Canada is famous for being a multicultural nation full of friendly people. The standard of living, excellent healthcare, a safe environment, and good work opportunities are why people want to live, work, and settle in the country.
For individuals already living in Canada on a valid study permit or as international workers (either a closed work permit or post-graduate work permit), their spouses are eligible to apply for Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP). This permit allows them to work in Canada for any employer or occupation without a job offer. It also allows them to live in the country if the work permit is valid, even if they are not actively employed.
The SOWP rules drastically changed in January 2025, making the work permit application more difficult. Let’s examine the updated eligibility criteria and regulations for the SOWP.
What Is a Canada Spouse Open Work Permit?
A Spouse Open Work Permit (SOWP) is a temporary work authorization that allows the spouse of temporary Canadian permit holders to work with any employer anywhere in Canada. The goal is to help families stay together and support their spouses to assist them financially while also supporting the Canadian economy.
Since the permit is open, it is not limited to specific jobs or firms. Employees can change jobs without obtaining a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
Who Can Apply for Spouse Open Work Permit? (Updated)
To be eligible for a Canadian Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), you must meet one of the following criteria:
Spouse of an International Student:
If your spouse is a full-time Master’s or PhD student in Canada and the duration of their program is 16 months or longer, you are eligible for an open work permit. The subjects of the Masters or PhD are not a concern; everyone enrolled in the degree level is eligible.
New rules were implemented after January 21, 2025. Suppose the principal applicant is studying for a master’s degree that is 16 months or longer or a doctoral program of any duration. In that case, their spouses can apply for the SOWP.
International students enrolled in bachelor’s programs are generally not eligible for the SOWP; however, if they participate in an eligible program or study the following professional degree programs at the university, their spouses are also eligible to apply for the SOWP.
List of Eligible Bachelor 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)
Spouse of a Skilled International Worker:
If your spouse is working legally in a skilled occupation (categorized as TEER 0 and 1 in any NOC and some specific NOCs in TEER 2 or 3 under the National Occupational Classification system), then you are eligible for a work permit. Applicants’ minimum work permit length/validity should be a minimum of 16 months after the IRCC receives their spouse or common-law partner’s open work permit application. If the validity period is less than 16 months, IRCC won’t process the application.
The rules have changed. Before January 21, 2025, spouses from any TEER (except 4 and 5) were eligible for SOWP if the principal applicant’s minimum work length was 6 months. IRCC has updated some rules so that spouses of foreign workers will only qualify if their spouse works in a selected field.
Those fields are:
- TEER 0 occupation;
- TEER 1 occupation; or
- Select TEER 2 and 3 occupations.
You might think the rules are simple, but they are not. Let us explain:
Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system organizes jobs under the TEER framework (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities). TEER 0 jobs focus on managerial roles that require leadership, decision-making, and extensive experience. Examples include corporate managers in finance and marketing, hospitality managers overseeing hotels and restaurants, transportation managers, and construction project leaders.
On the other hand, TEER 1 jobs demand a university degree (bachelor’s or higher) and often professional certifications. These include engineers (civil, mechanical, software), healthcare professionals like doctors and nurses, IT specialists such as software developers, educators, and legal experts. Understanding these categories helps job seekers align their qualifications with Canada’s workforce needs.
After studies, most international students do not get jobs that fall under TEER 0 and 1. Instead, they work in a lower-level position, which falls under TEER 2, 3, 4, and 5, etc.
Are these TEER-level international workers entirely restricted? Not really. There might be some good news: Some specific NOC codes of SOWP eligibility exist.
Eligible TEER 2 Occupation:
- 22100 – Chemical technologists and technicians
- 22101 – Geological and mineral technologists and technicians
- 22110 – Biological technologists and technicians
- 22111 – Agricultural and fish products inspectors
- 22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians
- 22113 – Conservation and fishery officers
- 22114 – Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
- 22210 – Architectural technologists and technicians
- 22211 – Industrial designers
- 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
- 22213 – Land survey technologists and technicians
- 22214 – Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
- 22220 – Computer network and web technicians
- 22221 – User support technicians
- 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
- 22230 – Non-destructive testers and inspectors
- 22231 – Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
- 22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists
- 22233 – Construction inspectors
- 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
- 22303 – Construction estimators
- 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
- 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- 22313 – Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians, and inspectors
- 32100 – Opticians
- 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- 32102 – Paramedical occupations
- 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 32110 – Denturists
- 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
- 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
- 32121 – Medical radiation technologists
- 32122 – Medical sonographers
- 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
- 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
- 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 32201 – Massage therapists
- 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
- 42102 – Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
- 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades, and telecommunications occupations
- 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
- 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
- 72022 – Supervisors, printing, and related occupations
- 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
- 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport, and other ground transit operators
- 72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
- 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- 72101 – Tool and die, makers,
- 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- 72103 – Boilermakers
- 72104 – Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
- 72105 – Ironworkers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72202 – Power system electricians
- 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
- 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
- 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters, and sprinkler system installers
- 72302 – Gas fitters
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72311 – Cabinetmakers
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72321 – Insulators
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 – Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
- 72403 – Railway carmen/women
- 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- 72405 – Machine fitters
- 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing, and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
- 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
- 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
- 72422 – Electrical Mechanics
- 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and other related mechanics
- 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
- 72500 – Crane operators
- 72501 – Water well drillers
- 72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors
- 72601 – Air traffic controllers and related occupations
- 72602 – Deck officers, water transport
- 72603 – Engineer officers, water transport
- 72604 – Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
- 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
- 82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry
- 82020 – Supervisors, mining, and quarrying
- 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
- 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and horticulture services
Eligible TEER 3 occupation:
- 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 43204 – Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 53200 – Athletes
- 53201 – Coaches
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 73101 – Tilesetters
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers, finishers and lathers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73111 – Glaziers
- 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 73113 – Floor covering installers
- 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
- 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
- 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
- 73300 – Transport truck drivers
- 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators, and other transit operators
- 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
- 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
- 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- 73401 – Printing press operators
- 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying, and construction
- 83100 – Underground production and development miners
- 83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers, and related workers
- 83110 – Logging machinery operators
- 83120 – Fishing masters and officers
- 83121 – Fishermen/women
If your spouse doesn’t work in these selected fields, you are unfortunately not eligible for SOWP.
