If you are married to or in a common-law relationship with an international student in Canada, you may qualify for an open work permit (OWP). This permit allows you to work for most employers in various industries throughout Canada. The validity of the permit can extend up to the expiration date of your partner’s study permit.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an OWP, your spouse or partner must be enrolled in specific programs, including doctoral programs, master’s programs lasting 16 months or more, and various professional programs such as Medicine, Law, Nursing, and Engineering.

Moreover, spouses of international students must meet medical and criminal admissibility requirements in Canada. It’s important to note that spousal work permits cannot exceed the duration of the student’s study permit and cannot be extended if the student is in their final semester.

Whether you are legally married or in a common-law relationship, you can qualify for a spousal work permit. Common-law status is recognized after living together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months.

Additional Programs

Spouses of international students in specific programs may also be eligible for an OWP. These programs include the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot and projects in Quebec aimed at recognizing the skills of nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical technologists.