Originally published January 14, 2025. Reviewed for accuracy in July 2026.

On January 21, 2025, Canada significantly narrowed eligibility for open work permits for spouses of international students and foreign workers. The changes did not cancel permits that had already been issued, but they changed who could submit a new application under the principal family-member measures.

Spouses of international students

Under the rules introduced in January 2025, a spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit when the international student is enrolled in an eligible program. The principal categories include:

• a master’s degree program of at least 16 months;
• a doctoral program; or
• certain professional or other specifically eligible programs identified by IRCC.

A short master’s program is therefore not automatically sufficient. The program type, its official duration and the evidence available at the time of application all matter.

Spouses of foreign workers

For many foreign workers who are not applying under a separate permanent-residence pathway measure, the principal worker generally must be employed in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or in an eligible TEER 2 or 3 occupation selected by IRCC. The worker must also have the required period of work authorization remaining when IRCC receives the spouse’s application. Under the January 2025 measure, that period was at least 16 months.

Job title alone is not enough. The actual duties must correspond to the claimed National Occupational Classification code, and the application should contain reliable evidence of the employment, work authorization and relationship.

Existing permits and extensions

Open work permits approved under the earlier rules remained valid until expiry. IRCC also created a limited extension mechanism for certain family members already in Canada whose permits were issued for a shorter period than the principal applicant’s authorization. This is not a general exemption from the new rules: the extension requirements must be assessed carefully, including whether the application is made before the current permit expires and whether the requested validity aligns with the principal applicant’s authorization.

Permanent-residence pathways may involve different rules

Some spouses of workers who are on an eligible pathway to permanent residence may qualify under a separate family open-work-permit category. Those applications should not be assessed only under the general high-skilled-worker rules. The principal applicant’s permanent-residence program, stage of processing, work authorization and remaining validity may all affect eligibility.

A bridging open work permit does not automatically guarantee approval of a spouse’s application. The correct exemption category and supporting evidence must still be established.

Planning points for families

• Check the principal applicant’s exact program or NOC classification rather than relying on a general description.
• Calculate permit validity as of the date IRCC will receive the application.
• Do not assume that enrolling in another program will preserve spousal work-permit eligibility.
• Do not let a valid permit expire while waiting to determine whether a different category may apply.
• Keep evidence of the relationship, current status, employment and any permanent-residence application organized and consistent.

The January 2025 changes made timing and category selection considerably more important. A family should identify the legal basis for the spouse’s work permit before filing, rather than treating all spousal open work permits as one program.

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Official sources: IRCC notice on the January 21, 2025 changes; IRCC eligibility instructions for family members of foreign workers.