Canada spousal open work permit for students: 2026 rules
Your spouse can get a Canada spousal open work permit while you study only if you hold a valid study permit and are in a master’s program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, one of IRCC’s listed professional degree programs at a university, or a small list of special programs. These rules have applied since 21 January 2025. If you are in a diploma, a bachelor’s degree outside the professional list, or a master’s shorter than 16 months, your spouse cannot get this permit through you.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (CAD 1 = Rs 107.55).
Canada spousal open work permit for students: key facts
| Question | Answer (IRCC, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies through you? | Your spouse or common-law partner |
| Your study program must be | Master’s of 16+ months, doctoral, a listed professional degree at a university, or a listed eligible program |
| Type of permit | Open work permit: work for most employers |
| How long it lasts | Usually the same end date as your study permit |
| Government fees | CAD 155 work permit + CAD 100 open work permit holder fee = CAD 255 (about Rs 27,425) |
| Biometrics | CAD 85 per person, or CAD 170 maximum for a family applying together |
| Children | This permit is for spouses and partners only. Children may study at school (see below) |
Which study programs qualify in 2026
Canada narrowed spouse work permits in January 2025. IRCC’s notice of 14 January 2025 said that from 21 January 2025, only spouses of certain students and workers can apply. The IRCC page for students’ spouses (last updated 3 February 2026) lists who qualifies. You must have a valid study permit and be in one of these:
- A master’s degree program of 16 months or longer. A one-year master’s does not qualify.
- A doctoral (PhD) program of any length.
- A professional degree program 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), Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc), Bachelor of Nursing (BN), Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc).
- A listed eligible program, such as the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot outside Quebec, Ontario’s Supervised Practice Experience Partnership, and certain nursing, midwifery and pharmacy bridging programs in Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Notice what is missing: college diplomas, postgraduate certificates and most bachelor’s degrees (for example a BBA or BSc in computer science). Many Nepali students go to Canada for a one- or two-year college program. If that is your plan, your spouse cannot get an open work permit through you.
Check the exact length of your master’s on your letter of acceptance. A program listed as “12 months” or “1 year” will not meet the 16-month rule, even if it is a full master’s degree.
How your spouse applies, step by step
Most people must apply online through an IRCC account. Your spouse can apply from Nepal (outside Canada) or, if already in Canada, from inside Canada.
- Confirm your program qualifies. Compare your letter of acceptance with the list above.
- Collect proof of your enrolment. IRCC accepts one of: a valid letter of acceptance from your designated learning institution (DLI), a proof of enrolment letter, or transcripts from your current program.
- Collect proof of the relationship. For a married couple, this is usually your marriage registration certificate. For a common-law partner, proof that you have lived together.
- If you are in a special program, add the letter from the province or the participating school.
- Answer IRCC’s online questions. From outside Canada, the spouse answers “No” to a public policy, “Yes” to being the spouse of someone who has or is applying for a permit, “Yes” to being the spouse of a study permit holder, and chooses “A work permit for a spouse of an international student, or for a family member of a worker”. The tool then gives a personal document checklist.
- Pay fees at the end: CAD 155 plus CAD 100, and biometrics if asked.
- Give biometrics if the instructions letter asks. From Nepal this is done at a visa application centre. See our Canada biometrics and medical exam guide for Nepal.
IRCC may ask for more documents. Paper applications are only allowed if your spouse cannot apply online because of a disability or a problem with the online system.
How long it lasts and how to extend it
The permit usually ends on the same date as your study permit. Your spouse can extend it under the same stream if all of these are true:
- You have a valid study permit.
- Your spouse is in Canada (or will be while you study).
- You are a full-time student in a program that is eligible for a post-graduation work permit, at a DLI.
- You are not in the last term of your program.
The extension cannot go past the end of your study permit. If you need to extend your own permit first, read our guide on how to extend your Canada study permit.
