New Canadian Rules for Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP) – What You Need ...
π’ Canada’s immigration rules have changed for spouses of foreign workers! If your spouse is working in Canada under a temporary work permit, they may no longer automatically qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). Instead, eligibility now depends on your spouse’s occupation. What’s Changed? As of January 21, 2025 , Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that only spouses of foreign workers in select occupations can apply for an open work permit. The eligible categories are: ✅ TEER 0 (e.g., senior management, medical professionals) ✅ TEER 1 (e.g., engineers, financial analysts, software developers) ✅ Select TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations (list below) π‘ Your spouse’s work permit must also have at least 16 months remaining at the time of your SOWP application. Before this change, spouses of all foreign workers were eligible for an SOWP regardless of job classification. This restriction is part of Canada’s strategy to reduce temporary resident numbers ...