When should I apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit?
Apply for your bridging permit when your current work permit has about four months or less remaining, and before it expires. Applying too early can lead to a refusal, and applying after your permit expires can create a gap in your status. If you submit a valid application before your current permit expires, you generally keep working under maintained status (formerly called implied status) while IRCC decides on the new permit. Timing the application correctly is the single most important step in avoiding an unauthorized work gap.
How long does the PNP work permit measure last?
The measure took effect on June 9, 2026 and is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2026. It is a temporary response to slow PR completeness checks, not a permanent rule, so the alternative-proof option could end on that date or change if IRCC issues new instructions. Provincial nominees who are waiting on an Acknowledgement of Receipt should use the window while it is open rather than counting on an extension.
Common Questions: Can You Get a Work Permit Without an AOR?
Below are the questions provincial nominees raise most often about bridging work permits under the June 2026 measure. Each answer reflects IRCC's current instructions, which are temporary and scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, so confirm the rule still applies before you file your work permit application.
Does this apply if my province is part of the Provincial Nominee Program? Yes. The measure applies to applicants nominated under the Provincial Nominee Program, which covers most provinces and territories outside Quebec.
Is this the same as the open work permit for prospective nominees? No. A separate open work permit for prospective Provincial Nominee Program candidates exists for people who have a provincial support letter but no nomination yet. The June 2026 measure is for people who already have a nomination and a submitted PR application.
Can I stay in Canada while I wait for the permit? Yes, if you applied before your current work permit expired, maintained status lets you remain and keep working under your old conditions until IRCC decides.
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