The Canadian government has expanded work permit eligibility for family members of foreign nationals who are applying for permanent residence under the Economic Class or chosen by a province. Effective immediately, new application rules apply for open work permits under R205(c)(ii) – C49.
📜 Who Is Eligible?
To qualify under subparagraph R205(c)(ii) – C49, the principal foreign national must: ✅ Be applying for permanent residence as the principal applicant under an Economic Class program. ✅ Have a valid work permit issued because they applied for PR under an Economic Class. ✅ Be authorized to work in Canada for at least six months beyond the family member’s application date. ✅ Physically reside in Canada while employed. ✅ Be in a genuine relationship with the applicant (spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child).
📌 Eligible Family Members
The following individuals qualify for an open work permit under this expansion: 👨👩👧 Spouses and common-law partners of Economic Class PR applicants. 🧒 Dependent children (biological or adopted) of Economic Class PR applicants. 👶 Grandchildren of the principal foreign national or their spouse.
📌 Restricted Applications at the Port of Entry
Most foreign nationals inside Canada are no longer eligible to apply for a work permit at a port of entry. However, exceptions apply for: ✅ U.S. citizens and permanent residents. ✅ Free Trade Agreement (FTA) professionals and technicians from the U.S., Mexico, Chile, South Korea, Panama, Colombia, and Peru. ✅ Spouses of FTA applicants from South Korea, Panama, and Colombia. ✅ Certain truck drivers with valid work permit renewal applications. ✅ Applicants with pre-scheduled CBSA appointments.
📌 List of Eligible Occupations by TEER Categories
TEER 0 (Management Occupations)
- Senior executives
- Engineering managers
- Health care administrators
- IT directors
TEER 1 (Professional Occupations)
- Software engineers
- Medical professionals
- Architects
- Accountants
TEER 2 Occupations
- Computer network technicians
- Engineering technologists
- Industrial electricians
TEER 3 Occupations
- Early childhood educators
- Heavy equipment operators
- Welders
- Paramedics
📌 Required Documents
Applicants must provide: 📄 Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate, or common-law declaration). 📄 Evidence of the principal foreign national’s PR application (e.g., IMM 0008, acknowledgment of receipt, GCMS record). 📄 Evidence of the principal foreign national’s employment (job contract, employer letter, pay stubs confirming TEER category). 📄 Proof of work authorization (valid work permit or approval letter). 📄 Proof of employment duration (work permit validity of at least six months beyond the application date).
✈️ Application Process for Different Scenarios
🔹 Applying from Outside Canada: The work permit application will be processed after the principal worker’s permit is approved. 🔹 Applying from Within Canada: Family members must hold valid temporary resident status or be eligible for status restoration. 🔹 Applying as a Family Group: If submitted together, the principal foreign national’s application will be assessed first.
🚫 Who Is Not Eligible?
Spouses and dependents of foreign nationals who have not applied for PR but hold work permits must apply under other work permit categories (e.g., C41/C46 or C47/C48 for high- and low-skilled workers, respectively). Other ineligible applicants include: ❌ Individuals whose principal foreign national’s work permit is expiring in less than six months. ❌ Those applying only on the basis of spousal or family ties without a PR application. ❌ Individuals whose principal foreign national’s work permit was issued under an FTA or refugee program.
🛑 Reasons for Potential Refusals
Applications may be refused if: ❌ The principal worker has less than six months of authorized work remaining. ❌ The submitted documents fail to prove PR application submission. ❌ The relationship is deemed non-genuine or fraudulent. ❌ The applicant fails to meet temporary resident status requirements if applying from within Canada.
🔮 What This Means for Canada’s Workforce
This policy ensures that families of Economic Class PR applicants can work in Canada while awaiting their PR decision, helping to support the economy and reduce financial barriers for new immigrants. However, the tightened eligibility rules will prevent misuse of open work permits.
💬 What are your thoughts on these changes? Will this help PR applicants and their families integrate into the workforce more easily? Share your views below!
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