An Open Work Permit is not tied to any specific employer or job, meaning you can work for almost any employer in Canada. It does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). In contrast, an employer-specific (closed) work permit is issued for a particular employer, job role, and location, and usually requires a positive LMIA. If you want to change jobs or employers under a closed permit, you must apply for a new permit. Open permits offer more flexibility and are typically available to spouses, graduates, or PR applicants in bridging situations.