Effective January 21, 2025, there has been a substantial amendment to which spouses or common-law partners of international students are eligible to apply for an open work permit to work in Canada.
Spouses and common-law partners of international students who hold open work permits as of January 21, 2025, can continue to work in Canada based on their existing open work permits. However, they can only apply to extend their existing open work permits if they either qualify under the new rules OR they are only applying to extend their work permit because it was initially issued for a shorter period that that of their international student spouse or common-law partner (for example because of passport expiry).
Spouses and common-law partners of international students who are eligible can continue to apply for their work permits at the same time as their international student spouse.
In order for the spouse or common-law partner of international students to be eligible for an open work permit, the international student spouse or common-law partner must:
have a valid study permit and
be studying in a master’s degree program of 16 months or longer; OR
be studying in a doctoral degree program; OR
be studying in one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
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); OR
be participating in an eligible program (listed below)
Eligible Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
Province or territory | Program name | Eligibility period |
Outside of Quebec | Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) | From August 26, 2024 |
Quebec | Le projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’infirmières et d’infirmiers recrutés à l’international | From April 30, 2024 |
Quebec |
| From January 21, 2025 |
Ontario | Supervised Practice Experience Partnership | From January 21, 2025 |
Manitoba | Nurse Re-Entry (Red River College Polytechnic) | From January 21, 2025 |
British Columbia |
| From January 21, 2025 |
When applying for an open work permit, spouses or common-law partners must include
proof of ongoing enrolment
valid letter of acceptance from the designated learning institute (DLI)
proof of enrolment letter
transcript from current program
proof of enrolment in an eligible program of study
letter from the province or territory
letter from a participating designated learning institute confirming admission to the eligible program
Spouses and common-law partners must prove that they are in a genuine relationship at the time of application.
Work permits cannot be issued beyond passport or biometric validity. Check the validity of both before applying and ensure you pay the biometric fees if your biometrics are expiring sooner than the work permit duration being requested.
IRCC Instructions: Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada
IRCC Notice: Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residentshttps://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/changes-open-work-permits-family-members-temporary-residents.html - January 14, 2025
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