Canada changes Open Work Permit rules, restricting eligibility for families of students and workers
On January 21, 2025, Canada changed its rules for their new Open Work Permit (OWP) program. Closely linked to the changes are strict new criteria for the family members of foreign students and workers. This policy shift could have a big impact on the families that follow 400,000 Indian students to Canada for education.
Also known as GPA, the revised rules intend to make work permit issues under certain academic and professional qualifications. These updates represent an adjustment to Canada’s labor market-oriented approach to the management of temporary resident programs and addressing associated economic requirements.
Eligibility Adjustments for Family Members of International Students
The new regulations limit OWPs for family members who are international students to spouses of a student if enrolled in a specific program. Master’s degree programs that last at least 16 months, doctoral programs, and selected professional or government-sponsored courses are included. It is a change for the narrower of eligibility than did policies of the past that permitted wider access to OWPs without regard to what program the student is in or how long it is.
Spouses or dependent children already in Canada with valid permits can renew only based on the same criteria under which the original permits were granted. Renewals must also match the length of the principal applicant’s study or work permit. The new framework is consistent with the government’s commitment to awarding such grants to family members of students enrolled in advanced or priority academic programs. This revised rule is expected to affect families accompanying international students in short-term or ineligible programs.
New Restrictions for Family Members of Foreign Workers
The new rules have also restricted OWP for family members of foreign workers. It is only for spouses of workers in high-demand occupations. The named roles are organized under TEER 0 and 1 and include some placements in TEER 2 and 3 in industries that face labor shortages. The key sectors involved are healthcare, construction, education, and natural sciences.
The foreign worker must have at least 16 months to go on their work permit when the spouse applies. Under the new policy, foreign workers’ dependent children stop qualifying for OWPs. It represents a sharp departure from previous rules that allowed families of foreign workers more extensive access to work permits.
Context of the Changes and Broader Goals
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is making these OWP revisions part of a larger initiative to manage IRCC’s temporary resident programs. In 2024, government plans called for the reduction of the number of international student study permits by 10 percent, cutting the target to 437,000 in 2025. Canada is reducing this, to strike the balance between the economic benefits to have international students and infrastructure and labor market concerns.
On the other side of the coin, there has been stricter compliance for employers who have taken temporary foreign workers. To make sure temporary worker programs address genuine labor shortages, labor market impact assessments have been more rigorous. The purpose of these measures is to counteract misuse, to align with Canada’s economic interest.
If you submit applications before January 21, 2025, then your application will be processed based on the prior criteria. The approved OWPs that are issued before the policy change will continue to be valid for the expiration dates. Family members no longer eligible under the new rules could also explore other work permit programs if they qualify.
IRCC also imposed penalties on immigration representatives found guilty of misrepresentation and of practicing illegally. On 17 January 2025, representatives may be fined up to $1.5 million for unlawful acts.
