January 14, 2025BY Astute ( 0 ) Comment
Ottawa, January 14, 2025—The Government of Canada is enhancing the integrity and quality of temporary resident programs while aligning them with the country’s economic goals and labor market needs.
As part of broader measures announced in September 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is revising the eligibility criteria for open work permits (OWPs) for family members of international students and foreign workers.
Starting January 21, 2025, you will only be eligible to apply for a family OWP if you are the spouse of:
- International students enrolled in:
- Master’s programs lasting 16 months or more
- Doctoral programs, or
- Select professional and eligible programs
- Foreign workers employed in:
- TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or
- Certain TEER 2 or 3 occupations in industries experiencing labor shortages or linked to government priorities, such as natural and applied sciences, construction, healthcare, natural resources, education, sports, and the military.
A complete list of eligible occupations will be available on January 21, 2025. Additionally, to qualify, the foreign worker must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit when you apply for the OWP. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be eligible for family OWPs.
If you already hold an OWP approved under the previous measures and it hasn’t expired, it will remain valid. If you are in Canada and need to renew your OWP, you can apply if:
- You meet the same criteria as your current work permit, and
- The renewal duration matches the remaining validity of the principal applicant’s study or work permit.
If your spouse is covered by free-trade agreements or transitioning to permanent residency, these changes won’t affect you. If you no longer qualify for a family OWP, you can still apply for any other type of work permit you are eligible for under Canada’s work permit programs.