A Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) allows spouses and common law partner of certain work permit holders and certain international students in Canada to work on open work permit, means for any employer and anywhere in Canada without the need of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
SOWP offers employment rights to family member of international students and work permit holders to support them financially in Canada.
Who can Apply Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)?
As of January 21, 2025, the eligibility of the SOWP is significantly tightened by IRCC. Only spouses or common law partners can apply, and they must meet the new eligibility requirements, which are:
- Spouses of eligible international students in Canada, enrolled in:
- Master’s programs of at least 16 months or longer
- Doctoral (PhD) programs
- Studying in one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
- 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)
- Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
- Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)
- Certain eligible professional programs
- Supervised Practice Experience Partnership( In Ontario)
- Nurse Re-Entry (Red River College Polytechnic (In Manitoba)
- Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program (The University of British Columbia)
- Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3) (The University of British Columbia)
- Post-Degree Diploma: Nursing Practice in Canada (Langara College)
- Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’inhalothérapeutes formés à l’étranger (In Quebec)
- Projet de recrutement et reconnaissance des compétences de technologistes médicaux formés à l’étranger (Inn Quebec)
- Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot -FMCSP(Eligibility period-From August 26, 2024)
- Le projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’infirmières et d’infirmiers recrutés à l’international(Eligibility period-From April 30, 2024)
- Spouses of eligible foreign workers employed in:
- TEER 0 or 1 occupations (management or professional)
- Select TEER 2 or 3 occupations tied to labor shortages or government priority sectors (e.g., natural sciences, healthcare, construction, education, military)
- Eligible Occupations in TEER 2
- 22100 – Chemical technologists and technicians
- 22101 – Geological and mineral technologists and technicians
- 22110 – Biological technologists and technicians
- 22111 – Agricultural and fish products inspectors
- 22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians
- 22113 – Conservation and fishery officers
- 22114 – Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
- 22210 – Architectural technologists and technicians
- 22211 – Industrial designers
- 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
- 22213 – Land survey technologists and technicians
- 22214 – Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
- 22220 – Computer network and web technicians
- 22221 – User support technicians
- 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
- 22230 – Non-destructive testers and inspectors
- 22231 – Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
- 22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists
- 22233 – Construction inspectors
- 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
- 22303 – Construction estimators
- 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
- 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- 22313 – Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
- 32100 – Opticians
- 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- 32102 – Paramedical occupations
- 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 32110 – Denturists
- 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
- 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
- 32121 – Medical radiation technologists
- 32122 – Medical sonographers
- 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
- 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
- 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 32201 – Massage therapists
- 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
- 42102 – Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
- 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
- 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
- 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
- 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
- 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
- 72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
- 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- 72101 – Tool and die makers
- 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- 72103 – Boilermakers
- 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
- 72105 – Ironworkers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72202 – Power system electricians
- 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
- 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
- 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
- 72302 – Gas fitters
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72311 – Cabinetmakers
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72321 – Insulators
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- 72403 – Railway carmen/women
- 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- 72405 – Machine fitters
- 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
- 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
- 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
- 72422 – Electrical mechanics
- 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
- 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
- 72500 – Crane operators
- 72501 – Water well drillers
- 72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
- 72601 – Air traffic controllers and related occupations
- 72602 – Deck officers, water transport
- 72603 – Engineer officers, water transport
- 72604 – Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
- 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
- 82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry
- 82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying
- 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
- 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
- High skilled eligible jobs in TEER 3
- 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 43204 – Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 53200 – Athletes
- 53201 – Coaches
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 73101 – Tilesetters
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73111 – Glaziers
- 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 73113 – Floor covering installers
- 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
- 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
- 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
- 73300 – Transport truck drivers
- 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
- 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
- 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
- 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- 73401 – Printing press operators
- 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
- 83100 – Underground production and development miners
- 83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
- 83110 – Logging machinery operators
- 83120 – Fishing masters and officers
- 83121 – Fishermen/women
- Additional requirement: The principal applicant must have at least 16 months remaining on their existing work permit when the spouse applies. This is not for international students.
Who is no longer eligible for Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)?
Spouses of international students in Canada who are not studying the eligible programs. Most of international students in Canada are enrolled in diploma and certificate programs making them ineligible for Spousal Open Work Permit. Plus spouses of work permit holders employed in low skilled professions.
International students who are planning for Canada must avoid diplomas and certificate programs as they have low employability. Study at high ranking universities to secure your future.
In Canada, you can change your program and become eligible for SOWP, similarly you can get skilled TEER job to pass the eligibility criteria.
How to Apply SOWP: Step by Step Guide
Step 1.Check Eligibility
First of all you must review the IRCC official rules:
- Principal applicant must be in an eligible TEER job or academic program (check above).
- Principal’s work permit must have at least 16 months remaining. This requirement will make many applicants in-eligible for SOWP.
- Prove genuine relationship if applying for the first time.
Step 2. Create a IRCC Account
Apply online via your IRCC account portal. Prefer the GC key account as it does not links with your bank account.
Step 3. Gather Documents
- Passports and photos
- Immigration Medical
- Marriage certificate or proof of common law status
- Proof of principal work permit/study permit or approval letter
- Other required documents by IRCC
Step 4. Pay and Submit Application
- Work permit fee: CAD $155
- Open work permit holder fee: CAD $100
- Biometrics fees: CAD $85 ( The biometrics fees is valid for 10 years)
Step 5. Wait for Processing
- The processing time varies from location to location. Inside Canada the work permit processing time varies from 7-8 months. You can visit the IRCC website to check the current work permit processing time.
Step 6. Approval
- If approved you will get letter of introduction for outside of Canada application. For inside Canada, extension applications you will get approval letter and then physical copy at the address. You can continue working on applied/ implied status.
Why Canada Changed Eligibility of SOWP?
Previous Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) policy granted open work permits to every candidate, which resulted in fraud practices to enter Canada. We have seen marriages of convenience so that spouse of international student can come to Canada.
To curb the abuse of lenient Immigration policies , IRCC has made strict changes in SOWP eligibility. As of January 21, 2025 the eligibility is narrowed down to filter the fraud entries.
If you have submitted the application before January 01, 2025 , under the old rules , IRCC will honor your application. If you have faced rejection due to new policy , you must contact IRCC and seek reconsideration and Judicial Review (JR) options.
Summary Table
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| What is SOWP? | Open Work Permit for spouses/common-law partners |
| Who qualifies? | Spouses of eligible students (master’s, PhD, select professional) or high‑skilled workers (TEER 0‑1, select TEER 2‑3) |
| Permit duration | Up to the shorter of principal’s remaining permit or passport validity |
| Application Process | Apply online via IRCC account; fees CAD 155 + CAD 100 |
| Processing time | Varies for country to country |
| Recent changes | Jan 21, 2025: narrowed eligibility, raised minimum validity, excluded children |
| Protection | Applications submitted before Jan 21 continue under old rules |
| What to do if refused | Reconsideration request, restoration, or judicial review |
Final Thoughts
One of the advantages of studying in Canada is that you can invite your spouse to Canada on open work permit without job offer or LMIA and your spouse can work full time while you study. This is a big positive thing for international students , first they will be close to their loves ones plus it will support them financially.
When International students switch from study permit status to work permit status at the same time their spouses can extended their status to continue working on open work permit.
If you are planning to apply SOWP you must check that you meet the eligibility criteria. To avoid refusal you must:
- Double check the eligibility criteria
- If your partner is international student , check that the program of study is eligible.
- If your partner is worker in Canada, check that your partner TEER is eligible.
- Ensure that principal applicant must have 16 months of work permit validity remaining.
