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Spouse's passport expiring soon? How it affects the accompanying open work permit

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • Spouse's passport

    Should ideally be renewed before applying, since the open work permit's validity is tied to it.

Step-by-Step

If a spouse is accompanying a study permit holder on an open work permit and their passport is due to expire soon:

  1. Know that the open work permit will only be issued up to the passport's expiry date. IRCC ties the permit's validity to the passport, so a passport expiring partway through the study program means a shorter work permit than expected.

  2. Renew the passport before applying, if possible. This avoids getting an open work permit that's shorter than the full program duration.

  3. If renewal isn't possible before departure, don't panic. Passports can be renewed from within Canada through the relevant country's high commission/consulate, and the work permit can typically be extended afterward.


Planning the passport renewal ahead of the application reduces the chance of needing a mid-program work permit extension.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Renew the spouse's passport before applying for the open work permit if there's enough time, so the permit isn't shortened.
  • Tip: The open work permit's validity is capped at the passport's expiry date — check this before assuming the permit will match the full study program length.
  • Do: If the passport expires after arrival, renew it through the relevant country's mission in Canada rather than assuming it must be done abroad.

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