Who can apply
Changes to eligibility
As of January 21, 2025, at 5:00 UTC, the eligibility requirements have changed for open work permits for family members of workers.
If you applied before January 21, 2025:
- We’ll continue to process all applications that were received before January 21, 2025.
- Applications received before January 21, 2025 will be processed under the previous eligibility criteria.
- If your open work permit was already approved and hasn’t expired, it stays valid.
Your family member’s eligibility depends on
- whether you’re on a pathway or have already applied for permanent residence
- what type of worker you are in Canada
- any high-skilled occupations in TEER 0 or 1
- select high-skilled occupations in TEER 2
- select high-skilled occupations in TEER 3
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 2
- 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
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 3
- 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
If your family member is not eligible to apply for an open work permit, they may be eligible to apply for another work permit. If they don’t plan to work, they may be eligible to visit or study.
Answer a few questions to find out if your family member is eligible to apply for an open work permit.
You’re a temporary foreign worker who applied for permanent residence through one of the eligible economic immigration programs or pilots
Your family member may be eligible for an open work permit under this measure.
There are requirements you (the principal applicant) and your family member must meet for them to be eligible for an open work permit.
Principal applicant requirements
You (the principal applicant) must meet 4 requirements:
- You hold a valid work permit or are approved for a work permit (employer-specific or open work permit under a non-family member work permit category).
- Your work permit must be valid in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive your family member’s open work permit application.
- You live and work in Canada or you plan to live and work in Canada.
- Your work permit was issued or approved because you applied for an economic class permanent residence program or pilot.
Family member requirements
Minimum age to work
Before your dependent children work in Canada, check the minimum age required to work in the province or territory and in the job type they plan to work in. Canadian employers must follow provincial or territorial labour laws.
Open work permit holders must also meet federal, provincial or territorial labour laws.
Your family member must meet 3 requirements:
- They meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.
- They’re in a genuine relationship with you (the principal applicant) and are any 1 of the following:
- your spouse or common-law partner
- a dependent child of you or your spouse
- A dependent child cannot be the principal applicant.
- the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s grandchild)
- If your family member is 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 (maintained status).
- They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a
You’re a worker on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams
Your family member may be eligible for an open work permit under this measure.
There are requirements you (the principal applicant) and your family member must meet for them to be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
Principal applicant requirements
You must meet 5 requirements:
- You have 1 of the following:
- a valid work permit
- an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet
- an authorization to work without a work permit
- Your work permit must be valid in Canada for at least 6 months after we receive your family member’s open work permit application.
- You’re employed or will be employed in a low-skilled occupation (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities [TEER] category 4 or 5 of the National Occupation Classification system) at the time your family member submits their application.
- You’re on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams, but haven’t applied for permanent residence yet.
- You’re living or plan to live in Canada while working.
Work permit holders under the Agri-Food Pilot
Your family members are eligible to apply for an open work permit if you (the principal applicant) meet the 5 criteria listed above, and both of the following:
- You have a labour market impact assessment (LMIA)-based work permit in the agriculture or low-wage stream of the Agri-Food Pilot.
- You’ve received an acknowledgment of receipt letter from us confirming that your application for permanent residence is complete.
Work permit holders under a free trade agreement (FTA)
Spouses or common-law partners of work permit holders under certain free trade agreements (FTAs) are eligible for a spousal open work permit. Be sure to check the FTA you’re applying under to see if your spouse or common-law partner is eligible.
If your spouse or common-law partner isn’t eligible for an OWP through an FTA, they may still be eligible to apply for an OWP through this measure.
Who’s not eligible at this time
Your family members aren’t eligible for this measure if any of the following situations apply to you (the principal applicant):
- You’ve made a refugee claim that was referred to the Immigration Refugee Board.
- You’re subject to an unenforceable removal order.
- You’re an international student who’s working in a co-op program.
- You’re an international student working off campus without a work permit.
- You hold a spousal open work permit.
Family member requirement
Minimum age to work
Before your dependent children work in Canada, check the minimum age required to work in the province or territory and in the job type they plan to work in. Canadian employers must follow provincial or territorial labour laws.
Open work permit holders must also meet federal, provincial or territorial labour laws.
Your family member must meet 3 requirements:
- They meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.
- They’re in a genuine relationship with you and are any 1 of the following:
- your spouse or common-law partner
- a dependent child of you or your spouse
- A dependent child can’t be the principal applicant.
- the dependent child of your dependent child (your grandchild or your spouse’s grandchild)
- If your family member is 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 (maintained status).
- They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a
You’re a high-skilled worker and not on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams
As of January 21, 2025, only select spouses or common-law partners may be eligible to apply for an open work permit under this measure.
This means that as of January 21, 2025, your dependent child, or their dependent child, are no longer eligible for an open work permit under this measure.
However, in certain situations, your family member in Canada can still apply for an extension of their initial work permit received through this measure, even after January 21, 2025.
Spouses and common-law partners of high-skilled workers
There are requirements you (the principal applicant) and your spouse or common-law partner must meet for them to be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
Principal applicant requirements
You (the principal applicant) must meet 4 requirements:
- You have 1 of the following:
- a valid work permit (some exceptions apply)
- an approval for a work permit that hasn’t been issued yet (this means you received a port of entry letter of introduction)
- an authorization to work without a work permit (some exceptions apply)
- Your work permit or authorized work must be valid for at least 16 months after we receive your spouse or common law partner’s open work permit application.
- You’re living or plan to live in Canada while working.
- You’re employed or will be employed in either
- any high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 (management) or 1 (professional) level of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application, or
- a select high-skilled occupation at the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 2 or category 3 of the National Occupation Classification system at the time your spouse or common-law partner submits their application
Work permit holders under a free trade agreement (FTA)
Spouses or common-law partners of work permit holders under certain free trade agreements (FTAs) are eligible for a spousal open work permit. Be sure to check the FTA you’re applying under to see if your spouse or common-law partner is eligible.
If your spouse or common-law partner isn’t eligible for an OWP through an FTA, they may still be eligible to apply for an OWP through this measure.
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 2
- 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
Select high-skilled occupations in TEER 3
- 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
Who’s not eligible at this time
Your spouse or common-law partner isn’t eligible for this measure if any of the following situations apply to you (the principal applicant):
- You’ve made a refugee claim that was referred to the Immigration Refugee Board.
- You’re subject to an unenforceable removal order.
- You’re an international student who holds a study permit.
- You’re an international student working on campus or off campus without a work permit.
- You’re applying for a PGWP, but haven’t received a positive decision on your application at the time the decision on your spousal work permit application is made.
- You hold a spousal open work permit.
Spouse and common-law partner requirements
Your spouse or common-law partner must meet 3 requirements:
- They meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.
- They’re in a genuine relationship with the person (the principal applicant) who makes them eligible for this open work permit.
- 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 (maintained status).
- They’re eligible for restoration of their status as a
Work permit extensions for your in-Canada family members
Your family members in Canada can apply to extend their open 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.
Note that we can’t issue a work permit beyond the expiry of
- your work permit and
- your family member’s passport or biometric validity
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. Since we can’t issue a work permit beyond the expiry date of your family member’s passport, they must
- apply for a new passport
- apply to extend their work permit
You’re a low-skilled worker and not on a pathway to permanent residence through one of the eligible streams
As of January 21, 2025, your family members are not eligible to apply for an open work permit under this measure.
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.
Note that we can’t issue a work permit beyond the expiry of
- your work permit and
- your family member’s passport or biometric validity
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 your existing work authorization.
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