In late 2025, Canada significantly overhauled its work permit programs to better align with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The focus has shifted toward reducing the overall number of temporary residents while prioritizing workers in high-demand sectors like healthcare, trades, and STEM.
There are two primary categories of work permits in Canada: Open and Closed.
An open work permit allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP):
Major 2025 Rule: If you are a college graduate, your field of study must now align with the government’s “long-term shortage” list (e.g., agriculture, healthcare, STEM, or trades) to be eligible.
University Grads: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD graduates are generally exempt from the field-of-study requirement but must meet new language benchmarks (CLB 7).
Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP):
Eligibility is now restricted. You can generally only get an SOWP if your spouse is a high-skilled worker (TEER 0 or 1) or a student in a professional degree program (e.g., Medicine, Law, Engineering)
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): For those who have already applied for Permanent Residency (PR) and need to keep working while their application is processed.
These permits tie you to a single employer. If you lose the job, the permit becomes invalid for other work.
LMIA-Based Permits: Most employers must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to prove they couldn’t find a Canadian for the job.
New for 2025: A minimum salary threshold of $28.50/hour now applies to most new LMIA applications to ensure fair wages.
Global Talent Stream (GTS): The fastest route (2–4 weeks processing) for highly specialized tech roles.
Intra-Company Transfers (ICT): For management or specialized employees moving from a foreign branch to a Canadian branch of the same company.
| Item | Cost (CAD) | Notes |
| Work Permit Fee | $155 | Standard fee for all applicants. |
| Open Work Permit Fee | +$100 | Extra fee for open permit holders (Total $255). |
| Restoration Fee | $246.25 | If your status expired and you are applying to fix it. |
| Biometrics | $85 | If not already on file. |
180-Day Implied Status: If you apply for an extension before your current permit expires, you now get 180 days of “maintained status” (up from 120) to keep working while waiting for a decision.
Start-Up Visa Work Permits: As of December 19, 2025, IRCC has stopped accepting new applications for the optional open work permit previously available to Start-Up Visa applicants.
Digital Only: All applications must be submitted through the IRCC Secure Portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted except for accessibility reasons.
At HD Immigration Services, we are dedicated to opening doors and paving pathways for individuals and families to fulfill their Canadian dreams.
