Open Work Permit Rule Changes
Hello World! This year’s Lunar New Year falls on February 17, and Vancouver is filled with decorations celebrating the season.
On January 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the Open Work Permit applicant categories. These changes clarify the application pathways for each group, and this blog outlines the key points.
Updated Open Work Permit Applicant Categories
IRCC has updated the main applicant categories for the Open Work Permit. Under this update, IRCC organized Open Work Permit applications under the International Mobility Program (IMP) into clearer sub-categories, based on each applicant’s situation and their link to a PR application. This update reorganizes operational guidance for IRCC officers and does not change eligibility requirements.
1. Work permit applicants not related to a path for PR application (e.g. Working Holiday, PGWP)
2. Spouses or common-law partners under certain free trade agreements
3. Family members of temporary foreign workers
4. Persons who are on a path to PR but have not submitted a PR application yet
5. Persons who submitted a PR application
6. Family of temporary foreign workers who are transitioning to PR or who have applied for PR
7. Spouses or common-law partners of international students
By clarifying application pathways, IRCC aims to reduce application errors and improve consistency in decision-making. These changes also help applicants and representatives identify the best category for their situation. Please check the IRCC HP for this update.
Open Work Permits for Families of Workers and Students
As we shared in last year’s blog, IRCC limited Open Work Permit eligibility for the two-family categories below starting January 21, 2025. Only spouses of specific foreign workers and international students now qualify for an Open Work Permit.
3. Family members of temporary foreign workers (High/Low skilled)
7. Spouses or common-law partners of international students
Family members of temporary foreign workers (High/Low skilled)
| TEER | Family | When you apply | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEER0-1 TEER2-3 | Spouse | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：〇 ①The principal applicant meets the TEER work requirements ・TEER0-1：All occupations ・TEER2-3：Occupations in labor shortage or government priority fields (List of selected occupations) ②The principal applicant’s Work Permit remains valid for 16 months or more |
| TEER4-5 | Spouse | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：× |
| All TEER | Spouse, Child | Before 2025/1/21 | IRCC reviews under the previous rules |
| Child | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：× | |
| Spouse, Child | After 2025/1/21 | Extension：〇 ・Extensions apply only from within Canada ・Extensions apply only to existing Open Work Permits (The validity must match the principal applicant’s Work Permit) |
*This restriction does not apply to the following spouses.
・Spouses or common-law partners under certain free trade agreements
・Work permit holders under PR-pathway programs (e.g. Provincial Nominee Program)
Spouses or common-law partners of international students
| Category | Family | When you apply | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Programs (Masters, PhD) | Spouse | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：〇 Master’s programs must run for at least 16 months |
| Designated professional fields | Spouse | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：〇 Designated professional programs – medicine, law, engineering, and nursing etc (Eligible programs) |
| Others (Bachelors, Diploma) | Spouse | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：× |
| All categories | Spouse, Child | Before 2025/1/21 | IRCC reviews under the previous rules |
| Child | After 2025/1/21 | New Application：× | |
| Spouse, Child | After 2025/1/21 | Extension：〇 ・Extensions apply only from within Canada ・Extensions apply only to existing Open Work Permits (The validity must match the principal applicant’s Study Permit) |
Please refer to the IRCC HP for more information.
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This blog shows that IRCC now assesses Open Work Permit eligibility not only based on an applicant’s current status, but also on their expected future pathway. Recent policy changes highlight this shift: IRCC continues to grant Open Work Permits to spouses of high-skilled workers and highly educated individuals who support Canada’s growth, while taking a more cautious approach in other cases.
Going forward, applicants should clearly understand where their desired category fits within the system and plan early on how to link their study, work, and PR goals. If you would like advice on work or immigration to Canada, please feel free to contact us through this form.
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