Work Permits

Most people who come to Canada to work do so on a temporary work permit before transitioning to permanent residency. Canada issues work permits through several streams: employer-specific permits tied to a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), open work permits like the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and bridging permits that keep you working legally while a PR application is in progress.

This section covers the major work permit types newcomers ask about: temporary work visas and the application process, the LMIA-backed work visa pathway, and the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), a critical safety net for skilled workers waiting on an Express Entry decision. Whether you’re an employer evaluating LMIA options or an applicant trying to understand your timeline, the guides below cover both perspectives.