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Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you are in one of the following situations:

1. You are already working in Canada and your application for permanent residence has been approved under one of the following :
   • Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada class
   • Live-in Caregiver Program
   • Federal Skilled Worker Program
   • Canadian Experience Class
   • Provincial Nominee Program
   • Federal Skilled Trades Program
   • humanitarian and compassionate grounds
   You may also be eligible if you are a family member of someone whose application for permanent residence has been approved under one of the above.
2. Your spouse is
• a skilled worker in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A or B ,
• a foreign student
3. You are in Canada under a federal-provincial/territorial immigration agreement, including an active pilot project, or you are a spouse or dependent child of someone who is in Canada under a temporary foreign worker annex of a federal-provincial/territorial immigration agreement with an applicable pilot project.
4. You are a full-time student enrolled at an eligible publicly funded post-secondary educational institution or you are in an approved program at an eligible privately funded institution.
5. You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months.
6. You are participating in
   • the Canada World Youth Program; or
   • International Experience Canada .
7. You have filed a claim for refugee protection in Canada and
   • you are waiting for the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to decide on your claim; and
   • you cannot pay for your basic needs without working.
8. The RPD has rejected your refugee claim
   • but the Government of Canada is not yet ready to remove you from the country and
   • you cannot pay for your basic needs without working.
9. You are a family member of a foreign representative.
10. You are a family member of a foreign military member who is working in Canada.
11. You are a professional athlete allowed to enter Canada and you need to do other work to support yourself while playing for a Canadian team.

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