A work permit that is open is one that is not position-specific. You won’t require the following when you apply for your work visa because it is not job-specific:

• an Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or
• evidence that an employer has used the Employer Portal to make an offer of employment and paid the employer compliance fee

The open work permit holder charge must typically be paid at the same time as the work permit fee. To find out the most recent application fees, consult the fee list.

For information on how certain steps in the application process may be impacted, see also the COVID-19 travel limits and exemptions for foreign workers.