Open Work Permit for Spouse Regardless of Partner’s PR Status in Canada

Under the provision by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the spouse of individuals moving to Canada can apply for an open work permit regardless of the partner’s PR status. They need to apply for an open work visa while their sponsorship is underway. The spouses of applicants who already possess Permanent residence, however, must meet specific requirements already laid out by IRCC. 

Indians represent the majority of those who benefit from Canada’s Spousal and Common-law Sponsorship program.  As per the data released by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), over 10,000 Canadians sponsored their spouses from India.

In 2021, Canada received sponsorships for more than 64,000 spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners for immigration. 

About work permit

An open work permit refers to a work permit that is not job-specific and allows foreign workers to work in Canada legally. An open work permit extends to spouses, and common-law partners under Inland Sponsorship provided they meet certain requirements or eligibility criteria which include the applicant’s temporary resident status, common residence for the applicant and the sponsor and a common-law partner sponsorship application for PR.