Canada Introduces 14 Programs for Family Work Permits

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published a guide detailing 14 economic class permanent residence programs that enable family members of foreign workers to obtain open work permits. The eligibility for these permits is linked to factors such as whether the principal worker has applied for or is on a pathway to permanent residence, the type of work they perform in Canada, and their occupation classification under the Training, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) framework.

The qualifying programs include the Agri-Food Pilot, Atlantic Immigration Program, Canadian Experience Class, and others. Additionally, workers in high-skilled occupations under TEER categories 0 or 1, as well as select occupations in TEER 2 and TEER 3, are also eligible.

The IRCC provides an online eligibility tool for family members to assess their qualification for an open work permit before submitting a formal application.