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Migration Overseas
Work Permit Guide
A spouse or common-law partner who qualifies can work for any employer in Canada on an open work permit. Since 21 January 2025, eligibility depends on the student's programme or the worker's occupation and remaining permit validity.
Understand who qualifies for a spousal open work permit
If your spouse or common-law partner qualifies, they can work for any employer without needing a job offer. Qualification depends on your programme or occupation, as set out below.
Your spouse can get an open work permit only in these cases (rules in force since 21 January 2025)
You are an International Student: Your spouse or common-law partner can apply only if you hold a valid study permit and are in a master's programme of 16 months or more, a doctoral programme, or a select professional programme. IRCC's named professional degrees at a university are MD, JD/LLB/BCL, DDS/DMD, OD, PharmD, DVM, BScN/BSN, BEd and BEng/BASc. Spouses of students in other programmes are not eligible.
You have a Skilled Work Permit: Your spouse can apply only if your work permit is in a TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupation, or in a select TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupation on IRCC's list, and your permit has at least 16 months of validity remaining when your spouse applies. Spouses of workers in other occupations are not eligible under this measure, and dependent children of workers can no longer get an open work permit.
You are an Entrepreneur or Business Owner: IRCC states that the Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs are closed to new applicants, so this page does not treat them as a current route to a spousal open work permit.
You have an Intra-Company Transfer: The ICT category does not qualify your spouse by itself. Your spouse can apply if your occupation is in TEER 0 or 1 or on IRCC's TEER 2 and 3 list and your permit has at least 16 months remaining.
You Are Applying for Economic Class PR: An Invitation to Apply alone does not give your spouse an open work permit. A spouse may be eligible when you hold a work permit (employer-specific, or open under a non-family category) that was issued or approved because you applied for economic class PR, for example under the Canadian Experience Class, a federal skilled class or a Provincial Nominee Program, and it has at least 6 months of validity remaining when IRCC receives your spouse's application.
Not affected: Spouses of workers covered by free-trade agreements and family members transitioning to permanent residence are outside the January 2025 change. Permits approved earlier stay valid until they expire. Source: IRCC notice on open work permits for family members.
Complete guide to applying for a spousal open work permit
Collect passport, marriage certificate, principal applicant's work/study permit, proof of relationship, and police clearance.
Log into your IRCC account and start a new application for spousal open work permit.
Complete all forms, including personal information, relationship proof, and connection to principal applicant.
Get biometrics done and medical exam completed as per IRCC instructions (if required).
Pay the CAD 155 work permit fee and the CAD 100 open work permit holder fee (CAD 255 in total) and submit the complete application through the IRCC online portal.
Monitor your account for updates. Processing times vary by country, so check IRCC's processing-times tool for the current estimate.
Make sure you have everything before applying
What an open work permit allows for a family that qualifies
Government fees: CAD 340 per applicant (CAD 255 permit fees plus CAD 85 biometrics), before medical exam, police certificate and other costs
Total Timeline: Varies with IRCC processing times
Yes. Once your spouse's open work permit is approved and issued, they can work under its conditions. Work before that point is not authorized unless your spouse holds another valid work authorization.
Your spouse's permit cannot be valid beyond your own work or study permit. If your permit expires, your spouse's permit expires with it. If you extend your permit, your spouse can apply to extend under the rules in force at that time. Permits approved before 21 January 2025 stay valid until they expire, and in-Canada renewals are available where the criteria match and the requested duration equals your permit's validity.
Not in general. An open work permit is not tied to one employer, so your spouse can change employers without applying for a new permit, subject to any conditions printed on the permit.
The permit is for a spouse or common-law partner, so a couple must already be married or in a common-law relationship when the application is made. Common-law partners generally need to have lived together for at least 1 year, and the application needs proof of the relationship, such as the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409). A spouse can apply from outside Canada, or from inside Canada by selecting their current status in the application.
Your spouse's earnings do not count against your PR application. Whether proof of funds is needed, and what counts toward it, depends on the PR programme, so check IRCC's requirements for your programme.
Your spouse's permit is normally issued for the same period as your study or work permit. It cannot extend beyond your permit's expiry or beyond the validity of your spouse's passport or biometrics. When your permit is extended, your spouse can apply to extend theirs if they still qualify.
A criminal record may result in inadmissibility to Canada. Each case is different - some minor offenses may be pardoned or forgiven. Consult with an immigration lawyer to assess your specific situation.
Yes. Reasons for refusal include not meeting the eligibility criteria above, incomplete documentation, criminal history, security concerns, or health issues.
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