As of January 21, 2025, IRCC has announced significant changes to Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs). These changes will apply to spouses of foreign workers and international students, impacting eligibility criteria based on occupation, skill level, and study programs.
Eligibility Criteria for Spouses of Foreign Workers
1. Skill Level Requirements
Spouses of foreign workers employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations (managerial and professional roles) will continue to qualify for SOWPs.
- Spouses of foreign workers in select TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations are eligible if the roles fall within labor-shortage sectors or are identified as government-priority occupations. These include sectors such as:
-
- Natural and Applied Sciences
- Construction
- Healthcare
- Natural Resources
- Education
- Sports
- Military
A complete list of eligible occupations under TEER 2 and TEER 3 was released on January 21, 2025, clarifying qualifying roles. For example, positions such as licensed practical nurses, industrial mechanics, early childhood educators, and construction supervisors are included.
Work Permit Duration
The principal foreign worker must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit when their spouse applies for the SOWP.
Eligibility Criteria for Spouses of International Students
Spouses of international students will only qualify for SOWPs if the student is enrolled in one of the following programs:
- Master’s degree programs lasting 16 months or more.
- Doctoral programs.
- Specialty degree programs, such as Law, Engineering, or Nursing.
TEER 2 jobs still eligible for a SOWP
NOC Group 22 – Technical Occupations Related to Natural and Applied Sciences
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors |
22313 |
| Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
22312 |
| Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) |
22311 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
22310 |
| Construction estimators |
22303 |
| Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians |
22302 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians |
22301 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians |
22300 |
| Construction inspectors |
22233 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists |
22232 |
| Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers |
22231 |
| Non-destructive testers and inspectors |
22230 |
| Information systems testing technicians |
22222 |
| User support technicians |
22221 |
| Computer network and web technicians |
22220 |
| Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology |
22214 |
| Land survey technologists and technicians |
22213 |
| Drafting technologists and technicians |
22212 |
| Industrial designers |
22211 |
| Architectural technologists and technicians |
22210 |
| Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists |
22114 |
| Conservation and fishery officers |
22113 |
| Forestry technologists and technicians |
22112 |
| Agricultural and fish products inspectors |
22111 |
| Biological technologists and technicians |
22110 |
| Geological and mineral technologists and technicians |
22101 |
| Chemical technologists and technicians |
22100 |
NOC group 32 – Technical Occupations in Health
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Opticians |
32100 |
| Licensed practical nurses |
32101 |
| Paramedical occupations |
32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment |
32109 |
| Denturists |
32110 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians |
32112 |
| Medical laboratory technologists |
32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists |
32121 |
| Medical sonographers |
32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians |
32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians |
32129 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists |
32200 |
| Massage therapists |
32201 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing |
32209 |
NOC group 42 – Front-Line Public Protection Services and Paraprofessional Occupations in Legal, Social, Community, Education Services
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces |
42102 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants |
42202 |
NOC group 72 – Technical Trades and Transportation Officers and Controllers
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations |
72010 |
| Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
72011 |
| Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades |
72012 |
| Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
72013 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
72014 |
| Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
72020 |
| Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews |
72021 |
| Supervisors, printing and related occupations |
72022 |
| Supervisors, railway transport operations |
72023 |
| Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators |
72024 |
| Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations |
72025 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
72100 |
| Tool and die makers |
72101 |
| Sheet metal workers |
72102 |
| Boilermakers |
72103 |
| Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters |
72104 |
| Ironworkers |
72105 |
| Welders and related machine operators |
72106 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
72200 |
| Industrial electricians |
72201 |
| Power system electricians |
72202 |
| Electrical power line and cable workers |
72203 |
| Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers |
72204 |
| Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians |
72205 |
| Plumbers |
72300 |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
72301 |
| Gas fitters |
72302 |
| Carpenters |
72310 |
| Cabinetmakers |
72311 |
| Bricklayers |
72320 |
| Insulators |
72321 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
72400 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
72401 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
72402 |
| Railway carmen/women |
72403 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
72404 |
| Machine fitters |
72405 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics |
72406 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
72410 |
| Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators |
72411 |
| Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics |
72420 |
| Appliance servicers and repairers |
72421 |
| Electrical mechanics |
72422 |
| Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics |
72423 |
| Other small engine and small equipment repairers |
72429 |
| Crane operators |
72500 |
| Water well drillers |
72501 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors |
72600 |
| Air traffic controllers and related occupations |
72601 |
| Deck officers, water transport |
72602 |
| Engineer officers, water transport |
72603 |
| Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators |
72604 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations |
72999 |
NOC group 82 – Supervisors in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Related Production
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Supervisors, logging and forestry |
82010 |
| Supervisors, mining and quarrying |
82020 |
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
82021 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors |
82030 |
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services |
82031 |
TEER 3 jobs still eligible for a family OWP
NOC group 33 – Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
33100 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants |
33103 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services |
33109 |
NOC group 43 – Assisting Occupations in Education and in Legal and Public Protection
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
43100 |
| Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces |
43204 |
NOC group 53 – Occupations in Art, Culture, and Sport
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Athletes |
53200 |
| Coaches |
53201 |
NOC Group 73 – General Trades
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Concrete finishers |
73100 |
| Tilesetters |
73101 |
| Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers |
73102 |
| Roofers and shinglers |
73110 |
| Glaziers |
73111 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) |
73112 |
| Floor covering installers |
73113 |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
73200 |
| General building maintenance workers and building superintendents |
73201 |
| Pest controllers and fumigators |
73202 |
| Other repairers and servicers |
73209 |
| Transport truck drivers |
73300 |
| Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators |
73301 |
| Railway and yard locomotive engineers |
73310 |
| Railway conductors and brakemen/women |
73311 |
| Heavy equipment operators |
73400 |
| Printing press operators |
73401 |
| Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction |
73402 |
NOC group 83 – Occupations in Natural Resources and Related Production
| Occupation Title |
NOC Code |
| Underground production and development miners |
83100 |
| Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
83101 |
| Logging machinery operators |
83110 |
| Fishing masters and officers |
83120 |
| Fishermen/women |
83121 |
Exemptions to the New Restrictions
Certain categories remain exempt from these changes:
- Spouses of foreign workers covered under trade agreements, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
- Spouses of individuals transitioning to permanent residence who have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submitted their permanent residence application.
Impact on Existing Open Work Permits
- SOWPs issued under the previous rules will remain valid until their expiry.
- Family members already in Canada can apply for a work permit renewal if:
- They meet the same eligibility criteria as the current work permit.
- The requested renewal duration matches the principal applicant’s permit.
Notable Exclusions
- Children of foreign workers are no longer eligible for open work permits.
- Applications submitted before January 21, 2025, will be honored under the previous criteria.
Conclusion
These changes are designed to address labor shortages in critical sectors while ensuring that the issuance of SOWPs aligns with Canada’s economic and immigration priorities. Spouses seeking to apply under the new rules should ensure they meet the updated criteria for eligibility.
