Spouse Open Work Permit in Canada

Under the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program, spouses or common-law partners of international students or workers are eligible to work in Canada without an employment offer. In this program, the spouse/partner can live for the same time as the student study or work permit will be valid. As a student, you can apply for SOWP only if you are a full-time student at a DLI-approved institution. In contrast, if you are on a work permit in Canada, you can have your partner on the same status of open work permit (but they must be in a skilled occupation of (NOC 0, A, or B). Why is this work permit considered "open"? Because it is not job-specific, the spouse or partner can work for any employer in Canada without needing a job offer.

 

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, plans to make open work permits for spouses easier to support family reunification and to help spouses or partners contribute to the Canadian workforce and economy. SOWP allows them to find employment and gain work experience while their spouse or partner continues their studies, works, or applies for permanent residency in Canada. We at Western Overseas help you get SOWP as soon as possible by completing all documents required for SOWP and making its visa application process smooth and hassle-free.

 

Benefits of Spousal Open Work Permit

 

"Going forward, Open work permits for spouses have many benefits, which we described below. To know more in detail, you can visit the official Spousal open work permit page at the Immigration Canada website. Here are some benefits:-

 

• Offers flexibility and freedom to choose employment without a specific job offer.
• Enhances cultural integration and shared experiences within Canadian society.
• Promotes family reunification while enabling the spouse to work for any employer in Canada.
• Facilitates employment opportunities for the spouse/partner, contributing to the local economy.
• Supports skill development and work experience for the spouse/partner.
• Mitigates financial burdens by allowing dual income sources within the family.
• Enables the accompanying partner to build professional connections in Canada.
• Fosters a sense of belonging and community involvement for both spouses.
• Encourages increased social engagement and networking opportunities.
• Strengthens the overall stability and well-being of the family unit.

SOWP document checklist

 

Well, the SOWP document checklist depends on person to person profile. However, we are provided a general list of documents commonly requested when applying for a Spousal Open Work Permit.

 

• A valid passport
• Marriage certificate to prove your relationship
• A completed application form for SOWP
• Spouse status in Canada (like study, work permit, or PR)
• Photograph, communication records, shared property, and joint accounts proof to prove the genuineness of the relationship
• Proof of funds for SOWP to show spouse/partner financial status and stability in their home country so they can convince the immigrants that they are enough to support themselves in Canada.
• You may need a police clearance certificate in some cases
• The Medical exam is a must to meet health requirements
• Give biometrics, such as fingerprints and photographs
• Pay the application fees

How to apply for SOWP?

“As of September 23, 2022, you can apply online for a spousal open work permit”.

 

There are two paths to apply for a Spousal open work permit: You can apply by creating an online IRCC account. After that, you need to pay your online application fees and then wait to receive the status of your application. On the other hand, you can hire the best and certified immigration agent. Likewise, you can consider Western Overseas to make your visa application successful. Our experts at Western Overseas will check your eligibility, confirm your documents, and ensure you get the work permit.

How to extend Spouse open work permit

 

If your study permit is about to expire and your spouse still has an eligible status in Canada, then you can re-apply to extend your spouse's open work permit. Also, there is no limit on the number of extensions. There may be some basic extension requirements to extend SOWP. For this, you can click here for the most latest updates.

What are Spousal work Permit fees and processing time?

The SOWP application fees include a processing fee of around $155 CAD, open work permit fee $100 CAD and the biometric fees for SOWP is $85 CAD. So, it will cost you an overall $340 CAD.

 

Nowadays, the processing time for spousal open work permit applications is faster, almost within 30 working days. It could take approximately 90 days to declare your result. If you are facing difficulty in the process of Spousal open work permit or any other visa type, visit Western Overseas for the best possible results.