Spouses or common-law partners of certain international students or foreign workers can obtain an open work permit<\/strong>. This permit is issued for the same duration as the permit held by the principal applicant<\/strong> (worker or student).<\/p>\n\n\n\n An open work permit allows the holder to work<\/a> for any employer in Canada<\/strong>, in any position. It also allows the freedom to change jobs or employers as long as the permit remains valid. However, some restrictions apply. For example, professionals in healthcare or education must undergo a medical examination before being allowed to work in these sectors\u2014even under an open work permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This option is crucial for families to settle together<\/a> in Canada, allowing both partners to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until January 21, 2025, dependent children accompanying the principal applicant could also apply for an open work permit. This option is no longer available<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many families are impacted, including those submitting new work permit applications and those seeking renewals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before these changes, most spouses or partners of foreign workers were eligible for an open work permit. Most occupations qualified, and the principal applicant\u2019s work permit needed to be valid for more than six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the principal applicant must hold a valid work permit for at least 16 months<\/strong> at the time their spouse applies for an OWP, regardless of the job they hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, only spouses of workers who meet the following conditions are eligible to apply. The worker must be employed in: <\/p>\n\n\n\n To be eligible for an open work permit as the spouse of an international student, the student must be enrolled in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the student does not meet these criteria, their spouse or partner is not eligible to apply for an open work permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some pilot programs allow spouses of enrolled students to apply for an open work permit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Open work permits approved before January 21<\/strong> under previous measures<\/strong> and that have not expired<\/strong> remain valid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For workers<\/strong>, spouses or common-law partners of those covered by free trade agreements<\/strong>, as well as those in the process of obtaining permanent residence or who currently hold a work permit under a pathway to permanent residence<\/strong> (such as holders of a CSQ \u2013 Quebec Selection Certificate<\/strong> or a Provincial Nominee Program<\/strong>) are not affected by these changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In certain cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holders of an open work permit obtained as accompanying family members may apply to renew their status, but certain conditions apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spouses have the option to settle in Canada as visitors. However, this status, which allows them to remain in the country, does not permit them to work or study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this context, spouses who can no longer benefit from an open work permit must now undertake their own immigration procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Open work permit for spouse: who can still benefit from it? Immetis explain the measures and reviews the changes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":30949,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[341,54,321],"class_list":["post-31712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-private-individuals","tag-canada","tag-foreign-worker","tag-travailleur-etranger"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWho is affected by these changes?<\/strong><\/h3><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Foreign workers<\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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International students<\/strong><\/h3><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Exemptions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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List of occupations in TEER 2 or 3 whose spouses are still eligible to obtain an open work permit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Occupations in TEER 2 :<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nOccupations in TEER 3 :<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What status applies when one can no longer benefit from an open work permit as a spouse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have questions about the new eligibility conditions or the options available to you<\/a>, contact our team at: info@immetis.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"