An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. Because it is not job-specific, you will not need the following when you apply for your work permit:
• a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada; or
• proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

In most cases, you will have to pay the open work permit holder fee at the same time that you pay the work permit fee. Check the fee list for the most up-to-date application fees.

Under the International Mobility Program, an open work permit enables a person to work for any employer for a specified period of time. An open restricted permit may restrict the occupation or location but not the employer.

Although there are no restrictions on the open work permit concerning the employer name, the foreign national is still subject to the general conditions imposed on all temporary residents under subsection 183(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).

These conditions state that the foreign national will not work for an employer who is referred to in any of subparagraphs R200(3)(h)(i) to (iii) or who, on a regular basis, offers the following:
• stripteases
• erotic dances
• escort services
• erotic massages

There are two types of open work permits:
• unrestricted (allowing foreign nationals to work in any occupation and location)
• restricted (restricting the occupation or the location)

Open work permits may be issued with the following:
• occupational restrictions, depending on the applicant’s medical status [R185(b)]
• location restrictions, depending on the category (such as a bridging open work permit under the provincial nominee class)

Officers should code the unrestricted occupation open work permits in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) as per the following:
• Employer name: unspecified or unknown
• Location: unspecified or unknown
• Occupation: NOC 9999 (no other code should be used)
• Medical conditions: The permit can be issued to any eligible applicant who has passed a medical examination for immigration purposes with a result of M1, M2 or M3 (medical examination passed), or who has failed the medical examination (M5) but satisfies the criteria of section R206 or paragraph R207(c) or (d)
Note: Medical surveillance must be imposed for persons assessed as M2/S2. Remarks on the permit should indicate “medical surveillance required”.

Open work permits may be issued with the following:
• occupational restrictions, depending on the applicant’s medical status.
• location restrictions, depending on the category (such as a bridging open work permit under the provincial nominee class)

If a medical examination was not completed, one of the conditions below must be imposed. The specific occupational sector restriction will depend on whether the person has resided in a designated or non-designated country.

• For persons from non-designated countries, the following condition should appear on the work permit: “Not authorized to work in 1) child care, 2) primary or secondary school teaching, 3) health services field occupations.”
• For persons from designated countries, the following condition should appear on the work permit: “Not authorized to work in 1) child care, 2) primary or secondary school teaching, 3) health services field occupations, 4) agricultural occupations.”