Spousal Work Permits

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has created special rules to allow the spouses or common-law partners of temporary residents to work in Canada. In most cases, the spouses or common-law partners of temporary workers or students in Canada may obtain an “open” work permit. This work permit will allow your significant other to work for any employer in any position, with few restrictions.

I am working in Canada – can my spouse also work?

For your spouse to apply for a work permit without an LMO, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must be authorized to work in Canada for six months or longer.
• The work you are doing must meet a minimum skill level (usually work that would require at least a college diploma). Specifically, your job must be listed in Skill Level O, A or B in the National Occupational Classification.

If you meet these two requirements, your spouse may apply for a work permit that is “open” and that will allow her or him to accept any job with any employer. Your spouse’s permit will be valid for the same period as your authorization to work in Canada.

I am studying in Canada – can my spouse work?

Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit if:

• you are a full-time student at:



• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec;
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify); or
• a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
• you have a valid study permit.

If the above criteria are met, your spouse may be granted an “open” work permit that is valid to the expiry of your study permit or his/her passport, whichever comes first.

Contact Us

For further information with respect to the Spousal Work Permit or to find out if you, your spouse or a company employee’s spouse is eligible for a Canadian Work Permit, we invite you to contact our experienced Canadian immigration lawyers by calling the Bomza Law Group at 1-800-993-9971 or by clicking on the “Contact Us” button.