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Applying for Study Permit + Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) together for an MBA in Ontario

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

Documents Needed

  • Study permit application

    Submitted together with the spousal open work permit (SOWP) application in one package.

  • Proof of funds for the applicant

    Standard tuition and living cost proof required for the study permit.

  • Proof of funds for the accompanying spouse

    One member cited showing roughly CAD 12,000 and INR 600,000 (6 lakh) to support the spouse's SOWP application.

Step-by-Step

For an MBA offer in Ontario where the applicant wants to bring their spouse on a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), members shared their own experience with combined applications:

  1. Apply for the Study Permit (SP) and SOWP together, in the same submission. One member reported doing exactly this and receiving their Port of Entry / Passport Request (PPR) in about 1 month and 6 days — a relatively fast turnaround, though processing times vary by intake and applicant profile.

  2. Budget separate proof-of-funds amounts for the spouse. In addition to the primary applicant's tuition and living cost proof, the accompanying spouse needs their own funds shown to support the SOWP application — one example cited was around CAD 12,000 plus INR 6 lakh, though required amounts can change and should be verified against current IRCC guidelines before applying.

  3. Submit early relative to your intake date. The poster was asking about a May intake with enough lead time, which the group confirmed was sufficient — earlier submission generally gives more buffer for processing delays.


Because proof-of-funds requirements and processing times shift over time, treat the specific dollar figures and turnaround time here as one data point rather than a guarantee, and confirm current requirements on the IRCC website before applying.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Submit the Study Permit and SOWP applications together rather than sequentially, to save processing time.
  • Tip: Budget separate proof-of-funds for the accompanying spouse in addition to the primary applicant's costs.
  • Do: Apply with enough lead time before your intake date to absorb possible processing delays.

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