IRCC has stated that there will be extended open work permits for TR to PR pathway applicants. This policy extends the eligibility of spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of principal PR applicants for open work permits. 

This temporary public policy has been extended to December 31, 2026. 

The TR to PR pathway was a limited-time immigration pathway that allowed foreign workers with experience in essential professions, health/ health services professions, or recent graduates of a Canadian post-secondary institution to apply for permanent residence. This pathway closed in 2021.

Applicants still in the PR process might continue to benefit from the extended open work permit policy. 

Moreover, applicants to this PR pathway who obtained an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from the department on their application and who can provide valid language test results and proof of authorized work can now apply for an additional OWP, i.e., open work permit until the end of 2026.

Eligibility Criteria For PR Applicants To Apply For An Open Work Permit 

IRCC has stated that there will be extended open work permits for TR to PR pathway applicants. 

For principal PR applicants to be eligible to obtain an open work permit under this policy, they should: 

• Have temporary resident status or be eligible to restore their temporary resident status
• Hold a work permit that has less than four months validity when applying (if applicable)
• Have submitted an open work permit (OWP) application online through an IRCC secure account under this public policy 
• Indicate on their application which PR public policy they have applied under initially as part of the TR to PR pathway 
• At the time when they had applied for permanent residence, have held legal work authorization, and have obtained a specific language ability on an IRCC-approved language test 
• Have obtained email confirmation from IRCC that their PR application under a selected public policy was received and was within the allotted cap for that policy Or Have obtained a letter from the Client Support Center provided when IRCC requested an alternative application format

Note that one cannot withdraw the initial PR application before applying for this open work permit.

Note that legal work authorizations can include: 

• A valid work permit 
• Authorization to work under a public policy 
• Authorization to work under section R186 of the regulations 

The specific levels of language test results are as follows: 

Work permit holders who apply for an open work permit under this policy need to pay the work permit processing fee but do not need to pay the open-work permit holders fee usually associated with open work permit applications. 

Eligibility Criteria For Family Members To Receive An Open Work Permit Under This Policy 

IRCC has stated that there will be extended open work permits for TR to PR pathway applicants. 

Family members of principal applicants might be eligible for an OWP if they meet the eligibility conditions mentioned below. 

For family members of the principal applicant to be eligible for an open work permit under this policy, they should: 

• Be in Canada when they submit their work permit application 
• Have submitted an open work permit (OWP) application online through an IRCC Secure Account and have included the Unique Client Identifier of their principal applicant family member in the application
• Have been an accompanying member of the family in the principal applicant’s PR application
• Be 18 years of age or older at the time that one submits their work permit application 
• Have valid temporary resident status or be eligible to restore their temporary resident (TR) status if they are in Canada at the time of submitting their application
• Be a genuine family member of the principal applicant: 
• A dependent child of a dependent child
• A spouse or common-law partner 
• A dependent child of either the principal applicant or of their spouse/ common-law partner

Note that for Canadian immigration, a dependent child is the one who is: 

• Not married or in a common-law relationship
• Under 22 years of age 

Children who are 22 or older might qualify as ‘over-age’ dependents if they: 

• Cannot financially support themselves because to a mental or physical condition 
• Have depended on their parents or financial support since before theft reached the age of 22

If a principal applicant has had their PR application rejected, IRCC will also refuse all associated work permit applications. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can also drop us an email at [email protected].