The new rules for open work visas for family members will be implemented today

Starting from January 21st, the changes in the application requirements for open work visas for family members will officially take effect. In general, only spouses of international students and foreign workers who meet the requirements can apply for an open work visa, and the scope of application has been significantly reduced compared to before.

Spouses of international students

Only spouses of international students who meet any of the following requirements can apply for an open work visa:

The student is enrolled in a master's program for 16 months or more;

The student is enrolled in a doctoral program;

The student is studying in a qualified major.

The eligible majors are shown in the following figure:

Spouses of foreign workers

Only spouses of foreign workers who meet the following requirements can apply for an open work visa:

The worker is engaged in TEER 0 or 1 category occupation;

The worker is engaged in a scarce occupation in TEER category 2 or 3 or a government priority occupation.

These professions include natural and applied sciences, architecture, healthcare, natural resources, education, sports, and military fields. The complete list can be found on the official website, or contact us to inquire if your profession is on the list.

In addition, when the spouse of a foreign worker applies for an open work visa, the worker's work visa is valid for at least 16 months. Children of foreign workers are no longer eligible to apply for open work visas.

Previous applications

Open work visas that have been approved based on previous measures and have not yet expired will remain valid. In cases where students may need more time to complete courses or where family members receive shorter work permits than the main applicant, family members within Canada (including spouses and dependent children) may apply for a work permit renewal as long as:

Apply according to current standards, and;

The renewal period matches the current student or work visa of the main applicant

Spouses of workers protected by free trade agreements and spouses of workers who become permanent residents will not be affected by these changes.

Possible solutions

If you are unsure whether you or your spouse meet the latest work visa application criteria, or if you would like to seek alternative options, please contact us and we will tailor the most suitable plan for you in a professional evaluation to help you stay in Canada!