{"id":397823,"date":"2025-01-16T08:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T07:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/?p=397823"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:24:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:24:25","slug":"open-and-closed-work-permit-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/open-and-closed-work-permit-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Open and closed work permits in Canada \u2013 The fine print explaining the difference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably seen the expression \u201copen work permit\u201d and \u201cclosed work permit\u201d when looking for an option to work in Canada. Not quite sure what they mean? We have all the info you need to make the decision that\u2019s right for you!<\/p>\n<h2>What are open and closed work permits, exactly?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>An open work permit<\/strong> is a work permit that is not job-specific, which means you can work for ANY EMPLOYER in Canada. You can look for a job before travelling to Canada or you can wait until you arrive (which is preferable, as you will be able to network and be more proactive). You can change employers, change jobs, or move to another city or province whenever you feel like it.<\/p>\n<p>Note that some open work permits may tie you to a specific province.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A closed work permit<\/strong> is a work permit that is issued to work in A SPECIFIC POSITION FOR A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER in Canada. You must find an employer before applying for the work permit. The name of your employer and how long you can work will be specified on your work permit when issued. Once in Canada, you won\u2019t be able to work for another employer or in another position, unless you apply for another work permit.<\/p>\n<h2>Open and closed work permits at a glance<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpsm-comptable-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<table id=\"wpsm-table-7\" class=\"wpsm-comptable \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<thead class=\"wpsm-thead wpsm-thead-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"placeholder wpsm-placeholder\"><\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>Open work permit<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>Closed work permit<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t<tbody class=\"wpsm-tbody\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I need to find an employer before applying for my work permit?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAm I tied to a specific employer?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan my spouse or common-law partner apply for an open work permit to come with me?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes, if certain requirements are met*\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes, if certain requirements are met*\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>* Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you (the work permit holder) are working in an occupation under the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/noc.esdc.gc.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Occupational Classification (NOC)<\/a>\u00a0TEER skill type\u00a00 or 1, or certain eligible jobs in TEER 2 or 3.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-dossier-article__info\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"c-dossier-article__info-wrap\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead <a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/canada-spouse-common-law-partner-open-work-permit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IEC Canada \u2013 Spouse or common-law partner open work permit 101<\/a> for more info.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>Examples of open and closed work permits<\/h2>\n<p>The following options are open work permits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/dossiers\/canadian-working-holiday-permit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Working Holiday<\/a> work permits<\/li>\n<li>Open work permit for spouses or common-law partners of a work permit holder working in a skilled position OR studying in a Canadian post-secondary school<\/li>\n<li>Post-graduation work permits (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/immigration-refugees-citizenship\/services\/study-canada\/work\/after-graduation\/about.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PGWP<\/a>) if you graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/immigration-refugees-citizenship\/services\/work-canada\/extend-permit\/bridging-open-work-permit.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridging open work permit<\/a> for permanent residence applicants<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/immigration-refugees-citizenship\/corporate\/publications-manuals\/operational-bulletins-manuals\/updates\/2023-open-work-pilot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open work permit pilot program<\/a> for permanent residence applicants in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following permits are closed work permits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>General temporary work permits issued under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/employment-social-development\/services\/foreign-workers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Temporary Foreign Worker Program<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/dossiers\/young-professionals-work-permit-canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Young Professionals<\/a> work permits<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/dossiers\/international-co-op-internship-iec-work-permit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Co-op\u2014Internship<\/a> work permits<\/li>\n<li>Mobilit\u00e9 francophone work permits (for French speakers)<\/li>\n<li>Work permits for CSQ holders (in Quebec) who hold a work permit that will expire soon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Getting an open work permit<\/h2>\n<p>An open work permit is way more flexible than a closed work permit because you can change employers. However, there can be some challenges to meeting the specific conditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Considering applying for a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/whv\/canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Working Holiday<\/a> work permit<\/strong>? Your country of citizenship must have signed a bilateral agreement with Canada. You\u2019ll also need luck on your side, since applicants who meet all requirements are randomly <a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/dossiers\/iec-tutorial-internship-young-professionals-working-holiday-in-canada\/3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drawn from a pool<\/a> where demand often exceeds supply!<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>open work permits for spouses of common-law partners of students or skilled workers<\/strong> are only an option for spouses of foreign students and skilled workers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post-graduation work permits<\/strong> are only awarded to new grads who have completed their education in Canada (so that they can use their new skills in the professional world).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bridging open work permits for permanent residence applicants<\/strong> is only an option introduced to retain potential immigrants who may otherwise go home and give up on their immigration project.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The open work permit pilot program for permanent residence applicants in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class<\/strong> is only a way for couples to keep on living together while the application is processed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As you can see, you can\u2019t just apply for an open work permit because it\u2019s more convenient or easier for you than a closed work permit\u2014specific conditions must be met.<\/p>\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cic.gc.ca\/english\/helpcentre\/answer.asp?qnum=177&amp;top=17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Who can apply for an open work permit?<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n<h2>Additional fees for open work permits<\/h2>\n<p>Note that there\u2019s an additional CA$100 fee for all open work permits.<\/p>\n<p>A Young Professionals or International Co-op permit fee is CA$264.75 (CA$179.75 International Experience Canada fee + CA$85 biometrics fee) but the Working Holiday permit fee is CA$364.75 (the same fees as the closed IEC permits + CA$100 open work permit fee).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably seen the expression \u201copen work permit\u201d and \u201cclosed work permit\u201d when looking for an option to work in Canada. Not quite sure what they mean? We have all the info you need to make the decision that\u2019s right for you! What are open and closed work permits, exactly? An open work permit is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":397824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[201,898],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-397823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualite","category-other-temporary-visas","pays-canada-en"],"acf":[],"comments_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=397823"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449455,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397823\/revisions\/449455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/397824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=397823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=397823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=397823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}