Some spouses and common-law partners of international students or foreign workers may qualify for an open work permit. The eligibility rules are category-specific and have changed significantly in recent years, so current IRCC instructions should be checked before applying.
At a glance
- Spouses of certain international students
- Spouses or family members of eligible foreign workers
- Relationship evidence and principal applicant status
- Extension and in-Canada status requirements
Spouses of international students
Current rules limit eligibility to spouses or common-law partners of students in specified programs, including qualifying master’s and doctoral programs and certain other eligible programs.
Family members of workers
Eligibility can depend on the principal worker’s work authorization, occupation, pathway to permanent residence and remaining permit validity. Special instructions apply to different worker categories.
Relationship and status evidence
The application should establish the genuine spousal or common-law relationship and provide the principal applicant’s current permit, enrolment or employment evidence required by the applicable category.
Rules change
Because family open-work-permit policy has changed repeatedly, applicants should verify the current IRCC eligibility page rather than rely on rules that applied to an earlier study or work permit.
Official government resources
Use these official sources for the current program rules, forms and government instructions.
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