Spousal Open Work Permit in Canada 2025: Eligibility and Application Guide

Who Can Get an Open Work Permit as the Spouse of an International Student?

As a licensed Canadian immigration consultant, one of the common questions I receive is: “Can I work in Canada if my spouse is studying here as an international student?” The answer is: yes, in many cases you may qualify for an Open Work Permit (OWP).

What is an Open Work Permit?

An Open Work Permit allows you to work for most employers across Canada without needing a specific job offer. The duration of your permit usually matches the validity of your spouse’s study permit.

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible for an OWP if your spouse or common-law partner is an international student who is:

• Studying full-time in a doctoral program, or

• Enrolled in a master’s program of at least 16 months, or

• Completing certain professional degree programs, such as:

  • Dentistry (DDS, DMD)

  • Law (LLB, JD, BCL)

  • Medicine (MD)

  • Optometry (OD)

  • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)

  • Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

  • Nursing (BScN, BSN, BN, BNSc)

  • Education (BEd)

  • Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)

In addition, you must be admissible to Canada (no medical or criminal issues).

⚠️ Important: Your work permit cannot extend beyond your spouse’s study permit. If your spouse is in the final semester, you will not be able to extend your OWP under this stream.

Marriage or Common-Law Partnership

• A spouse means you are legally married, regardless of where the marriage took place.

• A common-law partner means you have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months.

Other Eligible Programs

Some pilot and bridging programs launched recently also allow spouses to apply for an OWP, including:

• Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (outside Quebec)

• Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (Ontario)

• Nurse Re-Entry (Manitoba)

• Midwifery and Pharmacy bridging programs (British Columbia)
  …and more, depending on the province and field of study.

How to Apply

To apply, you will need to:

1. Create an online account with IRCC.

2. Pay the government fees.

3. Provide proof of your spouse’s enrollment in an eligible program, such as:

   • A valid study permit, and

   • An enrollment letter or transcript from their Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Extending Your OWP

You may be able to extend your OWP if:

• Your spouse has a valid study permit,

• They are in Canada and continue studying full-time,

• Their program is PGWP-eligible, and

• They are not in their final semester.

Source : canada.ca/immigration
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