IRCC Limit Canada Family Open Work Permits From January 2025: The Canada Government has announce the major changes in Family Open Work Permit (OWP) policies. The aim behind these changes is to tightening eligibility for foreign workers and international students. These measures will be effective on 21 January 2025 and make a shift in immigration strategy. The shift in strategies are important because of the increasing housing and affordability challenges. Let us read more and know about changes in Family Open Work Permits.
About Open Work Permits ( OWP)
The Open Work Permits allow the individuals to work for company in Canada, without get special job offers or Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The family of foreign workers, such as dependent children and spouses, will get benefit of this program. This program gives flexibility to family to relocate to Canada and get access to the labor market seamlessly.
OWP Revision 2025
The Open Work Permit policy is run by the Canadian government. Earlier, This policy is runs to invite the family of international students and temporary immigrant workers in Canada, include their parents, spouses and children.
This time, the Canadian authority has make changes in OWP rules and limit this work permit only to spouses. This new policy will be effective from 21 January 2025. Now, the visa holders in Canada are only able to invite their spouse
Key changes to family OWPs
Here are the key changes in family OWPs comes, for the following categories
For spouses of International students
Under new open work permit rules, the visa will only provided to spouses or common-law partners of international students in Canada. The international students of the following programs are only eligible.
- Master’s programs lasting 16 months or longer
- Doctoral programs
- Selected professional programs
- 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)
This change means that only spouses of international students are eligible for OWPs. The spouses who enroll in shorter master programs are not eligible.
For Spouses of Foreign Workers
OWPs is only available to spouses of foreign workers, according to their work field, as follows as
- TEER 0 occupations (managerial roles)
- TEER 1 occupations (jobs requiring a university degree)
- TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations in key areas, like:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Natural resources
- Construction
- Sports
- Military
- Natural and applied sciences
IRCC will published the list of eligible TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations on official website on 21 January 2025. So, you will be updated of it. To become qualified for it, the primary work permit holder should have minimum 16 months of validity remaining in their visa at time, when they apply for OWP for their spouse.
Dependent children excluded
The Dependent children of international workers are not eligible to apply for Family OWP and mark a change in this policy.
Renewal of existing permits
The current family open work permits that were issued under previous eligibility criteria will be valid till they expire. In few cases, spouse will get shorter work permit than sponsoring study or work permit holder and family members can still apply to renew their permit if the renewal duration are aligns with their permit holder current status.
Exemptions
Individuals get benefit from free trade agreements. The sponsored individuals for permanent residence in Canada are not affected by new changes in OWP.
Advantages of Open Work Permits
OWPs are beneficial because of their flexibility. Even the closed work permits are posses to employers or Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), but the OWPs permit the holders to work for any company in Canada. This flexibility makes this program appealing to newcomers, who want to get career growth and economic stability in Canada.
Connect with us
IRCC has limit the Family OWP from January 2025, and tightens the immigration eligibility criteria. The new changes aim to balance the temporary residents with housing availability. It causes challenges for families of foreign workers and international students. The interested candidates who wants to apply for open work permits, must be stay updated of new immigration policies. Contact with VLINK Immigrations now to understand the new changes in OWP and navigate through updated regulations effectively.