Open vs. Employer-Specific Work Permits in Canada: What’s the Difference?
Anyone applying to work temporarily in Canada will run into two broad categories of work permit: employer-specific and open. The type available to a given applicant depends on their circumstances, and the difference has real consequences for job flexibility.
Employer-specific work permits
This is the more common type. It ties the holder to a single named employer, a specific job, and often a specific location and time period — all printed on the permit itself. Most employer-specific permits require the employer to first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada, which confirms that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the role.
Some employer-specific permits are LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program — for example, intra-company transfers of executives or specialized staff between related companies, or roles covered by international trade agreements. These still name a specific employer, but skip the LMIA step.
A holder of an employer-specific permit who wants to change employers generally needs to apply for and receive a new work permit before starting the new job — not after.
Open work permits
An open work permit lets the holder work for almost any employer in Canada, in almost any occupation, without a specific job offer or LMIA. Open work permits aren’t available to everyone; they’re issued only in defined circumstances, including:
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders, for graduates of eligible Canadian study programs
- Spouses or common-law partners of certain skilled workers or full-time international students
- Bridging Open Work Permits, for applicants with a pending permanent residence application who need to keep working while it’s processed
- Participants in International Experience Canada (working holiday) programs
Open work permits typically cost more to apply for than employer-specific ones, reflecting the broader authorization they grant.
Why the distinction matters
The practical stakes are highest when something goes wrong in a job — an employer-specific permit holder generally can’t simply quit and start work elsewhere the same day, while an open work permit holder can. Anyone on an employer-specific permit who is experiencing workplace problems should look into whether they qualify for an open work permit under any of IRCC’s specific provisions before assuming they have no options.
Duration limits
Most temporary foreign workers can work in Canada for a maximum of four years cumulatively before needing to leave for a period before returning — though time spent under certain programs, including as a PGWP holder, doesn’t always count toward this cap. Checking permit conditions carefully before making career plans is worthwhile, since restrictions vary by program.
Official sources:
- Find out what type of work permit you need — IRCC
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — main services page
