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Will my spouse or common-law partner get a work permit under International Experience Canada to come with me?

No. If your spouse or common-law partner wants to work in Canada, they have the following 2 options:

Option 1: Apply for International Experience Canada

Your spouse or common-law partner can submit a profile to the International Experience Canada program. They must meet the requirements and follow the application steps if they are invited to apply for a work permit.

Option 2: Apply for a work permit outside the International Experience Canada program

In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit, which would allow them to accept a job from any employer.

Starting January 30, 2023, family members of most foreign workers can apply for an open work permit. Find out more about these changes.

In other cases, they must apply for an employer-specific work permit. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job. Find out if your spouse or common-law partner’s employer needs an LMIA to hire them.

How we assess their application

For both options, your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit application will be assessed separately from yours.

If your spouse or common-law partner is not eligible for a work permit, they may be able to come to Canada as a visitor.

See also Can my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children come with me to Canada?

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