If your spouse or common-law partner has a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), your Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) application is assessed under the same IRCC eligibility rules as spouses/common-law partners of foreign workers. For the general requirements, application steps, fees, and processing times, please refer to our Spousal Open Work Permit (Foreign Worker) page.
That said, there are a few PGWP-specific nuances you should know:
1) Eligibility depends on the PGWP holder’s job (NOC/TEER) — not on the PGWP itself
The PGWP itself doesn’t make you eligible — the job does. Because a PGWP is an open work permit, IRCC focuses on whether the PGWP holder is currently employed (or will be employed) in an eligible occupation at the time you apply. IRCC assesses eligibility using the NOC/TEER of the job.
In most cases, the PGWP holder’s job must be:
- Any TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupation, or
- One of IRCC’s eligible TEER 2 or 3 occupations (based on IRCC’s published lists).
NOC choice matters — use job duties, not the job title. When identifying the right NOC, match the lead statement and main duties to the actual day-to-day responsibilities. Titles like “Coordinator” or “Analyst” can fit multiple NOCs, so duties are what IRCC relies on. In PGWP cases, the “make-or-break” evidence is usually the employment letter + job duties showing the correct NOC.
Tip: A strong employment letter is often the key document in PGWP cases. The PGWP holder’s employer letter should clearly include job title, main duties (NOC-relevant responsibilities), hours per week, wage, start date, and employer contact details. Adding recent pay stubs helps confirm the employment is genuine and ongoing.
2) The PGWP holder must have at least 16 months of work authorization left
IRCC generally expects the principal worker’s work permit (or authorization to work) to be valid for at least 16 months after they receive the spouse/common-law partner’s application. This is a common issue for PGWP holders who apply late in the permit validity period, or if passport expiry shortened the work permit validity.
3) The PGWP holder must be living in Canada while working
The PGWP holder should be in Canada and working (or coming to Canada to work) while supporting the spouse’s application.
4) Dependent children are treated differently under the newer rules
Under the changes that took effect January 21, 2025, IRCC narrowed “family open work permit” eligibility so that it generally applies to spouses/common-law partners and removed eligibility for dependent children under this specific family OWP measure.
5) PR-pathway situations can follow a different branch of eligibility
IRCC’s instructions separate cases based on whether the principal foreign worker is on a pathway to PR / has applied for PR. If that applies to your family, eligibility may be assessed under a different category within IRCC’s framework.
To help you prepare a strong SOWP application for spouses of PGWP holders—especially the NOC selection, employment letter, and supporting documents—you can refer to our Licensed Immigration Consultants. On our site, you can also review the professional Immigration Fees involved, or Book a Consultation to speak with our experts right now.
