Open Work Permit

• Select: “Continue to GC Key” or “Continue to Sign-In Partner” (if you already have an account)
• If you don’t have an account, select Register and then choose either GC Key or Sign in Partner option
• Select: “Sign Up” (for GC Key only); follow the instructions. If you sign up for a GC Key, save the Username, Password, Account Recovery Questions, and Security Questions as you will require these later on to access your account.
• Select: “I accept” after reading the terms and conditions.

At the bottom of the page under “Start an Application”; click “Apply to Come to Canada”

You will be asked if you have a Personal Reference Code.

If you did not answer the assessment questions previously, you do not have a Personal Reference Code, scroll down.

Scroll down and click on “Apply for Visitor Visa, Study and/or Work Permit” and answer all assessment questions.

You will be asked the following eligibility questions depending on your situation:

• Spouse or common-law partners of eligible study permit holders, are you a spouse or common-law partner of a person who holds a study permit? Answer “YES”
• Spouse or common-law partners of PGWP holders, are you a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of a person who has or is applying for a work permit?
• Are you accompanying a family member who has status in Canada? Answer YES
• Have you lived in a designated country or territory for more than six months in the last year?”  select “YES” if you have lived for 6 months in the past year in a country for which Canada requires a medical exam
• Learn if the country you were living in is “designated” here
• If you have dependents and you wish to extend/ apply for their temporary residence in Canada, you will specify this when answering the relevant questions in this section.

• UCI number: “Unique client Identifier”, also known as “Client ID”. It is an 8 - 10 digit number that appears on any document issued by IRCC
• Check “A work permit with a new employer”
• Document Number:
  • If you are extending your work permit, you will find this number printed in bold black ink at the top of your permit starting with a “U” followed by 9 numbers.
  • If you have a Visitor Record you will find this number printed in bold black ink at the top of the document starting with “C” followed by 9 numbers
  • If you don’t have any of the above documents, leave this section blank
• Details of intended work in Canada: Choose “Open Work Permit” on question 1 a), and leave everything else blank.
• Background Information:
  2(c): Have you previously applied to enter or remain in Canada? Click YES, as you have entered Canada on your Study Permit. Include the dates for each document you applied for in the past in the available box (e.g., first entry as a visitor: Aug. 2021, work permit Dec. 2023).
• Signing the form: Type your name in the box or leave it blank. Do not print out and sign by hand!

Spouses or common-law partners of PGWP holders must upload the following documents

• a letter from the PGWP holder/applicant's current employer that shows
  • their employment details
  • their occupation
  • a description of their duties
  • the NOC or TEER category their job is classified under or a copy of the letter of offer of employment
• a copy of PGWP or an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet (only if you are applying after your partner's PGWP application is approved)
• Passport
• Digital Photo
• Marriage Certificate or Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form (IMM5409)
• Family Member Proof of Status (e.g., copy of your spouse’s study permit)

The current fee is $255. You only have the option to pay online using a credit/debit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Debit Card).