Who is eligible?
- Spouses or common-law partners of study permit holders who are enrolled in a PhD program, a master’s program that is 16 months or longer, or select undergraduate programs, as listed by IRCC. Please note: Graduate certificates and diplomas are not master's degree programs and are not eligible for this program.
The student must not be in their final semester at the time of their spouse/partner’s application for a work permit or work permit extension.
- Spouses or common-law partners of valid Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holders or applicants who have eligible employment. The PGWP applicant or holder’s job must meet this eligibility criteria.
When to apply
Your spouse/partner can apply for a work permit before or after they arrive in Canada.
In some cases, Canadian visa offices abroad will process spouse/partner work permit applications at the same time as study permit applications. In this case, you will need to include the additional fee for the work permit and complete the work permit application for your spouse/partner, available from the website of the consulate.
Most spouse/partners come to Canada as visitors first and apply for a work permit after they are in Canada. If your spouse or partner does not require a TRV, they may be able to apply for a work permit at the border or airport where they enter Canada.
Work permit conditions
Work permits issued by IRCC may be subject to restrictions.
International students who were not required to undergo an immigration medical examination before coming to Canada may be subject to the following occupation/workplace restrictions that require an immigration medical examination:
Health care setting
Childcare
Primary and secondary educational facilities
There is a complete list of occupations and Designated Medical Practitioners on the IRCC website.