Step 1: Understand What Your Open Work Permit Gives You

An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada without a job-specific Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Common types include the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), and spousal open work permits. If you do not already hold one, or need a refresher on current eligibility and fees, see our complete Open Work Permit Canada Guide for 2026, which covers eligibility, the $255 CAD total fee (work permit + open work permit holder fee), and the tightened spousal permit rules introduced since January 2025.

What matters for PR purposes is not the permit itself, but the skilled work experience you accumulate while on it.

Step 2: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) via Express Entry

The CEC is generally the fastest route from open work permit to PR for people with at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) within the last three years. As of the most recent CEC-specific Express Entry draw in June 2026, CRS cut-off scores have been hovering in the 507-518 range, with the latest round issuing 4,000 invitations. For the current draw results, CRS trends, and the 60-day deadline to submit your full application after an invitation, see our dedicated post on the latest CEC Express Entry draw.

To use this pathway:

1. Accumulate at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in Canada while on your open work permit.
2. Create an Express Entry profile and get your CRS score calculated. If you are unfamiliar with how CRS scoring works, our guide on how Express Entry works and how to get invited breaks down the points system in detail.
3. Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit your complete PR application within 60 days.

For the latest 2026 Express Entry category targets and how CEC fits into overall immigration levels, see Express Entry 2026 Categories & Immigration Targets.

Step 3: Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

If your CRS score is below the federal CEC cut-off, a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which all but guarantees an ITA in the next Express Entry draw. Most PNP streams relevant to open work permit holders require either a job offer or a period of work experience in that specific province. Manitoba, Ontario, and BC each run their own draws with different criteria — see our Ontario, BC & Manitoba PNP updates for 2026 for current draw activity. Note that Manitoba scores candidates on its own Expression of Interest (EOI) scale, which is not directly comparable to federal CRS or other provinces’ SIRS scores.

Step 4: Employer-Driven and Other Pathways

Some open work permit holders convert to PR through an employer-sponsored PNP stream (where a Canadian employer supports your provincial nomination), or through the Atlantic Immigration Program if you are working in one of the Atlantic provinces. These typically still route through Express Entry or a direct-to-PR provincial application once nominated.

Step 5: Submit Your PR Application

Once you have an ITA (via CEC or a provincial nomination), you submit your full permanent residence application. As of April 30, 2026, the fees are $990 processing + $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee = $1,590 CAD per adult applicant (you and your spouse, if applicable), plus $270 CAD per dependent child and roughly $85 per person for biometrics. For the complete 4-step application process and document checklist, see our guide on how to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry in 2026.

If your open work permit or current authorization is set to expire while your PR application is still being processed, a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets you keep working legally until a decision is made.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

• Enter the Express Entry pool as early as possible — tie-breaking rules favor earlier profile creation dates when CRS scores are equal.
• Target occupations in demand for category-based draws (healthcare, trades, STEM, education, agriculture, and French-language proficiency are recurring federal priorities).
• Improve your French if possible — NCLC 7+ adds significant CRS points and qualifies you for Francophone-specific draws, which often have lower cut-offs.
• Keep supporting documents current — police certificates, medical exams, and proof of funds — so you can meet the 60-day ITA response deadline without delay.

FAQ

Q: Does an open work permit automatically lead to PR?
A: No. It does not grant any direct path to PR on its own, but the Canadian work experience gained while holding one is often the key qualifying factor for CEC or PNP routes.

Q: How much Canadian work experience do I need for the CEC?
A: At least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation within the past 3 years.

Q: What if my CRS score is too low for a direct CEC invitation?
A: Look into a provincial nomination, which adds 600 CRS points. See our PNP updates guide for current provincial streams.

Q: What happens if my open work permit expires before my PR application is finished?
A: If you have already submitted a complete PR application, a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows you to continue working while it is processed.

Q: How much does the PR application cost in 2026?
A: As of April 30, 2026: $1,590 CAD per adult applicant ($990 processing + $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee), $270 CAD per dependent child, plus biometrics fees. Full details in our PR application guide.

Sources: IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations data, CIC News reporting on 2026 CEC draws, cross-checked against this site’s own verified 2026 Express Entry and PNP coverage.