January 21, 2025 Update: Open Work Permit for Spouses and Common-Law Partners of High-Skilled Workers in Canada

As announced last week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is making changes to the eligibility criteria for open work permits for spouses of temporary foreign workers. Starting January 21, 2025, only spouses of temporary workers in select high-skilled occupations will be eligible to apply for an open work permit. The official list of qualifying occupations is now available!

Open Work Permit for Spouses and Common-Law Partners of High-Skilled Workers in Canada - Eligibility Requirements

Principal Applicant Requirements

As the principal applicant (the high-skilled worker), you must meet four key requirements for your spouse or common-law partner to be eligible for an open work permit:

1. Valid Work Permit or Work Authorization

   You, as the principal applicant, must hold one of the following:

   • A valid work permit (with some exceptions).

   • An approval for a work permit that has not yet been issued, which includes having received a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction.

   • Authorization to work without a work permit (in some cases, this is also applicable).

     
     

2. Work Permit or Authorization Validity

   Your work permit or authorized work status must remain valid for at least 16 months from the date when your spouse or common-law partner submits their open work permit application. This is to ensure there’s sufficient time for their work permit application to be processed while you maintain your employment status in Canada.

   
   

3. Residency in Canada

   You must be living in Canada or planning to live in Canada while working. This is to ensure that your spouse or common-law partner is joining you in Canada, and the employment is part of a family-centered plan.

   
   

4. Employment in a High-Skilled Occupation

   At the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their open work permit application, you must be employed in one of the following:

   • TEER Category 0 or 1 Occupation: These are considered high-skilled occupations, which include managerial (TEER 0) and professional (TEER 1) roles according to the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.

   • TEER Category 2 or 3 Occupation: These include skilled trades and technical occupations, which also fall under the high-skilled work category. TEER 2 and 3 jobs include roles that require specialized training and skills, such as electricians, chefs, or medical technicians.

List of High-Skilled Workers Eligible Occupations

Eligible TEER 2 Occupations

• 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 Occupations

• 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

Spouse of Common-Law Partner Requirements

Your spouse or common-law partner must meet 3 requirements:

1. They meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.

2. They’re in a genuine relationship with the person (the principal applicant) who makes them eligible for this open work permit.

3. If they’re in Canada, they must be in 1 of the following situations:

   • They have valid temporary resident status.

   • They’ve applied to extend their status before it expired

   • They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a visitor, worker of student

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