If you are a foreign national working in Canada with a valid work permit or is authorized by law to work without a work permit, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for a work permit that will allow her/him to work in Canada. 

 

Spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers 

Spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers may themselves be authorized to work without first having an offer of employment (apply for an open work permit) if the principal foreign worker:

• holds a work permit that is valid for a period of at least 6 months;

• is authorized to work without a work permit, and presents evidence that they will be working for a minimum of 6 months;

• is employed in an occupation that falls within National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, level A or B;

and

• physically resides or plans to physically reside in Canada while working.

 

Eligibility for specific spousal situations 

Spouses and common-law partners of Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) work permit holders

The spouse or common-law partner of an AIP applicant is eligible for an open work permit if the main applicant is employed in a position NOC 0, A, B or C. 

The open work permit will have a validity that matches the principal applicant’s work permit, up to a maximum of 1 year or until the expiry of the spouse or common-law partner’s passport or travel document, whichever is earlier. 

 

Spouses of bridging open work permit (BOWP) holders

If the principal foreign worker has obtained a bridging open work permit (BOWP) or is applying for one, the spouse or common-law partner must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply:

• The principal foreign workers’ work permits must be valid for 6 months or longer (if applying later);

• For spouses or common-law partners of federal skilled worker class (FSWC) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that is at a level that falls within NOC skill type 0 or skill levels A or B;

• For spouses or common-law partners of provincial nominee class (PNC) applicants, the spouse or common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit for the duration of the work permit held by the principal PNC applicant, irrespective of the skill type or level of the principal PNC applicant’s occupation;

• For spouses or common-law partners of federal skilled trades class (FSTC) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that is within one of the skilled trade occupations in NOC skill level B;

• For spouses or common-law partners of Canadian experience class (CEC) applicants, there are no set preconditions to be met by the principal CEC applicant;

• For spouses or common-law partners of caregiver applicants (caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class), the BOWP holder must be performing work within one of the qualifying occupations in NOC skill type 0 or skill levels A or B;

• For spouses or common-law partners of Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) applicants, the BOWP holder must be performing work that is at a level that falls within NOC skill type 0 or skill levels A or B.

 

Click here for Work Permit for Spouses or Common-law Partners - Part 2 of 2