An Open Work Permit (OWP) issued based on your spouse's study permit only becomes usable once you've both actually landed in Canada — it doesn't authorize remote work from abroad before entry.
What group members advised:- If you and your spouse have never physically landed in Canada, you cannot work under the OWP yet. The permit's authorization only takes effect once you've entered Canada with the physical copy of your work permit in hand.
- If you want to work remotely for a Canadian company from your home country in the meantime, you generally don't need the OWP for that — working remotely for a Canadian employer while physically outside Canada isn't governed by your Canadian work permit status the same way in-country work is, though this is a nuanced area worth confirming with a consultant given your specific employer and tax situation.
- Once you and your spouse do land, the OWP will let you work for any employer without needing a separate employer-specific permit.
Because remote work arrangements from outside Canada can have tax and immigration nuances depending on the employer and your specific status, confirm your particular situation with a licensed immigration consultant before starting any remote work arrangement.