Yes, your spouse is allowed to work in Canada while you are studying. Your spouse can apply for Spousal open work permit before or after arriving in Canada. However, your partner does not need any job offer to register for an open work permit in the country. Spousal open work permit allows the common law partner or spouse of a temporary Canadian permit holder to work in Canada. Every year, around 485,000 international students migrate to Canada to study. The Canadian government allows the spouses to join their families and work in Canada with a SOWP.
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What is Spousal Open Work Permit in Canada?
In Canada, a spousal open work permit is issued to the spouse or common law-partner of a temporary Canadian permit holder. This permit allows the spouse to stay and work in Canada. A dependent spouse or common-law partner can also apply for the open work permit under LMIA exemption code C41 only if the main worker holds a work permit for 6 months and is employed in a job which comes under the National Occupational Classification. It takes around 3 to 5 months to process the spousal open work permit. The fee of the spousal open work permit in Canada is $255.
What are the benefits of a Canada Spousal Open Work Permit?
The following are the benefits of Spousal open work permit in Canada:
- Can work while waiting for IRCC on your Canada PR application
- Can earn in dollars
- Allow to live with your partner in Canada
- Can get work experience in Canada
- Does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Can work anywhere in Canada
What are the eligibility criteria for Canada SOWP?
The following are the required eligibility criteria to apply for a Canada Spousal Open work permit:
- Must be legally married for at least one year
- Must be legally married to your partner or have a valid common-law relationship
- Not criminally and medically acceptable in the country
- The main applicant must have a proper Canadian study or work permit
What are the steps to apply for a Canada Spousal Open Work Permit?
The steps to apply for the spousal open work permit in Canada are:
Step 1: Check your eligibility
Step 2: Collect all the required documents
Step 3: Apply for the work permit and pay the fees
Step 4: Wait for your approval
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