A spousal open work permit (SOWP) lets your spouse or common-law partner work for almost. any employer in Canada while you study, work, or wait for family sponsorship to be processed.

This 2025 guide explains who qualifies, how recent rule changes affect eligibility, and the practical steps to apply and avoid common refusals.

• Spousal work permits are now more restricted, especially for spouses of international students. and some workers, so you must confirm the exact category and updated rules before applying.
• In most cases your spouse applies online, proves your relationship and your status in. Canada, and receives a work permit valid up to the end date of your permit.
• Strong relationship evidence, correct program or job type, and clear ties and funds are critical to reduce the risk of refusal or processing delays.

Spousal open work permit Canada: who this guide is for

This guide is for couples where one partner is in, or coming to, Canada as an. international student, temporary foreign worker, or sponsored spouse, and the other partner wants authorization to work.

It focuses on open work permits issued because of your spousal relationship, not employer-specific work permits.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Rules for spousal open work permits changed significantly on January 21, 2025, especially for. spouses of international students and foreign workers, so older online information is often outdated.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

spousal open permit - study permit - What is a spousal open work permit in Canada?

A spousal open work permit (often called “SOWP”) is a type of open work permit issued because of your relationship to a qualifying principal applicant.

Key features:

• It is open: no specific employer listed, and you can usually work for most employers in most occupations.
• It is tied to your spouse’s status: validity normally matches, or cannot exceed, your spouse’s study or work permit or temporary status.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• It is often used so couples can stay together and support. themselves financially while planning long-term immigration (for example, future Express Entry permanent residence).

Who can get a spousal open work permit in 2025?

There are three main situations where spousal open work permits are common:

1. Your spouse is an international student.
2. Your spouse is a temporary foreign worker.
3. You are being sponsored for permanent residence inside Canada (inland spousal sponsorship).

Each situation has different rules and, since 2025, some categories are much more restricted than before.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

1. Spouse of an international student

As of January 21, 2025, only spouses and common-law partners of certain international students are eligible for a spousal open work permit.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Your spouse may qualify if you:

• Hold a valid study permit, and
• Are studying in one of the following:

  • A master’s degree program of 16 months or longer.
  • A doctoral (PhD) program.
  • Certain professional degree programs (for example, medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nursing, education, engineering).:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
  • Specific provincial or pilot programs listed by IRCC (including some health-care bridging and Francophone pilot programs).:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

If your program is below this level (for example, many college diplomas or short certificates), your. spouse is generally not eligible for a spousal open work permit under the international student category. They might instead look at another type of work permit or a visitor or study pathway.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

2. Spouse of a temporary foreign worker

Spousal work permits for family members of foreign workers now depend heavily on. the worker’s job type and whether they are on a pathway to permanent residence.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

In broad terms, your spouse may be eligible if:

• You hold or are approved for a valid work permit that. will be valid for at least 6 more months when your spouse applies; and
• You are working in either:

  • A high-skilled occupation in TEER 0 or 1, or certain listed TEER 2–3 occupations; or
  • A low-skilled occupation (TEER 4 or 5) but you are on, or have applied. through, an eligible economic class or PR pathway (for example, PNP, CEC, AIP, Agri-Food Pilot).

IRCC now provides detailed NOC and program lists that must be checked carefully to confirm eligibility.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

If you are a worker who does not meet those criteria (for example, certain temporary workers not on a PR pathway), your spouse may. not be eligible for a spousal open work permit under this measure, though they might still qualify under some free trade agreements or other programs.:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

3. Sponsored spouse or partner in Canada (inland sponsorship)

If you are being sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident under the spouse or common-law partner. in Canada class, you may be able to get an open work permit while your permanent residence is processing.:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Basic requirements include:

• You are living in Canada with your sponsor.
• You have submitted a complete permanent residence application and received (or, in limited cases, are about to receive) an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).
• You have or can maintain valid temporary status (visitor, worker, student) or are eligible for restoration.

