Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Work available to your spouse or common-law partner.
Eligibility
Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit if:
you are a full-time student at:
a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees
you have a valid study permit or
you have a valid work permit.
ValidityWork permits for your spouse or common-law partner are valid for the same period of time as your study or work permit. Note: Accompanying spouses or common-law partners of foreign students (including spouses or common-law partners of foreign students with post-graduation work permits) are eligible for an open work permit, which means they do not need a job offer or a labour market opinion from Service Canada.
Find out more about a labour market opinion in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
How to applyThere are five steps to apply for a work permit: