Effective January 21, 2025, there has been a substantial amendment to which spouses or common-law partners of foreign workers are eligible to apply for an open work permit to work in Canada. As of this date, dependent children are no longer eligible for an open work permit.
Spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers who hold open work permits as of January 21, 2025, can continue to work in Canada based on their existing open work permits. However, they can only apply to extend their existing open work permits if they either qualify under the new rules OR they are only applying to extend their work permit because it was initially issued for a shorter period that that of their skilled worker spouse or common-law partner (for example because of passport expiry).
Spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers who are eligible can continue to apply for their work permits at the same time as their foreign worker spouse.
Update | Change to which spouses of foreign workers are eligible for open work permits |
Effective Date | January 21, 2025 |
High Skilled Foreign Workers
In order for the spouse or common-law partner of a foreign worker to be eligible for an open work permit, the foreign worker must:
have a valid work permit OR a valid work permit approval letter OR authorization to work without a work permit under 186.
the work permit or period of authorized work must be valid for at least 16 months at the time IRCC receives the spouse's open work permit application.
Live or plan to live in Canada while working.
Be employed or will be employed in either a NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupation or an eligible NOC TEER 2 or 3 occupation (see list of eligible occupations below)
Spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers covered by free-trade agreements are not impacted by these changes and remain eligible for open work permits. Further details will be added once IRCC clarifies this exemption.
Spouses or common-law partners who are not eligible:
The spouses and common-law partners of the following foreign workers are not eligible for an open work permit under this category:
if the foreign worker is employed in a NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation
if the foreign worker has made a refugee claim that has been referred to the Immigration Refugee Board.
if they foreign worker is subject to an unenforceable removal order.
if the principal applicant is an international student who holds a study permit (different eligibility rules apply)
if the principal applicant is an international student who is working on or off campus (different eligibility rules apply)
if the principal applicant has applied for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) separately from their spouse or common-law partner and a decision has not been made on the PGWP at the time their spouse or common-law partner applies for their open work permit
if the foreign worker (principal applicant) is the holder of a spousal open work permit
Low Skilled Workers
The spouses and common-law partners of low skilled workers (NOC TEER 4 and 5) are not eligible for an open work permit under this category.
Economic Applicants for Permanent Residence
The spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers who have applied for permanent residence under once of the following economic immigration programs may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if they meet the eligibility requirements.
The foreign worker/principal applicant must have:
applied for permanent residence under one of the eligible economic permanent residence programs (usually an Acknowledgement of Receipt letter from IRCC is required to prove this).
hold a valid work permit or be approved for a work permit (either employer specific or open but not as the spouse of a foreign worker)
a work permit valid for at least 6 month at the time IRCC receives the spouse's open work permit application.
applied and been approved for a work permit as an applicant for permanent residence under one of the eligible economic permanent residence programs.
Eligible economic permanent residence programs:
Agri-Food Pilot
Atlantic Immigration Program
Canadian experience class
Caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class
Federal skilled trades class
Federal skilled worker class
Holders of a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) who applied for PR including:
Quebec skilled worker class
Quebec investors program
Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot – Direct to PR stream
Provincial Nominee Program
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program
Start-up business class
Eligible NOC TEER 2 and 3 Occupations
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 2
22100 – Chemical technologists and technicians
22101 – Geological and mineral technologists and technicians
22110 – Biological technologists and technicians
22111 – Agricultural and fish products inspectors
22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians
22113 – Conservation and fishery officers
22114 – Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
22210 – Architectural technologists and technicians
22211 – Industrial designers
22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
22213 – Land survey technologists and technicians
22214 – Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
22220 – Computer network and web technicians
22221 – User support technicians
22222 – Information systems testing technicians
22230 – Non-destructive testers and inspectors
22231 – Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists
22233 – Construction inspectors
22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians1
22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
22303 – Construction estimators
22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
22313 – Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
32100 – Opticians
32101 – Licensed practical nurses
32102 – Paramedical occupations
32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
32110 – Denturists
32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
32121 – Medical radiation technologists
32122 – Medical sonographers
32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
32124 – Pharmacy technicians
32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
32201 – Massage therapists
32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
42102 – Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces
42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
72101 – Tool and die makers
72102 – Sheet metal workers
72103 – Boilermakers
72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 – Ironworkers
72106 – Welders and related machine operators
72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 – Industrial electricians
72202 – Power system electricians
72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
72300 – Plumbers
72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 – Gas fitters
72310 – Carpenters
72311 – Cabinetmakers
72320 – Bricklayers
72321 – Insulators
72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72403 – Railway carmen/women
72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
72405 – Machine fitters
72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
72422 – Electrical mechanics
72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
72500 – Crane operators
72501 – Water well drillers
72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
72601 – Air traffic controllers and related occupations
72602 – Deck officers, water transport
72603 – Engineer officers, water transport
72604 – Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry
82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying
82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 3
33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
43204 – Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
53200 – Athletes
53201 – Coaches
73100 – Concrete finishers
73101 – Tilesetters
73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
73110 – Roofers and shinglers
73111 – Glaziers
73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 – Floor covering installers
73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
73209 – Other repairers and servicers
73300 – Transport truck drivers
73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
73400 – Heavy equipment operators
73401 – Printing press operators
73402 – Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction
83100 – Underground production and development miners
83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
83110 – Logging machinery operators
83120 – Fishing masters and officers
83121 – Fishermen/women
Spouses and common-law partners must prove that they are in a genuine relationship at the time of application.
Work permits cannot be issued beyond passport or biometric validity. Check the validity of both before applying and ensure you pay the biometric fees if your biometrics are expiring sooner than the work permit duration being requested.
IRCC Notice - January 14, 2025 Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents
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