All About Open Work Permit for Your Spouse in Canada

If you own a legal Study Permit and are pursuing a full-time study, your common-law partner/spouse can apply for their Work Permit easily. They will not need any kind of job offer to apply for the permit, and the validity of the license will be for the same duration as the study permit granted to you.

Instructions on Where and How One must Apply for the Work Permit

I) Application submitted Outside Canada

The application for a work permit in such a case can be submitted either along with the Study Permit Application or separately.

Apply Online

1. You can visit the Immigration Canada website and fill the questionnaire to check if you are eligible.  
2. Note the reference code provided to you post the completion of your questionnaire.
3. You have to register or login to the MyCIC account. Ensure your UCI ID is included (This is the Universal Client ID that is provided on the Study Permit)
4. The Application Form, which is contained in PDF must be completed, saved and uploaded to the application. Note that no electronic signature is required. Also, you do not need a job offer when you apply for the work permit for your spouse.  Wherever there are fields asking for similar information, you could mention “not applicable”. LMIA is not required as well for the work permits.
5. The required documents have to be uploaded. Make sure that when uploading the passport, every stamped and marked page has been uploaded. The same has to be a single document. In case a medical exam was required for the work permit application, you must upload proof of the medical examination, for instance, a receipt. Note that there is a possibility of expansion of the biometrics program, wherein your spouse might have to give their biometrics when they apply for the open work permit.
6. The fees have to be paid.
7. Post these steps; you must wait to get the Letter of Introduction. The processing time could vary based on the volume as well as time of that year.

II) Apply for Work permit for Spouse within Canada

When your spouse, as a visitor, has already entered Canada, intends to apply for the Open Work Permit

Apply Online

1. You can visit the Immigration Canada website online and fill up the questionnaire to check on your eligibility.
2. Make a note of the reference code provided after the questionnaire ends.
3. Either register or login to the MyCIC account. Enter the Universal Client ID that is found on the Study Permit)
4. Complete the Application Form that is provided in PDF format. Save the application and get it uploaded to the application. You do not have to provide an electronic signature.  Also, when you apply for the work permit for your spouse, you do not require a job offer. “Not applicable” can be mentioned in fields that ask for this information. Any section on LMIA can be left blank.
5. The documents required must be uploaded. Ensure that you upload all the stamped and marked pages of the passport where required. Even the proof of medical examination must be uploaded in the section of additional documents, in case you had to undergo a medical exam for the application of work permit.
6. Make the payment of the fees
7. You have to wait to get the notice of work permit approval or the Letter of Introduction.

III) Apply Work Permit for Canada at Border or the Port of Entry

You also can apply for the work permit of your spouse at the port of entry/border, and you can get it on the very same day, in the case fall under the TRV-exempt category. TRV-exempt individual means either:

–  The person is a citizen of the country which is TRV-exempt, OR

– The person is a citizen of the country which is TRV-required and is re-entering Canada only from the United States

The land borders, which are the closes and process the work permits are:

• Lacolle/Champlain
• Stanstead
• St. Armand/Phillipsburg

Trudeau Airport, Montreal – However, this is if the person is flying from an international location into Montreal.

In case a person doesn’t have a car, they can travel by bus to the border of the US.

Make sure you have your passport, a valid study permit, and the application fee for immigration. Also, keep your supporting documents like the medical exam proof (if applicable), the Marriage Certificate (which is translated in  French or English), or common-law partnership proof.

Applying Work Permit on arrival into Canada

This is possible in case your spouse is a citizen of a country that is TRV exempt. They can apply for Open Work Permit at a port of entry. 

Apply Work Permit at the Port of Entry

You can apply for the spousal work permit at the port of entry. The permit can be received on the same day, in case you are a person who is if TRV-exempt. TRV-exempt individual means either:

–  The person is a citizen of the country which is TRV-exempt, OR

– The person is a citizen of the country which is TRV-required and is re-entering Canada only from the United States

The land borders which process these work permits are:

• St. Armand/Phillipsburg
• Lacolle/Champlain
• Montreal’s Trudeau Airport
• Stanstead

Note: Make sure you have your passport, the study permit, the application fee, supporting documents like marriage certificate, medical examination proof (if applicable), and common-law partnership proof.