Family work permits restricted for international students and temporary workers

Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:10:48 +0000

The federal government is implementing new restrictions on family work permits for international students and temporary foreign workers, effective January 21, 2025. This change is part of a broader effort to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada and address challenges associated with immigration, such as housing pressures and labor market demands.

According to a public statement released by the Immigration Department,  the new rules will limit access to family open work permits, which previously allowed spouses and dependents of foreign workers and students to work legally in Canada. Under the updated policy, eligibility will be restricted to:

• Spouses of international students enrolled in master’s programs lasting 16 months or longer, doctoral programs, or certain undergraduate programs in professions like medicine, law, and nursing.
• Spouses of high-skill foreign workers in managerial roles or occupations requiring university degrees.
• Spouses of foreign workers in mid-skill occupations under certain job categories, including natural and applied sciences, construction, healthcare, natural resources, education, sports, and the military, provided these roles address labor shortages.

In addition, foreign workers must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permits for their spouses to qualify for family open work permits. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be eligible for work permits under this program.

The government has stated that these changes are designed to strengthen the integrity of temporary resident programs while aligning with Canada’s economic goals and labor market needs. However, some stakeholders have raised concerns that the new restrictions may negatively impact Canada’s ability to attract skilled workers and their families.

The policy also represents a departure from previous measures aimed at promoting family reunification. In 2022, the government had expanded the open work permit program to include families of low-skill workers, citing the importance of keeping families together to support workers’ emotional well-being and financial stability.

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