Will my common-law partner be eligible for the Open Work Permit?

[pedrocoelho]

I have a Letter of Acceptance from a designated learning institution for their July 2021 intake and plan on submitting my study permit application on the beginning of March 2021 - that's the earliest I can do (due to the long processing times we may still be facing next year, I may ask the university to change my intake to October, but will apply for the study permit on March in any case).

I want my partner to come with me to Canada so ideally she'll have a work permit while I attend university, but here's the thing: we won't have been living together for a whole year by the beginning of March 2021.

We started living together on March 23rd, 2020 and have a document which states that (pointing to that exact date) - it's called a stable union in Brazil. That is also the day that appears as the starting date on our apartment's lease contract, which I also plan to include in my application as a supporting document (a 12-month lease contract).

Finally, here's my question: if I submit my application on the first week of March 2021, is there a chance she won't be eligible for the open work permit?

 

[scylla]

I have a Letter of Acceptance from a designated learning institution for their July 2021 intake and plan on submitting my study permit application on the beginning of March 2021 - that's the earliest I can do (due to the long processing times we may still be facing next year, I may ask the university to change my intake to October, but will apply for the study permit on March in any case).

I want my partner to come with me to Canada so ideally she'll have a work permit while I attend university, but here's the thing: we won't have been living together for a whole year by the beginning of March 2021.

We started living together on March 23rd, 2020 and have a document which states that (pointing to that exact date) - it's called a stable union in Brazil. That is also the day that appears as the starting date on our apartment's lease contract, which I also plan to include in my application as a supporting document (a 12-month lease contract).

Finally, here's my question: if I submit my application on the first week of March 2021, is there a chance she won't be eligible for the open work permit?

She cannot submit an open work permit until you have lived together continuously for at least one full year. You can apply for your study permit the first week of March. However you have to wait until after March 23rd in order for her to apply for the OWP.

 

[pedrocoelho]

She cannot submit an open work permit until you have lived together continuously for at least one full year. You can apply for your study permit the first week of March. However you have to wait until after March 23rd in order for her to apply for the OWP.

I see! I didn't realize we could apply for my study permit and her OWP on different days. I'll still have to show sufficient funds for our combined living expenses (14k CAD) + first year study expenses on my application, right?
EDIT: Of course I will, there's a Family Information form I must fill out after all. Anyway, thanks!