before you apply.
On this page
- Official name
- Open work permit
- Route type
- Temporary work permit (employer-unrestricted)
- Job offer needed
- No
- LMIA needed
- No
Who it is for
- People who qualify under a specific open-work-permit situation (you cannot apply just because you want one)
- Spouses or common-law partners of some workers and students
- Graduates eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit
- Certain permanent residence applicants and other defined groups
What you can do
- Work for almost any eligible employer in Canada
- Change employers without applying for a new work permit (subject to any conditions on the permit)
- Some open work permits are restricted by occupation or location
How to apply
- Confirm you fall within an eligible open-work-permit category
- Apply online through your IRCC account
- Pay the work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
Related Canadian visas
- WORKTEMPORARYNOT A VISACanada Work PermitThe document that allows you to work in Canada. A work permit is a permit rather than an entry visa, so it may need to be paired with the right travel document.View visa details
- WORKGRADUATESOPEN PERMITPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)An open work permit for eligible international graduates of Canadian designated learning institutions, letting them work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada after finishing their studies.View visa details
- WORKJOB OFFERSINGLE EMPLOYEREmployer-Specific Work Permit (LMIA / Temporary Foreign Worker Program)A work permit tied to one named employer, job and location, usually supported by a job offer and, under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, a Labour Market Impact Assessment.View visa details