Spouses and common-law partners of some international students may be eligible for an open work permit.
The spouse or common-law partner of an international student applying for an Open Work Permit (OWP) on or after April 30, 2024, may be eligible if the international student in Canada meets the following criteria:
- Has a valid study permit
- Is studying in a master’s or doctoral degree program
- Is participating in an eligible pilot program or
- Is studying in one of the following professional degree programs:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
- Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD)
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)
The work permit granted to the spouse or common-law partner of an international student will be valid for the same period of time as the international student’s study permit.
If the OWP application was made before April 30, 2024, an international student’s spouse or common-law partner would be exempt from the current OWP requirements.
If you are caught in a situation like the one mentioned above, please call us to get accurate information and we will assist you with your application.
