Why is spousal open work permit processing time taking so long?
Frustrated couple waiting with documents, symbolising delays in spousal open work permit processing for Canada.
The Spousal Open Work Permit is one of the most critical pathways opted for by many spouses to reunite with their loved ones in Canada. Through this pathway Canadian government allows spouses or common-law partners of International students who are pursuing their academics or temporary foreign workers under a valid permit to travel to Canada to stay and support their loved ones. Due to the growing demand for immigrants, many applicants are facing delays in processing times for their applied permits. Especially, with India as the largest source of intake to Canada, applicants are feeling clueless and anxious about their visa status. After so many efforts and the documentation process costing a huge time and money, they feel frustrated with the waiting time to start their reunification journey to join their spouse in Canada. This delay has been commenced from the year of 2024 and 2025, causing people to wait with a translucent idea.
Many couples are yearning to join their partners and build their lives together in Canada. It is important to understand the reason behind the same and know how to proceed during this crucial period.
What Is a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)?
Firstly, let's know what SOWP is. This pathway is designed by the IRCC to allow the spouse or the common-law partner of the temporary resident, who may be an International Student pursuing their studies in Canada under a valid study permit or the temporary resident skilled worker under a valid work permit, to travel to Canada. The main objective of this visa is family reunification; hence, the spouse or partner can travel to Canada to stay together with their spouses and also work in Canada until the permit's validity. Through this pathway, the spouse or the partner can take a job in Canada to support their expenses during their stay. They need not furnish a job offer letter to validate their travel during the visa application process. Also, this does not work like a closed work permit, where the applicant must have a job offer tied to a specific employer. Through a Spousal Open Work Permit the spouses can support their partner and also can balance their expenses by taking up a job according to their qualifications, also by contributing to the Canadian economy.
Let's Break Down Who Is Eligible?
Even without a job offer to enter Canada, to get qualified under SOWP, the applicant must meet some of the qualifications and requirements:
- The applicant must be the spouse or common-law partner of a full-time International student pursuing their study or a Skilled worker with a valid permit in Canada.
- The applicant must submit documentation to validate their relationship status, like marriage certificates or proof of cohabitation.
- The applicant can apply by staying inside Canada or from outside any other country, depending on their legal status and location.
Benefits of SOWP
- The Applicant after acquiring a valid work permit can work in anywhere under any job in Canada, which does not subject to any restrictions.
- By taking up this work, the partne or spouse can share the financial burden of the primary applicant and can support each other until their permit validity.
- By their arrival to Canada to support their spouse and they can enjoy the family integration and emotional well-being.
When the spouse gains some years of work experience in the Canadian land, it can help them to assist their Permanent Residency (PR) applications.
How SOWP Differs from Other Permits
SOWP is not like work permit, which are applied under a specific employer. But spouse work permit Canada falls under the “open work” category, which defines that the spouse can work under any employer or can switch their jobs without applying for a new permit. This is the best objective of the Spousal Sponsorship Canada programs and is often applied concurrently.
What Is the Current Processing Time for SOWP in 2025?
From the mid of 2025, the processing time for the Spousal Open Work Permitare being too much delayed and inconsistent, the delay in the processing time are affected due to various factors:
IRCC Official Timelines
- For the application from outside Canada the processing period takes upto 4 to 7 months, that too the processing time further varies depending upon the countries.
- The applications from inside canada may take up to: 3 to 5 months for the processing time. Here, the processing time varies with paper applications and online applications.
Real-World Experiences
The applications from high volume countries like India and Phillippines have reported for facing processing period for 6 - 8 months or still longer than that. Applicants from very recent times are facing the average wait period of 7 months due to embassy backlogs like holidays and the time taken for document verification.
Why Is the SOWP Processing Time Delayed?
Backlogs Due to High Volume
As the Internatiional students and Foreign National Workers population have been increasing every year, the application for SOWP have also been increased for the purpose of family reunification. This proportional surge has made significant delay in processing applications, this was increased after lifting the COVID-19 travel bans.
Policy Changes and IRCC Prioritisation
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) have shifted its focus and have been concentrating on economic immigration pathways. In 2024, IRCC have introduced many new pilot programs and stricter quotas which have affected the processing time for spouse visa applications to Canada.
Documentation Issues
This is one the main reason for the delay, when the applicant submits Incomplete applications, outdated forms, or errors in marriage documentation can cause further delay and result in slower processing time for other applications. And also , when the applicant causes delay in submitting the documents like Medical examinations, Biometrics, Police clearance certificates.
Country-Specific Delays
The processing times for work permit for spouse in Canada get delayed in some of the countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan where they report longer delays due to:
- Overwhelmed Visa Application Centres (VACs)
- Staffing shortages at Canadian embassies
- Local administrative hurdles
- Post-COVID Resource Shortages
Even the world had recovered from COVID, but IRCC is still recovering from staff shortages and digital transition issues. The updates in the Immigration policies in the year 2024-2025 have resulted in temporary backlogs.
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