Canada Open Work Permit (OWP) allows foreigners to resume any job without any restrictions. OWP workers do not need LMIA or job offers to start their job.
Effective January 21st, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family OWP. This move will impact millions of students presently in Canada on study permits. As a result of this change, family OWP will be limited to spouses of students enrolled in following categories:
- Master’s degree that are 16 months or longer
- Doctoral programs
- Selected professional and eligible programs
Family OWP will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in:
- TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility) 0 or 1 occupations
- TEER 2 or 3 occupations in which there is shortage of labour or those linked to government priorities. It includes occupations in the healthcare, construction, natural and applied sciences, natural resources, sports , education, and military sectors, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Also, when the spouses apply for OWP, foreign workers must have 16 months remaining on their work permit. It must be noted that, dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be able to apply for work permits. These rules will be applied to work permits applied on and after January 21st, those who have approved permits, will stay intact. Although the renewal of work permit will take place as per the new criterias.
Those, who are not eligible to apply for work permits as per the new rules, can still apply for different work visas available under work visa programmes that Canada offers.
This move comes after IRCC projected a decrease in the population of temporary residents from 6.5% to 5% by 2026. Thus, the government is taking necessary steps to support the temporary residents and fill labour market gaps while also holding the residents who are misusing the system.
For more information, you can refer this website.