Teer 4 or 5 Occupation:
Their spouses are not eligible to apply for an open work permit. The only way to be eligible is to change the spouse’s job to one of the eligible NOCs and then apply.
Spouse of a Permanent Resident Applicant:
If your spouse has submitted an application for permanent residency through specific immigration programs, such as the Express Entry system or provincial nominee programs (PNPs), and is currently in Canada, you might qualify for a work permit.
Spouses of AIP Work Permit Holders:
Spouses of Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) work permit holders can apply for the open work permit if the principal applicant’s work duration is at least 6 months.
Spouses of BOWP Holders:
Spouses of Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Holders are eligible if the spouse has applied for PR and is currently being processed, you can use it for SOWP. This temporary work permit is known as Bridge Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Additional Eligibility for a SOWP
To apply for a SOWP, you need to meet specific requirements as mentioned above, along with:
Valid Relationship Status:
To get a Canada open work permit for your spouse, one of the main requirements is that you need to be the husband or wife, or a common-law partner, of someone who is either a foreign worker or an international student in Canada. This means you should be legally married or have been living together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least a year. (e.g., shared lease agreements, utility bills, or affidavits).
Valid Legal Status of Spouse in Canada and Compliance:
Your partner needs to have a proper visa to be in Canada. This could be a Study Permit or a Work Permit, or they should apply to become a permanent resident in Canada. If your spouse is non-compliant with the visa terms of their own, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply for the work permit.
No Criminal Record:
Your spouse and you must have a spotless criminal record and no record of immigration rule violations.
Supporting Documents For SOWP Application
These include passports, photographs, proof of funds (if applicable), and any additional documents requested by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Apply from Canada: You must live in Canada legally and be physically present there.
- Medical Test: You must be tested medically to ensure you have no health issues, and is not inadmissible in Canada under medical grounds.
How to Apply for a Spouse Open Work Permit:
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Online Application
You have to apply online through the IRCC portal. It will allow you to track your application quickly. The SOWP application can also be done from the old GCKey portal as well.
2. Gather Required Documents
Prepare the following documents:
- A completed application form.
- Copy of your passport (all pages).
- Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate).
- Proof of your spouse’s status in Canada (e.g., Study Permit, Work Permit, or Acknowledgment of Receipt for permanent residence application).
- Photograph.
3. Pay the Fees
The application fee for a Spouse Open Work Permit is typically CAD 340. This includes the processing fee and the open work permit holder fee. You can pay online with your debit/credit card.
4. Submit Biometrics
You might have to submit biometrics, including your fingerprints and a photo, during the application process. The IRCC will inform you if this step is required. If you have previously provided biometrics for any Canadian visa applications, the biometrics are valid for 10 years, and you might not need to provide them again.
You can check the validity of your biometrics on this page. Please ensure the biometric is valid for your proposed stay in Canada, as the IRCC doesn’t issue any permit beyond the validity of your biometrics or passport.
Processing Time for a Spouse Open Work Permit
The processing time for a SOWP can vary depending on your country of application and whether the application was submitted online or on paper. You can check the dedicated website for the processing time. The IRCC processes these permits in 1 to 3 months.
Once you get the work permit, it’s valid till your spouse’s visa or permit. If your partner’s status is extended, you can also extend it.
Benefits of the Spouse Open Work Permit:
There are tons of benefits to obtaining the SOWP.
- Financial Freedom: you can earn and support your spouse while living in Canada. You don’t have to depend on the principal applicant.
- No Job Offer Required: You can seek employment in different fields without securing a job offer beforehand. You can work anywhere in Canada in any kind of field.
- Ease of Application: The process is straightforward and family-focused. There are no complex steps.
- Better career opportunities: You can gain work experience in Canada, which will boost your career in the future. Eventually, it can improve your chances of permanent residency.
Conclusion
The Canadian Spousal Open Work Permit offers an excellent chance for the partners of international students, skilled workers, and those applying for permanent residency to work and live in Canada. If you are eligible and would like to apply, I hope this guide will help. If you need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us, and we would be happy to further help you.