An open work permit will provide your spouse or your common-law partner with an opportunity to work full-time while you study. This is an excellent way for your spouse or your common-law partner to connect with the local community, gain valuable work experience and earn extra money.

Effective, Jan 21, 2025, only spouses and common-law partners of certain international student will be able to apply for an open work permit. This includes spouses or common-law partners of international students who are enrolled in master’s program that are 16 months or longer, doctoral programs, or select professional and eligible programs. 

Spouses or common-law partners can apply for an open work permit:

• At the same time you apply for your study permit before coming to Canada; or
• After you arrive in Canada and receive your study permit and before they come to Canada; or
• From within Canada.

For the full list of eligible programs and documents required for applying, please visit the IRCC website. Please further consult the information in the How to Apply section depending on whether it's an in Canada or an outside of Canada application. 

It is your and your spouse’s / common-law partner’s responsibility to always carefully read and follow the instructions on how to complete and submit a work permit application. 

After your spouse or your common-law partner get their work permit, they need to:

• Make a copy of it and store the original safely.
• Apply for their Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada. They need a SIN to work in Canada.

To help your spouse who is in Canada find a job once they have obtained their work permit, start by visiting the Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services Office at 225 1^st Avenue North, Saskatoon and check out their career and employment website.

Get in touch with the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) for additional support and resources on how to successfully settle your family in Saskatoon.

Keeping the spousal work permit valid

Every work permit has an expiration date identified on the document. If you spouse or common-law partner wishes to remain in Canada beyond the expiry date of their work permit, they must extend their work permit before it expires.

Applying to extend the work permit

Remember: the work permit eligibility is based on being the spouse or common-law partner of a certain international student and meeting other eligibility criteria. 

You may apply from within Canada Online, either:

1. In your spouse or common-law partner’s IRCC Account if they are renewing their study permit at the same time; Or
2. In your own IRCC Account if your spouse/common-law partner has already renewed their study permit.

Cost: $255 total ($155 work permit processing fee and $100 open work permit holder fee). There may be additional fees, such as, for a medical exam, or additional application requirements depending on the applicant's individual situation. 

Processing time: You can check processing times online

Required documents

For the most up date information on the list of specific application documents and eligibility criteria, please consult the IRCC website. In addition, you will also need the following general supporting documents:

1. Proof of spousal or common-law relationship (eg. translated marriage certificate, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union)
2. Proof your spouse is a student (e.g. Letter of acceptance or Confirmation of Enrolment from the University of Saskatchewan and transcripts)
3. Copy of your passport
4. Passport-size photo
5. Copy of your spouse or common-law partner’s current study permit (applicable if they have already renewed their study permit and you are applying for your work permit in your own IRCC Account)

Implied Status

If IRCC receives your renewal application BEFORE your current work permit expires, you have maintained status during processing (called previously implied status). Under the maintained status during processing, you may continue working under the same conditions pending a determination of your application for renewal, as long as you remain in Canada.