What is the difference between an open work permit and a closed work permit?

An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada — examples include the PGWP, spousal open work permits, and bridging open work permits. A closed (employer-specific) permit ties you to one named employer, and often one location and job; changing jobs means applying for a new permit, usually with an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer. Open permits give flexibility, while closed permits depend on the employer's paperwork — which they must pay for, never you.