Under this public policy, you apply online for an open work permit linked to. your sponsorship file; you cannot apply for this specific permit at a port of entry.:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Key eligibility comparison for spousal work permits

Route	Principal applicant must be	Spouse/partner must be	Where they apply from	Typical validity
Spouse of international student	Holder of valid study permit in eligible master’s, PhD, professional or listed pilot program	Spouse/common-law partner with proof of relationship and intent to accompany	Inside or outside Canada	Usually until end of study permit
Spouse of foreign worker	Worker in eligible NOC and/or on an eligible PR pathway, with at least 6–16 months of work authorization remaining	Spouse/partner meeting general work permit requirements and status rules	Inside or outside Canada	Up to principal’s work permit expiry
Inland sponsored spouse	Canadian PR/citizen sponsor residing in Canada, submitted sponsorship application	Spouse/partner in Canada, included in PR application with AOR (or very near AOR in limited cases)	Inside Canada only	Usually 1–2 years, often extended if PR still in process

How to apply for a spousal open work permit step by step

Almost all applicants follow an online process through an IRCC account. The exact questions and document list depend on your category and whether you are inside or outside Canada.:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Step 1 – Confirm your exact category

Before touching the forms, decide which category you are using:

• Spouse of student – check that the student’s program is one of the eligible types (master’s, PhD, professional degree, or specific pilot program).
• Spouse of worker – confirm the worker’s NOC TEER level and. whether they are on or have applied through an eligible PR program or pathway.
• Inland sponsored spouse – confirm you are living in Canada with. your sponsor and that a complete sponsorship application has been submitted (ideally with AOR).

Step 2 – Gather key documents

Document lists vary, but most spousal open work permit applications include:

• Valid passports for you (the applicant) and your spouse.
• Proof of your relationship:

  • Marriage certificate for married couples.
  • Evidence of cohabitation and shared life for common-law partners (leases, bills, joint accounts, photos, etc.).

• Proof of your spouse’s status and eligibility:

  • Copy of their study or work permit, or proof of visitor status.
  • For students: proof of enrolment and, if required, documentation showing the program is eligible (for example letters from the school or province).:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
  • For workers: job offer, employment letter, pay stubs, and information on the NOC and any PR program they have applied to.:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
  • For sponsored spouses: AOR letter for the PR application and proof you live with your sponsor.:contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

• Digital photos meeting IRCC specifications.
• Completed work permit forms and, where required, family information and statutory forms.

Step 3 – Complete the online questionnaire and upload documents

In your IRCC account you will answer questions that generate a personalized document checklist. For spousal open work permits, IRCC sometimes publishes specific “how to answer” instructions for the online tool, especially for spouses of students and sponsored spouses.:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

Answer these questions carefully so the system correctly recognizes your category. Incorrect answers can lead to the wrong document checklist and requests for more information later.

Step 4 – Pay fees and provide biometrics

Most applicants must pay:

• Work permit processing fee, and
• Open work permit holder fee.:contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

You may also need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and possibly a medical exam,. depending on your country of residence and the type of work you might do in Canada.

Step 5 – After you submit: status and travel

• If you apply from inside Canada before your current status expires, you may benefit from maintained status and be allowed. to stay in Canada while IRCC processes your application (but you must follow the exact work/visit rules that apply to you).:contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
• If you apply from outside Canada, you usually need a temporary resident. visa (TRV) or eTA separately to enter Canada once the work permit is approved.
• Processing times vary by category and country and can change frequently; always check the current posted times on IRCC’s website.

How long is a spousal open work permit valid?

In most cases, a spousal open work permit is issued up to the end. date of the principal applicant’s permit (study or work permit) and cannot go beyond it.:contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

Typical patterns:

• Spouse of student – valid to the end of the study permit, but not longer than the program or passport expiry.
• Spouse of worker – valid to the end of the work permit or authorized work period.
• Sponsored spouse – often issued for 1–2 years and can be extended if PR is still processing and you maintain temporary status.:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}

When your spouse extends their study or work permit, you usually need to extend the spousal open work permit as well to keep working legally.

