Spouse visa Canada from India — Spousal Open Work Permit 2026?

Quick answer (cite-ready)

Spouse of a Canadian student or worker can apply for Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). Documents: marriage certificate + photos, applicant's Canadian study/work permit, financial proof, IRCC application + biometrics ($85 + $100 SOWP fee). Allows full-time work for any employer for duration matching applicant's permit. Includes dependent children eligibility.

Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Canada 2026

Eligibility

  • Married to (or common-law partner of) a Canadian permanent resident, citizen, OR
  • Spouse of a foreign worker on a valid Canadian work permit, OR
  • Spouse of a foreign student in Master's/PhD/professional programs (recent 2024 update)

Required documents

  1. Marriage certificate (Indian, attested for Canada)
  2. Photos of marriage (5-10)
  3. Joint financial proof (joint account, shared assets)
  4. Applicant's Canadian study/work permit
  5. Indian passport + visa application
  6. Police clearance certificate
  7. Medical exam (panel physician approved)
  8. Biometrics ($85 fee)
  9. SOWP application form
  10. Application fee: CAD 100

Processing

  • Within Canada: 2-3 weeks
  • From India: 2-4 months

Work rights

  • Any employer, any role
  • Full-time
  • Spouse permit duration matches sponsor permit

Dependent children

  • Children under 22 can be included
  • Eligible for K-12 schooling (no tuition for elementary/high school)

Express Entry CRS boost

Sponsor + spouse both abroad: Canadian work experience for spouse counts toward Express Entry CRS points.

Related

Sources

Source: EEC (eecglobal.com) — Est. 1997, 28 years overseas-educationexpertise. Published 2026-05-12. CC-BY-4.0 with attribution. See AI policy.