Open work permit: Applying as a sponsored spouse or common-law partner in Canada

Who can apply

You can apply for an open work permit if you’re one of the following:

Principal permanent residence applicants

When you apply for your open work permit, you must also be

Minimum age to work

Before your dependent child works in Canada, check the minimum age required to work in the province/territory and in the job type they plan to work in. Canadian employers are responsible for meeting the requirements of the provincial labour laws.

Open work permit holders must also comply with federal, provincial or territorial labour laws to work.

If you’re an accompanying dependent child

To be eligible for an open work permit as a dependent child, both of the following criteria must be met:

  • The principal applicant you’re accompanying must be
    • in a genuine relationship with their sponsor
    • included in an application for permanent residence, and have an AOR letter confirming that their permanent residence application is being processed
    • living in Canada with their sponsor
  • You must be living with your family member (the principal applicant) and their sponsor.

Who can’t apply at this time

You can’t apply for an open work permit under this public policy if either

  • your application for permanent residence has been refused, withdrawn or returned
  • you plan to apply for your work permit at a port of entry

How to apply for an open work permit

For the main steps to apply, see How to apply for a work permit. Below are extra steps that depend on your situation.

Do you have valid temporary resident status?

Valid temporary status

To have valid temporary resident status, you must either

You have valid temporary resident status

Once you get your AOR letter, you can apply for an open work permit. You must apply online.

How to apply for an open work permit

For the main steps to apply, see How to apply for a work permit. Below are extra steps to follow for the open work permit.

Get the right document checklist

Once you sign in to or create your IRCC secure account, you must answer some questions to get a personalized document checklist.

Your personalized checklist will list most of the documents you need to upload. You must also follow the special instructions listed below.

If you meet the eligibility criteria for this pilot, answer “yes” to the following question:

  • Does one of the following apply to you?
    • I am the subject of a removal order that is unenforceable.
    • I applied for a study or work permit before entering Canada that was approved but not issued at a port of entry.
    • I am a student in primary or secondary school, or a visiting or exchange student, in Canada with visitor status.
    • I am applying for an open work permit under an active public policy or pilot program announced by IRCC.
    • I am a student who has completed a program of study that is a prerequisite to my enrolment at a designated learning institution with visitor status in Canada.
    • I applied for permanent residence and was found eligible (first stage approval) under one of the following classes:
      • spouse or common-law partner in Canada
      • humanitarian and compassionate cases
      • protected persons in Canada
      • live-in caregiver in Canada

How to fill out the application form

When you fill out your work permit application form, enter the following details in the “Details of intended work in Canada” section:

  • Box 1: What type of work permit are you applying for?
    • Select “Open Work Permit.”
  • Box 4: Job title and Brief description of duties
    • Enter “SCLPC – FC OWP” in the Job title box.
    • Enter “SCLPC – FC applicant in Canada public policy” in the Brief description of duties box.

Read the guide to find out how to fill out the rest of the form.

Upload your documents

The document checklist will list most of the documents you need. Below are the extra documents you must upload for this open work permit.

  • In the “Client information” part of the document checklist
    • upload the AOR that shows that the permanent residence application is complete
    • upload proof that you (and your children) have valid temporary resident status (for example a valid work permit, visitor record, study permit or temporary resident permit)
    • for dependent children, upload a copy of the IMM 0008 form for the application for permanent residence, where the principal applicant listed the name(s) of their family member(s)
  • In the Family Information form (IMM 5707) part of the document checklist, upload
    • the Family Information form and
    • your marriage licence or certificate or the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)
    • the birth certificates of your dependent children that show both parents’ names

Find out how to upload multiple documents into 1 field.

You don’t have valid temporary resident status

If your permanent residence application is being processed under the spousal public policy, you must wait until you’ve received your approval in principle letter to be eligible to apply for an open work permit.

You can’t apply for an open work permit under another public policy or pilot program.

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