Can my spouse get a work permit while I work in Canada on a work permit?

Spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign workers in Canada may qualify for an open work permit, allowing them to work for almost any employer without needing their own LMIA or employer-specific job offer. This is a federal benefit designed to reduce the economic hardship of accompanying a principal permit holder to Canada.

Eligibility depends on the category of the principal worker's permit. Generally, spouses of workers in high-skilled occupations and certain other qualifying streams are eligible. The federal government has adjusted these categories over time, so checking current IRCC rules is important.

The accompanying spouse's open work permit is typically tied in duration to the principal permit holder's status. If the principal worker's permit expires or is revoked, the accompanying spouse's permit is also affected.

Spouses who are accompanying international students in eligible programs may also qualify for an open work permit under a separate stream.

Because eligibility rules shift with federal policy, it is worth getting a current legal opinion on whether your spouse qualifies and which stream to apply under.