Open work permit means you can work under any employer.
The Canadian government has recently implemented changes in the open work permit system. These changes took effect on January 21, 2025.
The people affected by this change are international students, foreign workers, and their family members.
Students: It was previously announced that spouses of undergraduate or diploma students would not receive an open work permit. However, spouses of master’s and Ph.D. students would still receive one. This was the previous announcement.
Now, with the new change, there is a slight modification. Spouses of one-year master’s degree holders will not receive an open work permit. The course must be 16 months or longer, such as a two-year program.
However, spouses of Ph.D. degree holders will still receive an open work permit.
Why this change was made: The primary reason is to meet the demand for highly skilled professionals. In longer programs, students can take advanced courses and after completion, they can contribute professionally to the country’s economy.
Foreign Workers: Foreign workers who have come to Canada with a job offer or are already in Canada also face restrictions for their spouses in receiving an open work permit.
If the foreign worker, who is the primary applicant, belongs to one of the following specific categories:
For example: TEER 0 (Management)
TEER 1 (Professional)
Select TEER 2 or 3 occupations, especially in high-demand sectors such as:
- Healthcare: Nurses, medical technologists, and caregivers.
- Construction: Electricians, plumbers, and heavy equipment operators.
- Education: Teachers, academic assistants, and early childhood educators.
If a foreign worker is employed in any of the above fields, their spouse will receive an open work permit. Otherwise, they will not.
But that’s not the whole story. There’s more to it. Let me explain with an example.
Example: Let’s say you are Karim. Karim’s spouse, Luna, is receiving an open work permit because Karim has a three-year work permit and works in one of the mentioned fields. However, if Karim has only 10 months left on his work permit, Luna will no longer receive an open work permit.
One of my Indian colleagues is currently working under an open work permit as a foreign worker’s spouse.
I messaged him this morning asking if he knew about these new system changes. He hasn’t responded yet.
Since this system has already been implemented, there is a chance that it may apply to him as well. Let’s see what happens.
My thoughts: Notice the job fields mentioned above. All of them are skilled occupations.
Some might say that the Canadian government is cutting down on immigrant opportunities. But did the government force you to come here?
If you don’t meet the qualifications for a job with Trudeau’s government, how would you be able to work in a federal ministry? Or do you want the government to just sit you down and give you money? Although many people are still sitting on social benefits.
Scarborough, Canada.
