Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have recently introduced measure that aims to facilitate family reunification. This new policy expands the availability of Open Work Permits for spouses, partners, and dependents of permanent residents, Canadian citizens, temporary workers, and students. It allows eligible family members to work in Canada, irrespective of whether they are applying from inside or outside the country.
Expanded Eligibility for Open Work Permits: Previously, Open Work Permits were limited to applicants through inland sponsorship or those already residing in Canada on a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV). However, with this new measure, family members applying through outland sponsorship can also now be eligible for Open Work Permits. This applies to spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children over 18 years old.
Under the new policy, foreign nationals can be granted an Open Work Permit if they meet specific conditions. These include being a principal applicant with an accepted permanent residence application or a work permit application for a maximum of two years. Similarly, dependent children included in the application for permanent residence can also apply for an Open Work Permit.
Canada's Commitment to Family Reunification: This progressive measure, announced by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on May 26, demonstrates Canada's ongoing commitment to family reunification. It is part of a broader effort to expedite temporary resident visa processing for spousal applicants, introduce dedicated processing tools for spousal TRV applicants, and extend open work permits expiring between August 1st and the end of 2023.