On February 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced major changes to work permit eligibility for family members of temporary foreign workers. These adjustments involve restricting work permit access for the spouses of low-skilled foreign workers and dependents of all foreign workers. In addition, the new regulations now restrict work permit access to spouses of foreign workers in high-skilled occupations or critical sectors, requiring the primary worker to have at least a 16-month valid work authorization from the spouse’s application submission. Importantly, applications from family members of workers transitioning to permanent residency remain unaffected by these changes. This reform aims to better align the International Mobility Program (IMP) with Canada’s economic objectives and current labour market conditions.
