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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

How to recognize the AoR

The AoR letter means that an officer has reviewed your application package and confirmed that it’s complete.

The AoR letter contains your application number. The application number is in the top left corner of the letter and starts with an F.

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  • your application for permanent residence has been refused, withdrawn or returned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, check 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 in the IRCC secure account.

Who’s eligible to apply for a work permit without an AOR

You can only apply for a work permit without an AOR if you meet both of the following criteria:

  • your work permit, study permit or temporary resident status will expire in 2 weeks or less and
  • you’ve applied for permanent residence under one of the following classes:
    • the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SCLPC) as a spouse or common-law partner
    • the family class as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner (sponsored overseas)

How to apply for an 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 include most of the documents you need to upload. You must also follow the special instructions below.

If you’re using an authorized paid representative

Authorized paid representatives (APRs) can submit your work permit application on your behalf through the APR Portal.

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 include 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 you received that proves the permanent residence application you submitted is complete
      • If you didn’t receive your AOR and you meet the requirements, upload both of the following instead:
        • a copy of your work permit, study permit or visitor record and
        • proof showing you’ve submitted your permanent residence application (for example, the email we sent you confirming that you’ve successfully submitted your permanent residence application)
    • upload proof that you (and your children) have valid temporary resident status (for example a valid work permit, visitor record or study permit)
      • You only need to upload this proof if you’ve received your AOR.
  • In the Family Information form (IMM 5707) part of the document checklist, upload
    • the Family Information form
    • your marriage licence or certificate or the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) and
    • 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.

Who’s eligible to apply for a work permit without an AoR

You can apply for a work permit without an AoR only if you meet both of the following criteria:

  • Your work or study permit, or temporary resident status will expire in 2 weeks or less, and
  • You’ve applied for permanent residence under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class (SCLPC) or the Family Class as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner.

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