Spousal Open Work Permit in 2026: Which Courses and Jobs Still Let Your Spouse Work in Canada

Your spouse can still get a Canadian open work permit in two situations: you study in a master's programme of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme or a listed professional degree, or you hold a work permit in a TEER 0 or 1 job, or a listed TEER 2 or 3 job, with at least 16 months of validity left when your spouse applies. Spouses of students in other bachelor's programmes, college diplomas and certificates no longer qualify under this stream, and dependent children of workers no longer qualify for an open work permit. The government fee is CAD 255 per spouse for the permit, plus CAD 85 for biometrics where required. These are the rules IRCC has applied since 21 January 2025, as shown on its pages when I opened them on 6 November 2026.

Who Qualifies at a Glance

If You Are a Student: Which Courses Count

You must hold a valid study permit and be in one of these categories:

• A master's degree of 16 months or longer.
• A doctoral degree.
• One of these professional degrees at a university: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD); Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL); Doctor of Medicine (MD); Doctor of Optometry (OD); Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm); Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN); Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc); Bachelor of Nursing (BN); Bachelor of Education (BEd); Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc).
• A short list of pilot and provincial programmes, including the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot and some nursing, pharmacy, midwifery and health technology programmes in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. Check IRCC's page for the exact list.

Length matters for a master's. A one-year master's does not qualify, even though a master's of at least eight months can still earn a three-year PGWP (see our PGWP and co-op guide). The spouse's permit is usually valid for the same period as your study permit, and an extension cannot run past your study permit's expiry. For an extension, IRCC asks that you are a full-time student in a PGWP-eligible programme and not in the last term of your programme.

If You Are a Worker: Which Jobs Count

When your spouse applies, both of the following must be true:

• You work in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or in a select TEER 2 or 3 occupation.
• Your work permit or work authorisation is valid for at least 16 months after IRCC receives your spouse's application.

Any TEER 0 or 1 job qualifies. For TEER 2 and 3, IRCC's page lists 105 TEER 2 and 32 TEER 3 NOC codes, which it described at launch as occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities, such as natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, education, sports and military. TEER 4 and 5 occupations do not qualify. Check your exact five-digit NOC code against IRCC's list rather than relying on a job title.

IRCC lists these principals as ineligible under the worker stream: an international student holding a study permit, someone applying for a PGWP who has no decision yet, someone who holds a spousal open work permit, a refugee claimant whose claim has been referred to the IRB, and a person under an unenforceable removal order. The January 2025 notice says spouses of workers covered by free trade agreements, and of people transitioning to permanent residence, were not affected. IRCC's eligibility page also lists narrow 2026 routes for the BC Special Investment Project (23 March 2026), Quebec-recruited health professionals (25 May 2026) and the Quebec PSTQ (5 June 2026).

What About PGWP Holders?

A PGWP holder can be the principal if the worker tests are met: a job in TEER 0 or 1 or a listed TEER 2 or 3 code, and at least 16 months of permit left when IRCC receives the spouse's application. IRCC's ineligible list names only PGWP applicants who have no positive decision yet. Two practical points follow, and both are our arithmetic rather than IRCC statements.

• A PGWP issued for less than 16 months can never pass the test.
• With a full three-year PGWP, the spouse generally has to apply in roughly the first 20 months, because 36 months minus the 16 required leaves about 20. Allow time for the application to reach IRCC.

Fees and How To Apply

IRCC's fee list was last modified on 21 September 2026. Applications are usually made online. From outside Canada, the spouse chooses "A work permit for a spouse of an international student, or for a family member of a worker" as the permit type and answers No to the public policy question. IRCC's application page names form IMM 1295 for applications from outside Canada, one photo, and proof of relationship such as a marriage certificate or, for common-law partners, the statutory declaration IMM 5409. For a worker, add proof that you can work for at least 16 months and proof of your occupation, usually an employer letter showing the TEER or NOC. For a student, IRCC asks for a valid letter of acceptance, a proof of enrolment letter or transcripts. I did not verify a current processing time, so check IRCC's processing times page before you plan around a date.

An open permit lets your spouse work for any employer in Canada, except an employer on IRCC's non-compliant list or one offering striptease, erotic dance, escort or erotic massage services.

Planning If You Are Choosing a Course for 2027

• Pick the programme with the spouse in mind. A master's of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme or a listed professional degree keeps the option open. A shorter master's does not.
• Count your spouse in your funds. The study permit living-cost figure for two people is CAD 29,192 for applications from 1 September 2026. See our study permit funds guide.
• Check the 16-month test before changing jobs. A new permit with a short validity can block a spouse application.
• Do not assume the permit carries over. A student-linked permit matches your study permit, so plan a fresh application under the worker rules if you move to a PGWP.

For the older, general explanation of the permit, see our spousal open work permit page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse work if I do a one-year master's?

Not under this stream. The master's must be 16 months or longer. Doctoral programmes and the listed professional degrees qualify regardless of that test.

Does my spouse need a job offer?

IRCC's student page does not mention a job offer. It describes an open permit that lets your spouse work for any employer in Canada, except those on IRCC's non-compliant list or offering striptease, erotic dance, escort or erotic massage services.

Can my spouse apply from India?

Yes. IRCC's application pages include steps for applicants outside Canada, using form IMM 1295 and the permit type for a spouse of an international student or a family member of a worker.

What are the total government fees?

IRCC lists a CAD 155 work permit fee and a CAD 100 open work permit holder fee, which together are CAD 255, plus CAD 85 for biometrics per person where biometrics are required, with a CAD 170 maximum for a family of two or more.

Are my children eligible for an open work permit?

Dependent children of workers are no longer eligible under the worker stream. The student page I opened does not address children of students, so check the current page before you rely on it.

How do I know if my TEER 2 or 3 job is on the list?

Match your five-digit NOC code against IRCC's list of eligible TEER 2 and 3 codes. The page I opened was last modified on 12 June 2026, and IRCC can update the list.

What if my permit has less than 16 months left?

Then you are not an eligible principal under this stream. Extend your own permit first and apply once the validity is long enough, unless one of the narrow exceptions applies.