The spousal open work permit is issued under the International Mobility Program and does not require an LMIA. Its value is flexibility: you are not tied to one employer or one job. Its weakness is that it depends entirely on someone else’s status. If your spouse’s study or work permit is invalid, expiring soon, or in a program or occupation that no longer qualifies, the application will be refused.
As of recent changes, spouses of international students generally qualify only where the student is enrolled in a master’s program of sufficient length, a doctoral program, or certain professional degree programs. Spouses of foreign workers generally qualify where the worker holds a permit in a managerial or professional occupation, or in a listed occupation in a sector facing shortages, with enough time remaining on the permit. The precise criteria are updated by IRCC, and we confirm them against your situation on the day we file.
Beyond eligibility, officers assess whether the relationship is genuine and whether you are otherwise admissible. A recent marriage, limited cohabitation evidence, or inconsistent details between your application and your spouse’s file are common reasons for refusal, and they are avoidable with a properly documented submission.
Who this is for
- Spouses and common-law partners of international students in eligible graduate or professional programs at a Canadian institution
- Spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers in eligible occupations who hold a valid work permit with sufficient time remaining
- Partners already in Canada as visitors who want to apply from inside the country
- Current SOWP holders whose permit is expiring and who need an extension aligned with their spouse’s status
What we do
- Confirm that your spouse’s program or occupation and remaining permit validity meet the current SOWP criteria
- Assemble proof of a genuine relationship: marriage or common-law evidence, cohabitation records, joint finances and communication history
- Prepare the application with your spouse’s permit, enrolment or employment evidence and pay statements where required
- Advise on applying from inside Canada versus abroad, and on visitor or maintained status while you wait
- Address prior refusals, status gaps or admissibility concerns in a written submission
- Coordinate your extension with your spouse’s permit renewal so neither of you falls out of status
How it works
- 1
Eligibility confirmation
We review your spouse’s permit, program or occupation and expiry date against the current rules and tell you plainly whether you qualify now, later, or through a different route.
- 2
Relationship evidence
We identify the strongest available proof of your relationship and help you fill gaps, especially for recent marriages or common-law partnerships.
- 3
Application preparation
We complete the forms, organize the supporting documents and draft a submission letter that anticipates the officer’s questions.
- 4
Submission and follow-up
We file online, manage biometrics and medical requirements, respond to IRCC requests and confirm your work rights while the application is in process.