How to apply
Changes to eligibility
As of January 21, 2025, at 5:00 UTC, the eligibility requirements have changed for open work permits for family members of workers.
If you applied before January 21, 2025:
- We’ll continue to process all applications that were received before January 21, 2025.
- Applications received before January 21, 2025 will be processed under the previous eligibility criteria.
- If your open work permit was already approved and hasn’t expired, it stays valid.
For the main steps to apply online, you and your eligible family members should check how to apply for a work permit.
Below are extra steps that may need to be taken depending on whether the family member or applicant is in or outside Canada when they apply.
On this page:
- Get the document checklist
- Documents to prove you meet the requirements
- Family members of high-skilled workers who are on a pathway to permanent residence
- Family members of low-skilled workers who are on a pathway to permanent residence
- Spouses and common-law partners of high-skilled workers not on a pathway to permanent residence
- Family members of permanent residence applicants
- Where to upload proof to show that you meet the requirements
Get your document checklist
You must answer some questions to create a personalized document checklist.
If your family member is applying online with you (the principal applicant)
To submit your family member’s application for an open work permit with yours, make sure you answer the following questions correctly when you apply.
- Answer “Yes” to the question “Do you want to submit an application for a family member?”
- Answer “Work with an Open Work Permit” to the question “Why is your family member visiting Canada?”
Family members of permanent residence applicants
Family members must be included as dependants in the principal applicant’s permanent residence application before the submission of the open work permit application.
If your family member is applying online separately from you (the principal applicant)
Outside Canada applicants
Make sure your eligible family member answers the following questions correctly when they apply.
- Answer “Temporarily—more than 6 months” to the question “How long are you planning to stay in Canada?”.
- Answer “No” to the question “Will you be coming to Canada under an active public policy or special measure announced by IRCC?”
- Answer “Yes” to the question
- Are you a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a person who has or is applying for a work permit? Not all family members of workers are eligible. Check if you are eligible to apply for an open work permit.
- Answer “A work permit for a spouse of an international student, or for a family member of a worker” to the question “What type of work permit do you want to apply for?”
In-Canada applicants
Make sure your eligible family member answers the following questions correctly when they apply.
When your family member is asked the question: “What is your current immigration status in Canada?” they must select the answer shown below that applies to their situation:
| If your family member’s situation is… | Then the immigration status they should select is… |
|---|---|
| Working without a work permit | Visitor |
| Student | Worker |
| Work permit holder | Worker |
| Other types of visitors | Visitor |
Students must make sure that the rest of their answers on the work permit application form are true and accurate.
- Answer “Yes” to the question Are you
- a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a foreign worker who holds a valid work permit or is approved for a work permit. Not all family members of workers are eligible. Check if you are eligible to apply for an open work permit;
- a person who holds a temporary resident permit that is valid for 6 months or more;
- a person who applied for permanent residence to an office in-Canada and was determined to be eligible for permanent resident status (first stage approval); or
- a person who applied for permanent residence in a program under Express Entry and is applying for a bridging open work permit.
Document to prove that you meet the requirements
You must submit documents to prove you’re eligible for this work permit. Officers may ask for more documents, if needed.
Family members of high-skilled workers who are on a pathway to permanent residence
Proof of your relationship to the principal applicant
Spouses and common-law partners
Examples:
- a copy of your marriage certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)
Other dependants
Examples:
- birth certificate
- adoption papers
If you’re adopted, you must provide both types of proof listed above.
Proof that the principal applicant can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit or a copy of the letter of introduction
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit
Some family members don’t need to provide this proof
Your family member doesn’t need to prove that you can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada if you and your family members
- apply at the same time, and
- you’re either
- a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holder outside of Quebec
- an employer-specific work permit holder
If you haven’t already checked, make sure you know when your family member can apply.
