By admin (May 21, 2024)

Difference Between Open Work Permit and Closed Work Permit

Applying for a work permit is one of the best methods to migrate to Canada but many people are confused about the difference between open work permit and closed work permit for Canadian immigration.

To simply put the difference between an open work permit and closed work permit, an open work permit allows the holder to work in any position for any Canadian employer for the given timespan and a closed work permit restricts the permit holder to work for a specific employer in a specific position for the timespan stated on the document.

Eligibility for Open Work Permit and Closed Work Permit

There are several ways to get an open work permit. Canada’s Youth Mobility Program is one of the most popular methods to obtain an open work permit. This program is open to candidates who are 35 years of age or younger, it permits candidates from only certain participating countries to immigrate. An open work permit is received by the approved participants to come to Canada and work for any company that will hire them for up to 1 year. Clearing out the difference between open work permit and closed work permit is important before determining eligibility for both work permits.

Work permit holders may also be able to apply for permanent residency in Canada under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream of Express Entry after gaining work experience in certain fields. Some people may be eligible to apply for a closed work permit but are not able to obtain an open work permit this way. Most applicants must first apply for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) with a valid job offer from a Canadian company to do this.

This is done through a different government agency than IRCC known as Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). It is the responsibility of IRCC to issue an actual work permit. This whole process is called the employer “sponsoring” an employee. The document will show the name of the employer, the position to be held as well as the period of the validity of the work permit after approval of the work permit application.

For the duration of the work permit, the holder is restricted to work for a specific position in a specific company. They have to go through this entire process again if they wish to switch jobs. Depending on the nature of their work experience, holders of closed work permits may also be eligible to apply for permanent residence through the CEC program.

An open work permit can also be received by the spouses of closed work permit holders for the same duration as the principal applicant’s a closed work permit which means that their spouse can work anywhere while the principal applicant is working for the company. That’s why knowing the difference between open work permit and closed work permit is important to have a brief idea about how eligibility works in both cases.

The spouse must submit applications and documents together with the principal applicant for this to happen. You may be eligible to apply for either an open or closed work permit through various programs depending on your education level, previous work experience, language skills, and age. Some examples of these visas are also important to know about, after figuring out the difference between open work permit and closed work permit.

Examples of Open and Closed Work Permits

Now that we have discussed a lot about the difference between open work permit and closed work permit, let’s take some examples for both types.

Examples of Open Work Permits

• Post-Graduation Work Permits, if you graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada.

• Working Holiday Work Permits

• Bridging Open Work Permit for permanent resident applicants

• Open Work Permit for spouses or common-law partners of a work permit holder studying in a Canadian post-secondary school or working in a skilled position.

• Open Work Permit pilot program for permanent residence applicants in the common-law partner or spouse in Canada class.

 Examples of Closed Work Permits

• International Co-op – Internship work permits

• Young Professionals’ work permits

• General Temporary work permits issued under the TFWP (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)

• Work Permit for CSQ holders in Quebec who hold a permit that will expire soon.

• Mobilite Francophone Work Permits

To apply for any work permit in 2023, you need to know the difference between open work permit and closed work permit so that you can prioritize your needs accordingly and get the visa suiting your needs and profile.