How to Apply for an Open Work Permit While Your Spouse Sponsors You for Permanent Residence in Canada

Who can apply for a spousal sponsorship open work permit?

IRCC allows certain people who are already living in Canada and waiting for a family sponsorship permanent residence decision to apply for an open work permit.

The eligible categories include:

• a spouse living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence;
• a common-law partner living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence;
• a conjugal partner living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence; and
• an eligible accompanying dependent child of the principal permanent residence applicant.

The open work permit is optional and separate from the permanent residence application.

What conditions must the sponsored spouse or partner meet?

The principal permanent residence applicant must meet all of the applicable IRCC conditions when applying for the open work permit.

• You must be in a genuine relationship with your sponsor.
• You must be included in a permanent residence application being processed by IRCC.
• You normally need an acknowledgement of receipt confirming that IRCC reviewed the permanent residence package and found it complete.
• You must be living in Canada with your sponsor.
• You must have valid temporary resident status, maintained status, or be eligible for and have applied to restore status.

What is the AOR and why do you need it?

The acknowledgement of receipt, commonly called the AOR, confirms that IRCC has reviewed the permanent residence application package and found it complete enough to enter processing.

The AOR used for this open work permit must relate to the permanent residence application. IRCC states that it is the AOR the sponsor receives for the sponsored person's permanent residence application.

The letter includes the permanent residence application number, which normally begins with the letter F.

Can you apply for the work permit before receiving the AOR?

Only in a limited situation.

You may apply without an AOR if both of the following conditions are met:

• your work permit, study permit or temporary resident status will expire in 2 weeks or less; and
• you already submitted a permanent residence application under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class or under the Family Class as a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.

If you qualify for this exception, IRCC instructs you to upload:

• a copy of your current work permit, study permit or visitor record; and
• proof that you submitted the permanent residence application, such as IRCC's email confirming successful submission.

Can an accompanying dependent child get an open work permit?

Yes, an accompanying dependent child may qualify under the same public policy if the required conditions are met.

The principal applicant must be in a genuine relationship with the sponsor, be included in a permanent residence application that has an AOR and live in Canada with the sponsor. The dependent child must live with the principal applicant and the sponsor.

Before the dependent child begins employment, the family must also check the minimum working age and other employment rules that apply in the province or territory and to the type of work involved.

Who cannot apply under this spousal open work permit policy?

You cannot use this public policy if:

• the permanent residence application has been refused;
• the permanent residence application has been withdrawn;
• the permanent residence application has been returned; or
• you plan to apply for this work permit at a port of entry.

IRCC requires eligible applicants in Canada to follow the applicable inside-Canada application process.

What temporary resident status do you need?

For this policy, IRCC recognizes several situations as meeting the temporary status requirement.

You may have:

• a valid temporary resident permit;
• a valid visitor record;
• a valid work permit;
• a valid study permit;
• maintained temporary resident status; or
• an eligible restoration application as a visitor, worker or student.

If you have lost status and are not covered by the normal status rules, special spousal public policy instructions may apply.

What if you are already out of status?

If you do not have valid temporary resident status and your permanent residence application is being processed under the applicable spousal public policy, IRCC states that you must wait until you receive an approval in principle letter before you can apply for this open work permit.

After receiving approval in principle, an out-of-status applicant must follow IRCC's paper application instructions and include:

• a letter explaining that the application cannot be submitted online because the applicant is out of status; and
• a copy of the approval in principle letter.

This is different from an applicant who still has valid status, maintained status, or is eligible for and has already applied for restoration.

How to apply online for the spousal sponsorship open work permit

Applicants with the required temporary resident status normally apply online through an IRCC secure account.

1. Sign in to or create an IRCC secure account.
2. Answer the online questions to generate the personalized document checklist.
3. When asked whether you are applying under an active public policy or pilot program, follow IRCC's special spousal sponsorship instructions.
4. Complete the work permit application.
5. Select Open Work Permit in the Details of intended work in Canada section.
6. Upload the required documents.
7. Pay the applicable fees.
8. Submit the complete application online.

What should you enter in the work permit application?

IRCC provides special instructions for this category.

In the Details of intended work in Canada section:

• for the work permit type, select Open Work Permit;
• in the Job title field, enter SCLPC FC OWP; and
• in the Brief description of duties field, enter SCLPC FC applicant in Canada public policy.

Follow the current IRCC application guide for the remaining fields.

What documents do you need?

Your IRCC personalized checklist is the primary source for your individual document requirements. IRCC also identifies extra documents for this specific open work permit.

Client information documents

Normally, upload:

• the AOR showing that the permanent residence application is complete; and
• proof that you and your accompanying children have valid temporary resident status, when required.

