The list of jobs that work permit holders must have to apply for spousal open work permits for their spouses.

On January 14, 2025 the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the new measures to strengthen the integrity and quality of temporary resident programs in Canada while supporting the country’s economic goals and labour market needs.

In summary, there are changes to those eligible to apply for a spousal open work permit. These changes became effective on January 21, 2025. And are divided into changes for spouses of international students, and changes for spouses of work permit holders.

For Spouse of International Students

Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family Open Work Permit (OWP).

Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students if you have a valid study permit and you’re either:

1. studying in a master’s degree program of 16 months or longer
2. studying in a doctoral degree program
3. participating in an eligible program, or
4. studying in one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
   • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
   • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
   • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
   • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
   • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
   • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
   • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
   • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
   • Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
   • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
   • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)

For Spouses of Work Permit Holders

High-skilled workers (With TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs)

As of January 21, 2025, your spouses are eligible to apply for an open work permit if the principal work permit holder is a high-skilled worker in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs. The following requirements must be met

• Your work permit or authorized work must be valid for at least 16 months after IRCC receives your spouse or common law partner’s open work permit application.
• You’re employed or will be employed in any high-skilled occupation at TEER 0 or 1.
• Or if you’re employed or will be employed in any high-skilled occupation at TEER 2 or 3, your job must be one of the jobs listed below for your spouse to be eligible for a spousal open work permit:

ELIGIBLE TEER 2 JOBS

• 22100 – Chemical technologists and technicians
• 22101 – Geological and mineral technologists and technicians
• 22110 – Biological technologists and technicians
• 22111 – Agricultural and fish products inspectors
• 22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians
• 22113 – Conservation and fishery officers
• 22114 – Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
• 22210 – Architectural technologists and technicians
• 22211 – Industrial designers
• 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
• 22213 – Land survey technologists and technicians
• 22214 – Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
• 22220 – Computer network and web technicians
• 22221 – User support technicians
• 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
• 22230 – Non-destructive testers and inspectors
• 22231 – Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
• 22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists
• 22233 – Construction inspectors
• 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians
• 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
• 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
• 22303 – Construction estimators
• 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
• 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
• 22313 – Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
• 32100 – Opticians
• 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
• 32102 – Paramedical occupations
• 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
• 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
• 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
• 32110 – Denturists
• 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
• 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
• 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
• 32121 – Medical radiation technologists
• 32122 – Medical sonographers
• 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
• 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
• 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
• 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
• 32201 – Massage therapists
• 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
• 42102 – Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces
• 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
• 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
• 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
• 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
• 72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
• 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 72101 – Tool and die makers
• 72102 – Sheet metal workers
• 72103 – Boilermakers
• 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
• 72105 – Ironworkers
• 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
• 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 72201 – Industrial electricians
• 72202 – Power system electricians
• 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
• 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
• 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
• 72300 – Plumbers
• 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• 72302 – Gas fitters
• 72310 – Carpenters
• 72311 – Cabinetmakers
• 72320 – Bricklayers
• 72321 – Insulators
• 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 72403 – Railway carmen/women
• 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 72405 – Machine fitters
• 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
• 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
• 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
• 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
• 72422 – Electrical mechanics
• 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
• 72500 – Crane operators
• 72501 – Water well drillers
• 72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
• 72601 – Air traffic controllers and related occupations
• 72602 – Deck officers, water transport
• 72603 – Engineer officers, water transport
• 72604 – Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
• 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
• 82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry
• 82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
• 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
• 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

ELIGIBLE TEER 3 JOBS

• 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
• 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
• 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
• 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
• 43204 – Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
• 53200 – Athletes
• 53201 – Coaches
• 73100 – Concrete finishers
• 73101 – Tilesetters
• 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
• 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
• 73111 – Glaziers
• 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• 73113 – Floor covering installers
• 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
• 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
• 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
• 73300 – Transport truck drivers
• 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
• 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
• 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
• 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
• 73401 – Printing press operators
• 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
• 83100 – Underground production and development miners
• 83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
• 83110 – Logging machinery operators
• 83120 – Fishing masters and officers
• 83121 – Fishermen/women

Low-skilled workers (With TEER 4 or 5 jobs)

As of January 21, 2025, your spouses are not eligible to apply for an open work permit if the principal work permit holder is a low-skilled worker in a TEER 4 or 5 job.

However, your family members in Canada may apply to extend their work permit, even after January 21, 2025, if all of the following apply:

• They’re in Canada.
• Their current work permit is valid for a shorter period of time than yours (the principal applicant).
• They apply to extend their work permit before their initial work permit expires.

Example:
Your work permit (the principal applicant) is valid until March 2027. Your family member’s work permit has a shorter validity because their passport is valid until March 2026. If they get a new passport with an expiry date beyond March 2026, they can apply to extend their work permit to match the existing work authorization of the principal work permit holder.

For detailed information on these changes, please read the full details on the IRCC website here

I wish you the best in Canada!

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