Prior to this, spouses of only high-skilled foreign workers were eligible to apply for work permits. Starting in January 2023, through a temporary 2-year measure, Canada will expand eligibility to work in Canada to spouses and working-age children through a phased approach for workers at all skill levels. This would include families of workers in health care, trades, and hospitality, for example.

It is estimated that family members of more than 200,000 foreign workers could begin working in Canada

The temporary measure will be implemented in 3 phases to ensure its successful implementation:

∙ Phase 1 will enable family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program to apply for an open work permit.

∙ Phase 2 aims to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, following consultations.

∙ Phase 3 will include consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess the operational feasibility of expanding the measure to family members of agricultural workers.