Proof that the principal applicant can work in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive the family member’s work permit application
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit with the expiry date
- a copy of the letter of introduction (port of entry letter)
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit
- passport stamps showing the period of authorized work (if the applicant is work permit exempt)
Proof that the principal applicant is or will be working in an occupation in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification system
For most open work permit holders, such as those under the PGWP program or International Experience Canada, the proof should be a letter from the principal applicant’s current employer that shows
- their employment details
- their occupation
- a description of their duties
- the NOC or TEER category their job is classified under or a copy of the letter of offer of employment
International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+) (CSQ holders outside Quebec)
Your family member doesn’t need to provide proof of your TEER category if you’re either
- an IMP+ work permit holder
- approved for an IMP+ work permit
Family members of low-skilled workers who are on a pathway to permanent residence
Proof of relationship to the principal applicant
Spouses and common-law partners
Examples:
- a copy of your marriage certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) form
Other dependants
Examples:
- a birth certificate
- adoption papers
If your family member is adopted, they must provide both types of proof listed above.
Proof that the principal applicant can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit or a copy of the letter of introduction
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit
Proof that the principal applicant can work in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive the family member’s application
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit with the expiry date
- a copy of the letter of introduction (port of entry letter)
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit
- passport stamps showing the period of authorized work (if the applicant is work permit exempt)
Proof that the principal applicant is working in an occupation in TEER 4 or 5 of the National Occupation Classification system
For most open work permit holders, such as those under the PGWP Program or International Experience Canada, the proof should be a letter from the principal applicant’s current employer that shows
- their employment details
- their occupation
- a description of their duties
- the NOC and TEER category their job is classified under or a copy of the letter of offer of employment in which the NOC and TEER category are included
Family members of Agri-Food Pilot work permit holders
You must also provide a copy of the acknowledgement of receipt letter we sent to the principal applicant.
Spouses or common-law partners of high-skilled workers who are not on a pathway to permanent residence
Proof of your relationship to the principal applicant
Spouses and common-law partners
Examples:
- a copy of your marriage certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)
Proof that the principal applicant can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit or a copy of the letter of introduction
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit
Some spouses or common-law partners don’t need to provide this proof
Your spouse or common-law partner doesn’t need to prove that you can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada if you and your spouse
- apply at the same time, and
- you’re either
- a PGWP holder
- an employer-specific work permit holder
If you haven’t already checked, make sure you know when your spouse can apply.
Proof that the principal applicant can work in Canada for at least 16 months after we receive the open work permit application
Examples:
- a copy of the work permit with the expiry date
- a copy of the letter of introduction (port of entry letter)
- a copy of the visitor record with the expiry date showing that the principal applicant is authorized to work without a work permit for at least 16 months
- passport stamps showing the period of authorized work (if the applicant is work permit–exempt)
Spouses and common-law partners of PGWP holders
If your spouse is applying for an open work permit at the same time as you (the principal applicant), the spouse doesn’t need to provide proof of the length of time you can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada .
Proof that the principal applicant is or will be working in an occupation in TEER category 0, 1 or in certain occupations in TEER category 2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification system
For most open work permit holders, such as those under the PGWP Program or International Experience Canada, the proof should be a letter from the principal applicant’s current employer that shows
- their employment details
- their occupation
- a description of their duties
- the NOC and TEER category their job is classified under or a copy of the letter of offer of employment
Spouses or common-law partners of business owners (self-employed or entrepreneurs)
Your spouse or common-law partner can provide proof of the principal applicant’s business plan .
Family members of permanent residence applicants
Proof of a genuine relationship to the principal applicant
Spouses and common-law partners
Examples:
- a copy of your marriage certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) form
Other dependants
Examples:
- birth certificate
- adoption papers
If your family member is adopted, they must provide both types of proof listed above.
Proof that the principal applicant can legally work in Canada
The family member must submit a copy of the work permit or proof that they’ve been approved for a work permit (port of entry letter).
Proof that the principal applicant can work in Canada for at least 6 months or longer after the date that the family member submits their work permit
The family member must submit a copy of the work permit with the expiry date or a copy of the port of entry letter.
Proof that the principal applicant applied for permanent residence
Example: a copy of the acknowledgment of receipt letter of the permanent resident application in an economic class
Proof that the principal applicant has included the family member in their application for permanent residence
Example: a copy of the IMM 0008 form – PR application
Where to upload proof to show that your family member meets the requirements
If you can’t find a field in your online account to upload the supporting documents, use the “client information” field. There’s only 1 “client information” field. Your family member may need to combine more than 1 document in 1 file and upload them together.
Find out how to upload multiple documents into 1 field.
Depending on their situation, they may also need to
- get a medical exam (the document checklist will tell them if they need one)
- give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
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