Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will introduce new restrictions on family Open Work Permits (OWPs) starting January 21, 2025. The changes will affect family members of international students and foreign workers in Canada.
For international students, family OWPs will only be available to spouses or common-law partners of those enrolled in specific programs. These include Master’s programs lasting at least 16 months, Doctoral programs, and select professional and eligible programs. Previously, spouses of Master’s students could qualify for an OWP regardless of the program’s duration.
The new rules for foreign workers will limit family OWPs to spouses or common-law partners of those working in specific occupations. Eligible occupations will include TEER 0 and TEER 1 categories, as well as certain TEER 2 and TEER 3 jobs in fields such as healthcare, construction, education, natural resources, and sports. A full list of eligible occupations in these categories will be published on January 21, 2025.
In addition to meeting the occupational requirements, the foreign worker’s work permit must have at least 16 months of validity remaining when their spouse applies for an OWP.
The changes will also end OWP eligibility for dependent children of foreign workers. However, valid OWPs issued previously for family members will continue to be recognized. Family members already in Canada who received shorter permits under the previous policy can apply for renewals. The new permit duration must match the validity of the primary permit holder’s existing permit.
These changes will not impact spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers covered under free trade agreements. Spouses sponsored for permanent residence who have temporary legal status in Canada can still apply for spousal open work permits.
The government implemented these measures to decrease temporary residents and tackle housing shortages. IRCC estimates the new rules may lead to 50,000 fewer permits for students’ spouses and 100,000 fewer for workers’ spouses over three years.
OWPs enable individuals to work in Canada without being tied to a specific employer, offering greater flexibility and desirability compared to employer-specific permits linked to a Labor Market Impact Assessment.
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