Open
Spousal and partner sponsorship
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsors their spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for permanent residence, from inside or outside Canada.
Open all year.
Working in Canada
Spousal and family open work permits
Open work permits for partners, and in some cases children, of eligible students, workers and permanent residence applicants.
Open with limitsStatus checked Nov 7, 2026
Open but narrowed since January 21, 2025: only certain studies, jobs and permanent residence routes qualify.
IMP
Key requirements
- Partners of students in master’s, PhD or certain professional programs.
- Partners of workers in TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or certain TEER 2 or 3 jobs, with at least 16 months left on their permit.
- Partners, and dependent children, of workers on a pathway to permanent residence.
- Sponsored spouses in Canada can also get an open work permit.
What you can do instead
OpenIMP
International Mobility Program
Every work permit that needs no LMIA: PGWPs, family open work permits, IEC, intra-company transfers and more. In 2025 it covered about 78% of work permits.
Open. Each category has its own rules.
All pathways
Statuses change, sometimes with little notice. Always confirm on the official page before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.