How to Apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit

By admin (May 21, 2024)

How to Apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit

A lot of foreign nationals want to arrive with their spouses/partners in Canada. They usually wonder about how to apply for a spousal open work permit in Canada.

An open work permit is a type of work permit that is not job-specific in nature. Your common-law partner or spouse is allowed to accept any job with any employer if he/she is an open work permit holder.

If you are an international student who wants to bring your common-law partner or spouse to Canada, they may be eligible for an open work permit that will allow them to work off or on-campus full-time while you study. Normally, the validity of an open work permit is for the same period as your study permit.

Your common-law partner or spouse will need a medical exam in some cases. First, you need to check whether your spouse/partner is eligible for a work permit or not before asking about how to apply for a spousal open work permit in Canada.

Eligibility

Your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if you are an international student studying full-time and also hold a valid study permit. A job offer will not be required by your spouse or common-law partner and his/her permit will be valid for the same period as your study permit. Now after figuring out the eligibility we should proceed ahead to know more about how to apply for a spousal open work permit in Canada.

When your spouse/partner should apply?

Your spouse can apply for a work permit after or before they arrive in Canada. Usually, the work permit is issued to your spouse for the same time span as your study permit. A job offer is not needed by your spouse/partner to apply for a work permit.

In some cases, spouse/partner work permit applications will be processed by Canadian visa offices abroad at the same time as study permit applications. An additional fee will be needed to be included for the work permit in this case and you should complete the work permit application for your spouse/partner which is available from the website of the consulate.

After arriving in Canada, most partners/spouse come to Canada as visitors first and then apply for a work permit. If a TRV is not required by your spouse or partner, they may be able to apply for a work permit at the airport or border where they enter Canada. It is also important to know how to apply for a spousal open work permit in Canada online.

How to Apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit in Canada Online?

1. IRCC Log in Through Sign-in Partner or GCKey

You will need to register for MyCIC through GCKey or Sign-in Partner if you are a new user. To complete the registration, your Client ID from your Study Permit is required.

2.  Click on the link ‘Apply for visitor visa or study/work permit’

A personal checklist code will be asked from you. Click on “Determine your Eligibility” if you do not already have the code and answer all the questions that follow.

3.  Gather supporting documentation and fill in the online application form

IMM 5710 application form is to be completed, then you can validate and save the form as an unsigned copy. Passport (only pages with stamps, visas, and photo), digital photo (420 × 540) pixels, English or French translated marriage certificate/license and your spouse’s study permit are to be collected. After collecting all the relevant documents, they should be saved digitally in the form of a pdf file not larger than 4 MB size.

4.  Pay the fee

$255 CAD is to be paid online with a credit card (MasterCard, VISA, and American Express). Print a receipt after that.

Conditions for the Work Permit

Work permits issued by IRCC may be subjected to restrictions. International students who were not required to undergo an immigration medical exam before coming to Canada may be subjected to the following workplace/occupation restrictions that require an immigration medical examination:

  • Child care
  • Health care setting
  • Primary and secondary education facilities

Now after clarifying every detail about work permit conditions, when and how to apply for a spousal open work permit in Canada, now you are ready to arrive in Canada with your spouse.