A spousal open work permit allows, the spouses or common-in-law partners of International Students studying full-time at a college or university in Canada, or spouses or common-in-law partners of Foreign Workers in Canada, to work for any eligible Canadian employer. The SOWP is not employer-specific, which means you don’t require a Canadian job offer to apply for one.

A spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Canada who’s being sponsored for permanent residence can apply for an open work permit.

Your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit will be valid for the same period as your study permit or work permit.

Spouses or common-in-law partners of temporary residents may be able to extend their open work permit based on temporary resident’s Study Permit extension or changing status from Study Permit to Work Permit.

Work Permit extension should be applied at least 30 days before current work permit expires and work permit can’t be extended beyond passport’s expiry date.