Who Can Get an Open Work Permit as the Spouse of an International Student in Canada?
If you are the spouse or common-law partner of an international student in Canada, you may be eligible for an Open Work Permit (OWP). This type of work permit allows you to work for almost any employer in most industries across Canada, and it can be issued for the same length of time as your partner’s study permit.
Eligibility for Spousal Open Work Permit
You may qualify for an OWP if your spouse or common-law partner is an international student enrolled in one of the following:
1. Graduate and Postgraduate Programs
Doctoral program (PhD)
Master’s program (16 months or longer)
2. Eligible Professional Programs
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)
📌 Important: The spouse must also be medically and criminally admissible to Canada.
Duration of the Work Permit
A spousal OWP is always issued up to the same expiry date as the student’s study permit.
Work permits cannot be extended if the student is in their last semester of study.
Definition of Spouse and Common-Law Partner
Spouse: You qualify as soon as you are legally married, regardless of the country where the marriage took place.
Common-law partner: You must have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months, with only minimal and temporary separations.
Additional Eligible Programs
Spouses and partners of certain international students may also qualify for an OWP if the student is enrolled in one of the following programs and the spouse applies after the eligibility start date:
| Program Name | Province/Territory | Eligibility Period |
|---|---|---|
| Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) | Outside Quebec | From August 26, 2024 |
| Le projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’infirmières et d’infirmiers recrutés à l’international | Quebec | From April 30, 2024 |
| Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’inhalothérapeutes formés à l’étranger | Quebec | From January 21, 2025 |
| Projet de recrutement et reconnaissance des compétences de technologistes médicaux formés à l’étranger | Quebec | From January 21, 2025 |
| Supervised Practice Experience Partnership | Ontario | From January 21, 2025 |
| Nurse Re-Entry (Red River College Polytechnic) | Manitoba | From January 21, 2025 |
| Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program (UBC) | British Columbia | From January 21, 2025 |
| Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3) (UBC) | British Columbia | From January 21, 2025 |
| Post-Degree Diploma: Nursing Practice in Canada (Langara College) | British Columbia | From January 21, 2025 |
How to Apply
To apply for a spousal open work permit, you need to:
Read IRCC’s instruction guide to understand how to complete the forms.
Use IRCC’s online tool to create a personalized document checklist.
Create or log in to your account on the IRCC portal.
Upload required documents, pay the fees, and apply online.
Required Documents Include:
Proof of full-time enrollment at an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI):
Enrollment letter, or
Transcripts from the current study program
A valid copy of the student’s study permit
Extending a Spousal Work Permit
You may be eligible to extend your OWP if:
The student holds a valid study permit.
The student is physically present in Canada while studying.
The student is enrolled full-time in a PGWP-eligible program at a DLI.
The student is not in the final term of their program.