Kuentaly › News › Why a spouse's work permit gets refused in Canada

Why a spouse's work permit gets refused in Canada

Published October 15, 2026 · 3 min read

Illustration: a gate with a keyhole and a coral key that does not quite fit, next to a paper calendar page.
Key pointsIt is not luck. Since January 2025, a spouse's open work permit depends on the worker's job type and on how long the worker's permit still lasts, often at least 16 months.

📘 Related guide: Budgeting as a couple with separate bank accounts

What happened

Many couples ask the same thing: my partner has a work permit, so why was mine refused? An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. Since January 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has limited who can get one as the spouse of a foreign worker.

So it is not luck, and it is not a free-for-all decision either. The rules are written down. An officer checks that you meet them and that your papers prove it. IRCC's pages do not list refusal reasons, so we cannot say why any single case was refused.

For a worker who is not on a path to permanent residence, IRCC's page (updated June 12, 2026) says:

  • The worker must have a job in a management or professional occupation (TEER 0 or 1), or in a select TEER 2 or 3 occupation. TEER is the system Canada uses to rank jobs by training level.
  • The worker's permit must be valid for at least 16 months after IRCC receives the spouse's application.
  • Spouses of workers in lower-skilled jobs (TEER 4 or 5) who are not on a residence path are no longer eligible.
  • The spouse must be in a genuine relationship and hold valid status if already in Canada.

If the worker has already applied for permanent residence through an economic program, the rule is different: the permit must last at least 6 months.

How it affects you

Example (our assumptions, not official data): your partner's permit has 15 months left when you apply. The rule asks for 16, so you would not qualify yet. Suppose you could have worked 40 hours a week at $22 an hour.

  • $22 × 40 hours = $880 a week before tax
  • $880 × 13 weeks (about 3 months) = $11,440 before tax

That is the income a household can lose while waiting, reapplying or finding another route. A missing paper can also sink an application, such as a marriage certificate or a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (form IMM 5409).

What you can do

  • Look at the job letter and find the worker's TEER code. Compare it with the occupation list on IRCC's page.
  • Count the months from your planned filing date to the day your partner's permit expires.
  • Gather the basics: form IMM 1295, a passport copy, one photo, proof of relationship, a copy of the worker's permit and an employer letter with duties and job code.
  • If you do not qualify, IRCC says you may apply for another work permit you are eligible for.
  • If you are already in Canada and your permit is shorter than your partner's, you may be able to extend it. Apply before it expires.

What to keep in mind

Rules and lists change, so check the dates on IRCC's pages. Open permits approved under the older rules stay valid until they expire. Spouses of international students follow a separate set of rules. This is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, ask IRCC or a regulated immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer, and be wary of anyone who guarantees an approval.

Sources

  1. IRCC (Canada.ca): Open work permits for family members of foreign workers: Who can apply
  2. IRCC (Canada.ca): Open work permits for family members of foreign workers: How to apply
  3. IRCC (Canada.ca): Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents

What did you think?

Anonymous: no account, nothing personal is stored.

Information checked against the sources listed above on October 15, 2026. Educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice.

Related guides

Budgeting as a couple with separate bank accountsYou can share a budget without merging bank accounts. How to split shared costs, keep personal money private and avoid money fights as a couple in Canada.50/30/20 budget: a simple monthly plan for CanadaHow to build a monthly budget with the 50/30/20 rule using Canadian examples: what counts as a need, a want or savings, and how to adjust it.Household budget: why it matters and how it helpsWhy a household budget works better than guessing: fewer money arguments, clearer goals and a shared view of where the money goes. A practical guide for couples and families in Canada.
Track it all in one place

Kuentaly reads your bank alerts, organizes your cards and shows your registered accounts. Free to use during the beta.

Open Kuentaly

More news

Super Visa for parents: what it costs and who qualifiesOctober 15, 2026 · How the Super Visa works for parents and grandparents: the income your family needs, the $100,000 insurance and the fees, with a worked example.RRSP limit for 2027 is $35,390: what it means for youOctober 15, 2026 · The CRA lists a $35,390 RRSP limit for 2027, up from $33,810. Learn how your own room is worked out and what it can mean for your taxes.Study permit: you must now show $23,448 for livingOctober 14, 2026 · For study permit applications from Sept. 1, 2026, IRCC asks a single student to show $23,448 for living costs, plus tuition and travel.