Spousal Open Work Permit — Keep Your Family Earning Together

Program Overview

Three Main SOWP Categories

The Spousal Open Work Permit exists in three main forms, each tied to the principal applicant's status in Canada:

Spouses of skilled foreign workers — when a foreign national works in Canada in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation (and some TEER 2 and 3 occupations in critical sectors), their spouse may apply for an SOWP. Recent IRCC changes have restricted eligibility to skilled workers in management and professional occupations, plus select sector-based exemptions.

Spouses of international students — formerly broadly available, this category has been significantly narrowed. As of recent IRCC reforms, SOWPs for student spouses are now generally limited to spouses of students in master's, doctoral, or select professional programs.

Spouses under inland sponsorship — when an inland spousal sponsorship is filed, the sponsored spouse with valid temporary status in Canada can apply for an SOWP, which is typically issued upon approval-in-principle. This is one of the most important strategic uses of the SOWP — it lets your partner work and contribute while the PR application processes.

Tied to your spouse's status

An SOWP cannot extend beyond your spouse's underlying status. If your partner's work or study permit expires, your SOWP expires with it (unless you've already become eligible for another permit). Our team coordinates timing across both partners' files so coverage never lapses.