OpenIMP
International Mobility Program
Every work permit that needs no LMIA: PGWPs, family open work permits, IEC, intra-company transfers and more. In 2025 it covered about 78% of work permits.
Open. Each category has its own rules.
Working in Canada
Work permits, explained
How work permits work: open or tied to one employer, and with or without an LMIA.
OpenStatus checked Nov 7, 2026
Open. Which permit you can get depends on your situation.
TFWPIMP
Key requirements
- An open permit lets you work for almost any employer; an employer-specific permit ties you to one job.
- Most employer-specific permits need an LMIA, unless the job is exempt under the International Mobility Program.
- You pay a $155 processing fee, plus $100 for an open permit.
Related pathways
Open with limitsTFWP
LMIA work permits (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)
Employer-specific permits where the employer first shows, through an LMIA from ESDC, that no Canadian was available.
Open with limits: ESDC will not process low-wage LMIAs in metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or more (a list it updates every quarter), and low-wage hires are capped at 10% of a workplace.
OpenIMP
Post-Graduation Work Permit
An open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian programs, often the step to Canadian experience and permanent residence.
Open. You need CLB 7 (university) or CLB 5 (college), an eligible field of study for many non-degree programs, and to apply within 180 days of finishing.
All pathways
Statuses change, sometimes with little notice. Always confirm on the official page before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.