Open Work Permit for Sponsored Spouses

If you are sponsoring your spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residence (PR), they can apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP) while waiting for their application to be processed.

Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, your spouse or partner must:

  • Be included in your submitted PR application and have received an acknowledgment from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • Be living in Canada with you during the process.

Those without valid temporary status must wait for preliminary PR approval before applying for the OWP.

Application Overview
Once their PR sponsorship application is acknowledged, they can apply for an OWP. They must maintain valid temporary resident status until the work permit is approved. Processing typically takes about four months.

Archive