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McGill.CA / International Student Services / Work & Permits

Open Work Permit for Spouses

Eligibility

Your may apply for an Open Work Permit if you are a full-time McGill student, you have a valid and you are studying in either:

  • a master’s or doctoral degree program in a university or polytechnic institution, or
  • one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
    • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
    • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
    • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
    • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
    • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
    • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)
    • Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
    • Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)

Your spouse/partner will not require a job offer to apply, and his/her permit will be valid for the same period as your study permit. The work permit must be obtained prior to employment.

For more details, visit the "" page of the Immigration Canada website.

INSTRUCTIONS - HOW & WHERE to APPLY

  • You can to find out how long it will take before the Open Work Permit application is processed. Processing times vary according to volume and time of year.
  • Apply using the IRCC Secure Account (GCkey) for the Open work permit.

Applying from outside of Canada

  • Scenario A: Together with your Study Permit Application OR
  • Scenario B: Separate from your Study permit Application

For the two above scenarios, you would apply online.

Applying Online

1. Start by filling out the questionnaire.

  • If applying together with your study permit application, enter that you would like to study in Canada. Answer Yes to the question “Do you want to submit an application for a ?”. Answer Work with an Open Work permit to the question “Why is your family member visiting Canada?”.
  • If your spouse/common-law partner is applying separately, they must enter that they would like to work in Canada. Answer No to the question “I have a job offer and my gave me an offer of employment number or LMIA number”. Answer Yes to the question “Are you a spouse or common-law partner of a person who holds a study permit”

2. Write down the personal reference code you are given at the end of the questionnaire.

3. Log into your (or register for an account - also known as a "GC Key" - if you don't have one already)

4. Complete the PDF Application Form provided

  • Save it to your desktop, and upload it to your application (the electronic signature is not needed).
  • No job offer is necessary when applying for a spousal work permit. You can indicate "not applicable" in fields requesting this information.
  • No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is necessary for the above work permits; you can leave this section blank.
  • NOTE: McGill's Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) is O19359011033

5. Upload required documents

  • Upload your saved IMM5710 form to your application
  • When asked to upload your passport, be sure to include ALL stamped/marked pages of your passport. These should all be scanned into 1 document.
  • If you were required to do a medical exam as part of your work permit application, upload proof of this (i.e. a receipt) in the additional documents section.

6. Pay the required fees:

  • Spousal work permit = $155 + $100 fee = $255

7. Wait to receive your online work permit approval notice (Letter of Introduction).

  • You can your to find out how long it will take before you get your Work Permit. Processing times vary according to volume and time of year.
  • Having problems with your CIC online application? Contact your visa processing office.

Applying from inside of Canada

  • Scenario: Your spouse has entered Canada as a visitor, and now wishes to apply for an Open Work Permit

Applying Online

1. Your spouse/common law partner can start their online application by filling out the questionnaire.

  • Your spouse or common law partner must enter that they would like to work in Canada. Answer No to the question “I have a job offer and my gave me an offer of employment number or LMIA number”. Answer Yes to the question “Are you a spouse or common-law partner of a person who holds a study permit”

2. Write down the personal reference code that is given at the end of the questionnaire.

3. Your spouse/common law partner must log into their (or register for an account - also known as a "GC Key" - if they don't have one already)

4. Complete the PDF Application Form provided

  • Be sure to include your UCI (Universal Client ID - which can be found on your Study Permit)


4. Complete the PDF Application Form provided

  • Save it to your desktop, and upload it to your application (the electronic signature is not needed).
  • No job offer is necessary when applying for a spousal work permit. You can indicate "not applicable" in fields requesting this information.
  • No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is necessary for the above work permits; you can leave this section blank.

NOTE: McGill's Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) is O19359011033


5. Upload required documents

  • Upload your saved IMM5710 form to your application
  • When asked to upload your passport, be sure to include ALL stamped/marked pages of your passport. These should all be scanned into 1 document.
  • If you were required to do a medical exam as part of your work permit application, upload proof of this (i.e. a receipt) in the additional documents section.

6. Pay the required fees:

  • Spousal work permit = $155 + $100 fee = $255

7. Wait to receive your online work permit approval notice (Letter of Introduction).

  • You can your to find out how long it will take before you get your Work Permit. Processing times vary according to volume and time of year.
  • Having problems with your CIC online application? Contact the Immigration Canada Call Centre at 1.888.242.2100

Applying at the border

In light of the announcement that international students may no longer apply for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, we suggest that spouses apply for their Open Spousal Work Permit online.

You may still try to apply at the border by flagpoling however there is no guarantee that a border officer will process your application.

  • Scenario: Your spouse has entered Canada as a visitor, and now wishes to apply for an Open Work Permit at the border or port of entry.

Although we cannot guarantee that your application will be processed, you may try to apply for your work permit (spousal) at the border or port of entry if you are TRV-exempt, meaning either:

  1. You are a citizen of a TRV-exempt country, OR
  2. You are a citizen of a TRV-required country and are re-entering Canada solely from the US

The closest land borders that process work permits are:

  • Lacolle/Champlain
  • St. Armand/Phillipsburg
  • Stanstead
  • Montreal's Trudeau Airport - but only if you are flying into Montreal from an international destination.

Don't forget to bring:

  • Passport
  • Valid Study Permit - belonging to the full-time McGill Student
  • Proof of enrolment and current transcripts - belonging to the McGill Student
  • Immigration Canada application fee: $155 + new $100 fee (as of Feb. 21, 2015) = $255
  • All of your supporting documents: proof of medical exam (if applicable), Marriage License/Certificate (translated in either English or in French) or .

Applying upon arrival to Canada

In light of the announcement that international students may no longer apply for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, we suggest that spouses apply for their Open Spousal Work Permit online.

You may still try to apply at the border by flagpoling however there is no guarantee that a border officer will process your application.

  • Scenario: Your spouse/common law partner is from a TRV-exempt country. They will be able to apply for the Open Work Permit for Spouses at any port of entry.

Applying at a Port of Entry

Although we cannot guarantee that your work permit (spousal) will be processed, you can try to apply for the open spousal work permit upon your arrival to Canada, if you are:

  1. You are a citizen of a TRV-exempt country

The closest land borders that process work permits are:

  • Lacolle/Champlain
  • St. Armand/Phillipsburg
  • Stanstead
  • Montreal's Trudeau Airport - but only if you are flying into Montreal from an international destination.

Don't forget to bring:

  • Passport
  • Valid Study Permit - belonging to the full-time McGill Student
  • Proof of enrolment and current transcripts - belonging to the McGill Student
  • Immigration Canada application fee: $155 + new $100 fee (as of Feb. 21, 2015) = $255
  • All of your supporting documents: proof of medical exam (if applicable), Marriage License/Certificate (translated in either English or in French) or .

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