If you qualify for the no-AOR exception, upload the alternative documents specified by IRCC instead.

Family information and relationship documents

In the IMM 5707 Family Information section of the checklist, IRCC instructs applicants to upload:

• the completed Family Information form;
• a marriage licence or marriage certificate, or Form IMM 5409, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union, as applicable; and
• birth certificates for accompanying dependent children showing the names of both parents.

How much does a spousal sponsorship open work permit cost in 2026?

The current standard federal fees are:

• $155 work permit processing fee;
• $100 open work permit holder fee.

The standard total is therefore $255 before biometrics or restoration fees.

If biometrics are required, the fee is:

• $85 per person; or
• up to $170 per eligible family when two or more family members apply at the same time and place.

If the applicant needs to restore temporary resident status, the applicable restoration fee must also be paid.

Do you need a job offer for this open work permit?

No. This is an open work permit category, so it is not tied to one specific Canadian employer and a job offer is not required as the basis of the application.

If approved, an open work permit generally allows you to work for most employers in Canada, subject to the conditions printed on the permit and applicable federal, provincial and territorial laws.

Can you work while waiting for the open work permit?

Being sponsored for permanent residence does not itself authorize you to work.

If you are not already authorized to work, you must wait until the work permit application is approved before starting employment.

If you already have a valid work permit that is expiring, you may be able to keep working if you applied properly before it expired and maintain your status as a worker under the applicable IRCC rules.

Can a visitor start working after submitting the application?

No. A visitor does not gain work authorization merely by submitting a spousal sponsorship open work permit application.

The person must wait until the work permit is approved before starting work unless another valid authorization already permits employment.

How long does the application take?

IRCC does not publish a single fixed processing time specifically for this spousal sponsorship open work permit.

Applicants should use IRCC's current processing-time tool and select the applicable work permit application from inside Canada.

IRCC processing times are estimates rather than guarantees. They can change as application volumes and processing capacity change.

When does processing time start?

For an online application, IRCC states that processing time starts when the complete application is submitted online and ends when a decision is made.

An incomplete or complex application can take longer.

Do you need biometrics?

You may need to provide fingerprints and a photograph for the work permit application.

If biometrics are required, pay the biometrics fee when you apply. IRCC will then issue a biometrics instruction letter if new biometrics are needed.

Follow the letter and book an appointment at an authorized biometrics collection location.

What happens after the work permit is approved?

IRCC will notify you through your online account if the inside-Canada work permit application is approved.

You must comply with all conditions attached to the work permit and with applicable Canadian employment laws.

Approval of the temporary work permit does not mean the permanent residence application has been approved. The permanent residence application continues to be assessed separately.

Does an open work permit guarantee permanent residence?

No. The work permit and the permanent residence application are separate immigration decisions.

An approved open work permit allows eligible temporary employment while the permanent residence application is being processed. IRCC may still approve or refuse the permanent residence application based on the applicable sponsorship, relationship, admissibility and other requirements.

Can you extend the spousal sponsorship open work permit?

IRCC currently allows eligible holders to extend this work permit for up to 2 more years under the public policy if the permanent residence application is still being processed and the applicable eligibility conditions continue to be met.

IRCC states that you must have received the AOR and no final decision can have been made on the permanent residence application.

What if your permanent residence application is refused or withdrawn?

You cannot apply for a new open work permit under this public policy if the permanent residence application has been refused, withdrawn or returned.

If a work permit application is already pending and the underlying permanent residence application no longer qualifies, IRCC may determine that the requirements of the public policy are not met.

Can you apply at the Canadian border?

No. IRCC specifically states that applicants cannot use this spousal sponsorship open work permit public policy if they plan to apply at a port of entry.

Eligible applicants in Canada should follow the online or, where specifically required for an out-of-status applicant, paper process described by IRCC.

Spousal sponsorship open work permit checklist

• Confirm that the permanent residence application has not been refused, withdrawn or returned.
• Confirm that you live in Canada with your sponsor.
• Confirm that you meet the temporary resident status requirement.
• Get the AOR unless you qualify for the 2-week no-AOR exception.
• Create or sign in to your IRCC secure account.
• Generate the personalized document checklist.
• Select Open Work Permit on the work permit application.
• Enter SCLPC FC OWP in the Job title field.
• Enter SCLPC FC applicant in Canada public policy in the brief duties field.
• Upload the AOR or permitted alternative evidence.
• Upload proof of temporary status when required.
• Upload IMM 5707 and the required relationship and child documents.
• Pay the $155 work permit fee and $100 open work permit holder fee.
• Pay biometrics and restoration fees if they apply.
• Submit the application online unless IRCC specifically instructs you to apply on paper.
• Do not begin working without valid work authorization.
• Monitor your IRCC account for requests and the final decision.