If you have a spouse or common-law partner currently studying or working in Canada, you can apply for a spouse work permit to work in Canada for a specific time. A Spouse Work Permit Canada is not job-specific, meaning you can accept any job with any Canadian employer.
Your common-law partner needs to have a valid visa and currently working or studying in Canada. Your Spouse Work Permit enables you to work in Canada for the same period as your spouse’s study or work permit. Sometimes, you may need to provide medical examination results to get a Spouse Work Permit Canada.
When can you apply for a Spouse Work Permit?
You can apply for a spouse work permit in Canada from both inside and outside Canada. As a spouse or your common-law partner, you do not require a job offer to apply for an open work permit. The duration of your permit does not exceed that of your spouse’s work or study permit.
In some cases, you can apply for a spouse/partner work permit at the same time when your spouse’s application for a work or study permit is under process in your country of residence. In such cases, your spouse will need to include the additional application fee for the work permit and complete your permit application as well.
Conditions to Apply for a Spouse Work Permit in Canada
There are generally two types of spouse or common-law partner work permits. You can apply for either an open work permit or apply for a work permit through a specific employer.
When you apply for an open work permit, it allows you to accept any position of employment with any Canadian employer. As with a specific employer, you will need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) through a specific employer.
Spouse or Common-Law Partner Open Work Permit
A Spouse Open Work Permit is for any person who is a spouse or common-law partner of someone who is legally working or studying in Canada.
If you have your family member working or studying in Canada, you are eligible to apply for an open work permit if you meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You have a spouse or common-law partner who is currently employed as a skilled worker in a specific occupation under NOC, skill type: A, B, or O.
- Your spouse in Canada must be eligible to work in Canada for six months or more.
- Your spouse is an international student studying in one of Canada’s designated post-secondary institutes of learning, such as a college, university, or professional college.
- You are a family member of someone who is a representative of a foreign country, or a foreign member of the military who is currently deployed on Canadian soil.
Application for Work Permit through a specific employer
If there is a specific employer through whom you wish to apply for a spouse work permit, your employer would have to complete a Labour Impact Assessment (LMIA) for you. The assessment allows the employer to hire you for the job that best suits your profile.
As a spouse or common-law partner, you will need to meet the following conditions to apply for a Spouse Work Permit Canada:
- You must hold a temporary resident permit in Canada that is valid for at least six months or more; or
- You have applied for permanent residency under Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada -class; or
- You are eligible to apply for a work permit under Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- You are eligible based on your qualification and experience to apply for a work permit.
The process to apply for a Spouse Work Permit is similar to a normal work permit. You can find a regulated, approved, and certified immigration consultant or directly apply online. It would be wise to hire an immigration advisor to help you with your Spouse Work Permit Canada. Before you apply for a work permit, you will have to ensure that you have all the information ready.
If your spouse or common-law partner also has a valid work permit, then you will need to attach a copy of his/her work permit document with your application. You will also need to provide the underlying additional documents:
- A letter from your spouse’s employer confirming the skilled nature of his/her work in a NOC, O, B, or an occupation.
- A copy of your spouse’s job offer letter from an employment contract.
- A copy of the recent salary slips.
It is worth noting that your work permit will be valid for as long as the work permit of your spouse or the primary application. For instance, if your spouse’s work permit is valid for up to one year, your work permit will also be valid for one year. Also, you will need to meet other general requirements for a work permit in your line of work, as requested by the immigration office.
In Conclusion
If you have a spouse or common-law partner currently working or studying in Canada, you are eligible to apply for a work permit. A Spouse Work Permit Canada allows you to find work and also be with your partner.
