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ARTICLE · 07 FEBRUARY 2025

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Changes To Open Work Permits For Family Members Of Foreign Workers And International Students

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As of January 21, new restrictions apply to open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of international students and temporary foreign workers.

CanadaImmigration
Xavier Hamel
Xavier Hamel
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As of January 21, new restrictions apply to open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of international students and temporary foreign workers. These measures are designed to limit access to these permits in specific situations and to tighten eligibility criteria.

Key changes

Families of temporary foreign workers

Henceforth, family OWPs are limited to spouses and common-law partners of temporary foreign workers who are employed in the following:

  • a TEER 0 or 1 occupation as categorized in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), or
  • select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities. A complete list of eligible TEER 2 and 3 occupations is available on the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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