Major Changes to Canadian Spousal Open Work Permits in 2025
As of January 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented significant changes to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program. These changes affect which foreign workers’ spouses are eligible for open work permits, making the criteria more selective than before.
Key Changes at a Glance
Under the new rules, spouses of foreign workers can only obtain open work permits if their partner works in:
Additionally, the foreign worker must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit when their spouse applies for the Spousal Open Work Permits.
Which TEER 2 and 3 Occupations Qualify?
The eligible TEER 2 occupations include various technical roles across multiple sectors:
TEER 2 jobs still eligible for a family OWP
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 |
For TEER 3, eligible occupations include:
| 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 |
Important Notes
- These changes don’t affect currently valid work permits
- Eligible renewals of existing permits remain unaffected
- Previous permits that were approved under old rules remain valid until expiration
This represents a significant shift from the previous policy, where spouses of foreign workers could generally obtain open work permits regardless of their partner’s occupation. The new approach aims to be more selective while still supporting key sectors of the Canadian economy.
For detailed occupation lists and specific NOC codes, foreign workers and their spouses should consult the official IRCC website or seek professional immigration advice.
For more information please email us at
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