Effective January 21, 2025, IRCC narrowed eligibility for family open work permits. Only spouses of graduate students in select long-duration programs and spouses of skilled foreign workers in priority occupations remain eligible. Dependent children are no longer covered under these rules.
Ottawa, January 14, 2025—The Government of Canada is continuing to strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs while supporting the country’s economic goals and labour market needs.
As part of the broader measures announced in September 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is changing open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of international students and foreign workers.
Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family OWP.
Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in
- master’s programs that are 16 months or longer
- doctoral programs, or
- select professional and eligible programs