IRCC also said that open work permits approved under the old rules stay valid until they expire. Family members already in Canada can ask to renew under the same criteria as their current permit, matching the length of the student’s permit.
What about our children?
The student spouse permit covers spouses and common-law partners only. For school, IRCC’s rules are:
- A child coming to Canada with you generally needs a study permit, applied for before entering Canada. IRCC’s page on minors says a letter of acceptance is not needed in this case.
- A child already in Canada whose parent has a study or work permit can go to preschool, primary or secondary school without a study permit. IRCC still recommends getting one.
- Programs of 6 months or less do not need a study permit for a minor.
- Age of majority is 18 in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and PEI, and 19 in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories. After that, a child who keeps studying needs their own study permit.
Children who don’t have a study permit must have valid visitor status. A study permit can also help with access to some provincial services, so ask the school board what it needs.
The money you must show for a family
Bringing family raises the amount of money you must show. For study permit applications made on or after 1 September 2026 (outside Quebec), IRCC’s living-cost amounts are, on top of tuition and travel:
| Family size | CAD | About (NPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Student alone | 23,448 | Rs 25.22 lakh |
| 2 people (you + spouse) | 29,192 | Rs 31.40 lakh |
| 3 people (you + spouse + 1 child) | 35,888 | Rs 38.60 lakh |
More detail is in our article on the Canada proof of funds increase from September 2026.
For Nepali couples: what to think about
- Pick the program with your spouse in mind. If working in Canada matters for your spouse, a 16-month-plus master’s or a PhD is the clearest route. A one-year postgraduate diploma will not qualify.
- Register your marriage. Keep the marriage registration certificate and other proof of a genuine relationship, and make sure names and dates match across every document you submit.
- Plan for one income. Your own off-campus work is limited to 24 hours a week during regular terms. See our part-time work rules guide.
- If you don’t qualify, your spouse may still visit, or may qualify for a different type of work permit on their own. IRCC says to check other work permit programs.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any master’s qualifies. It must be 16 months or longer.
- Relying on old advice from before January 2025, when spouses of most full-time students could apply.
- Forgetting that the spouse’s permit can’t outlast your study permit.
- Paying an agent who “guarantees” a spouse visa. Nobody can guarantee an IRCC decision. Try our consultancy red flag test.
What to do next
- Check your program’s name and length against IRCC’s list.
- Gather your enrolment letter and marriage documents.
- Work out the family funds you need, in rupees.
- Compare this with other countries in our guide to bringing your spouse while studying abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Can my spouse work in Canada if I am doing a college diploma?
Not through the student spouse open work permit. Since 21 January 2025, only spouses of students in master’s programs of 16 months or more, doctoral programs, listed professional degrees or listed special programs qualify.
Does a 1-year master’s in Canada allow a spouse open work permit?
No. IRCC requires a master’s degree program of 16 months or longer.
How much does a spouse open work permit cost in Canada?
CAD 155 for the work permit plus CAD 100 for the open work permit holder fee, so CAD 255 (about Rs 27,425). Biometrics, if needed, are CAD 85.
Is a Bachelor of Engineering student’s spouse eligible?
Yes, if it is a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc) at a university. It is on IRCC’s professional degree list.
Can my children work in Canada while I study?
The student family work permit is only for spouses and common-law partners. Children can attend school, usually with a study permit.
Related guides
- Canada study permit extension: how to extend inside Canada
- Change school in Canada on a study permit: 2026 DLI rules
- Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates (2026)
- Canada Study Permit Application from Nepal: 2026 Steps
- Canada GIC for Study Permit from Nepal: 2026 Guide
Sources
- Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada – IRCC
- Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents – IRCC notice, 14 January 2025
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list – IRCC
- Studying in Canada as a minor – IRCC
- Who can study without a permit – IRCC
- Study permit: proof of financial support – IRCC
- Work off campus as an international student – IRCC
Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
Responses