Common reasons spousal work permits are refused

Even if you appear eligible on paper, IRCC can still refuse a spousal open work permit. Frequent reasons include:

• Weak proof of relationship – limited or inconsistent evidence of marriage or common-law partnership.
• Principal not meeting the category rules – for example, the student is in. a non-eligible program, or the worker’s job/PR pathway does not match the new criteria.
• Concerns about temporary intent – especially when applying from outside Canada, officers may doubt that you will leave if required.
• Insufficient funds or unclear financial situation – particularly where the couple’s living expenses are not realistically covered.
• Incomplete or inconsistent forms – missing answers, gaps in history, or contradictions with previous applications.

If you have a previous refusal, it is important to address the officer’s concerns directly and consider a professional case review before re-applying.

Strategy tips: keeping both partners in status

Because your work permit is linked to your spouse’s status, strategy matters:

• If you are inside Canada and your status will expire soon, explore extending your own study or. work permit in time so that your spouse can also extend or apply for their open work permit.
• If you are outside Canada, consider whether to apply together, or for one partner first (for. example, the student or worker) and the spouse’s work permit later, depending on processing times and risk tolerance.
• If you’re applying for inland sponsorship, try to keep valid temporary status until you receive. the PR AOR and can apply for the spousal open work permit under the public policy.:contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
• If status has already expired, look at restoration options quickly; waiting too long can limit your options substantially.

Because every couple’s risk profile and timeline is different, a tailored strategy can make the difference between a smooth process and multiple refusals.

When to get professional help

Consider consulting a regulated Canadian immigration professional if:

• Your spouse’s program or job is close to the eligibility line and you are unsure how officers may interpret it.
• You have previous refusals, misrepresentation concerns, or gaps in status.
• You are combining a spousal open work permit with more complex plans, like status restoration or an Express Entry application.

A detailed review can help you choose the correct category, document your relationship and plans clearly, and reduce avoidable risks in a high-stakes application.

If you would like tailored advice on your situation, you can Book a consultation for a full strategy and document review.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse work in Canada while I study as an international student?

Possibly. As of January 21, 2025, your spouse or common-law partner can usually only get a spousal open work permit if. you are in a qualifying master’s, doctoral, professional degree, or listed pilot program, and you hold a valid study permit.

If you are in a non-eligible program, they may need another type of permit or status.:contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}

Can my spouse apply for a spousal work permit at the airport or land border?

Many spousal work permit categories must be applied for online. Sponsored spouses using the inland open work permit public policy cannot apply at a port of entry. Some spouses of workers or students from visa-exempt countries may be able to apply at a port. of entry, but this depends on eligibility and risk; always confirm current IRCC rules before trying this approach.:contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}

Does my spouse need a visitor visa as well as a spousal open work permit?

The work permit authorizes work, but a separate visa or eTA usually controls entry to Canada. If your spouse is from a visa-required country, they typically receive a TRV along.

with an approved work permit or must apply separately, depending on the process in place. Visa-exempt spouses often need an eTA to board a flight.

Can my spouse study in Canada while on a spousal open work permit?

In many cases, yes. Short-term courses may be allowed without a separate study permit, but longer programs usually require your. spouse to apply for their own study permit even if they already hold an open work permit.

Studying full-time without proper authorization can create compliance issues, so check the rules before enrolling.:contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}

Will a spousal open work permit guarantee permanent residence later?

No. A spousal open work permit only authorizes work; it does not, by itself, lead to permanent residence. However, it can help couples stay together in Canada and may allow the spouse to gain.

Canadian work experience, which can strengthen future immigration options such as Express Entry, provincial nomination, or sponsorship.

Where can I find official instructions?

IRCC maintains detailed pages for spouses of students, spouses of workers, and inland sponsored spouses. Always cross-check this guide with the latest IRCC instructions before applying: see the. relevant official source links on IRCC’s website for current forms and policies.

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