Ottawa, 14 January 2025– The government of Canada is extending efforts to enhance the integrity as well as quality of the temporary resident programs while promoting the economic objectives and demands within the labour market.
Since September 2024, Basic Changes implemented at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), family members of international students and foreign workers are eligible for open work permit (OWP).
Starting January 21, 2025, the family OWP application will be available only to the spouse of an international student or a foreign worker that meets specific criteria.
Relatives will be allowed to own only one private workshop for spouse who is an international student studying in programs at the master’s level that take 16 months or more to complete
doctoral programs, or select professional and eligible programs
Similarly, own-account self-employed workers and family OWPs will also be capped at the spouses of foreign workers employed in
TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or
identify two or three TEER sectors that are in shortage of workforce or are associated with Government priorities
Such occupations include those in the natural and applied science fields, construction industry, health sector, the natural resource field, education sector, in sports and in the military. More on the list will be made on January 21,2035.
Besides, the foreign worker must meet the following requirements: the visa application from the spouse must be made while the foreign worker is in Canada; the holder of the work permit must be qualified for a work permit extension ; the work permit when the spouse applies for the OWP must have at least 16 months validity left. The applicants who were previously allowed with dependent children of foreign workers will not be allowed.
For the existing already approved Own Workplace measures that have not expired will remain valid. Where some students may take more time to complete their program or where members of immediate family have been issued with a limited work permit than the principal applicant, in-Canada family members (spouses and dependent children) can apply for a renewal of the work permit so long as
they are applying under same work permit as current work permit and duration for which they have requested renewal is as per study or work permit of the principal applicant
Employed spouses and those changing status with reference to free trade agreements will not be affected either.
Family members who will not have access to a family OWP can apply for any other kind of permit they may be allowed to get under the Canadian work permit system.
Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents
Ottawa, 14 January 2025– The government of Canada is extending efforts to enhance the integrity as well as quality of the temporary resident programs while promoting the economic objectives and demands within the labour market.
Since September 2024, Basic Changes implemented at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), family members of international students and foreign workers are eligible for open work permit (OWP).
Starting January 21, 2025, the family OWP application will be available only to the spouse of an international student or a foreign worker that meets specific criteria.
Relatives will be allowed to own only one private workshop for spouse who is an international student studying in programs at the master’s level that take 16 months or more to complete
doctoral programs, or select professional and eligible programs
Similarly, own-account self-employed workers and family OWPs will also be capped at the spouses of foreign workers employed in
TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or
identify two or three TEER sectors that are in shortage of workforce or are associated with Government priorities
Such occupations include those in the natural and applied science fields, construction industry, health sector, the natural resource field, education sector, in sports and in the military. More on the list will be made on January 21,2035.
Besides, the foreign worker must meet the following requirements: the visa application from the spouse must be made while the foreign worker is in Canada; the holder of the work permit must be qualified for a work permit extension ; the work permit when the spouse applies for the OWP must have at least 16 months validity left. The applicants who were previously allowed with dependent children of foreign workers will not be allowed.
For the existing already approved Own Workplace measures that have not expired will remain valid. Where some students may take more time to complete their program or where members of immediate family have been issued with a limited work permit than the principal applicant, in-Canada family members (spouses and dependent children) can apply for a renewal of the work permit so long as
they are applying under same work permit as current work permit and duration for which they have requested renewal is as per study or work permit of the principal applicant
Employed spouses and those changing status with reference to free trade agreements will not be affected either.
Family members who will not have access to a family OWP can apply for any other kind of permit they may be allowed to get under the Canadian work permit system.
Author: Sam Gill
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