Are you a temporary foreign worker looking to bring your family to Canada with you?
There’s good news! Spouses, common-law partners and working-age children of temporary foreign workers in all skill levels will now be able to apply for open work permits. This is open to workers under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0-5.
Currently, only spouses are eligible to get an open work permit if the principal applicant is working in a high-skill occupation (TEER 0-3) as categorized by the IRCC.
This means that spouses, common-law partners and working-age children of workers in low-skill occupations (TEER 4-5) like caregivers, factory workers, and material handlers, among others, will now be able to apply.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), through Minister Sean Fraser recently announced that the measure will take effect starting January 30, 2023, for a two-year period.
Likewise, spouses, common-law partners and working-age children of work permit holders applying to become an economic class permanent resident will be eligible.
However, there are a couple of exceptions. Spouses and dependents of workers in TEER 4 or 5 jobs under the low-wage stream of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Agricultural Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will not be eligible.
Why is Canada doing this?
According to Fraser, “Expanding the eligibility for open work permits to family members accompanying the principal applicant to Canada will help address labour shortages.” The IRCC also hopes that workers can better adjust to their work environment and community if they are able to bring their family with them, who will be able to work in Canada as well.
More than 200,000 new open work permit holders are expected as a result of this measure, according to the IRCC.
The changes will be done in stages.
The temporary measure will be implemented in 3 phases:
Phase 1 will enable family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program to apply for an open work permit.
Phase 2 aims to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program following consultations.
Phase 3 will include consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess operational feasibility for expanding the measure to family members of agricultural workers. An open work permit allows the holder to work for any employer in Canada except for one that has been deemed as non-compliant by the IRCC.
An open work permit allows the holder to work for any employer in
Canada, except for one that has been deemed as non-compliant by the IRCC.
