Spouse Open Work Permit

It is a work permit that is not job-specific, and because of that, you will not need the following when you apply for your work permit: a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada, or proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

Overview

In most cases, you will have to pay the open work permit fee. Contact us for the most up-to-date application fee information.

You're a spouse or family member of someone working or studying temporarily in Canada

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you're:

a spouse of a skilled worker in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A or B approved to work in Canada for six months or longer
a spouse of someone applying for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program in a job under NOC 0, A, B or C
a spouse of a foreign student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university or collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
a family member of a foreign representative, or
a family member of a foreign military member who is working in Canada

If your spouse has an open work permit

If your spouse has an open work permit (e.g. post-graduation work permit), you must attach a copy of your spouse's work permit to your application for an open work permit, along with:

a letter from your spouse's current employer that confirms they work there in a NOC 0, A or B occupation, or a copy of your spouse's employment offer or contract, and
a copy of your spouse's recent pay slips

Permit validity

Your permit will not be valid longer than your spouse's work permit. You also need to meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.

Who is eligible

a spouse of a skilled worker in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A or B approved to work in Canada for six months or longer

a spouse of someone applying for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program in a job under NOC 0, A, B or C

a spouse of a foreign student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university or collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec

a family member of a foreign representative

a family member of a foreign military member who is working in Canada

Documents you will need

Passport

Valid Study Permit – belonging to the full-time McGill student

Immigration Canada application fee: $155 + new $100 fee (as of Feb. 21, 2015) = $255

All of your supporting documents: proof of medical exam (if applicable), Marriage License/Certificate (translated into either English or French), or proof of common-law partnership