Jan 16

Canada Tightens Open Work Permits for Families of International Students and Workers

Starting January 21, 2025, Canada will significantly limit open work permits (OWPs) for family members of international students and temporary foreign workers.

Key Changes for International Students’ Families
Only spouses of students in specific programs will qualify for OWPs, including:

  • Master’s programs lasting 16+ months
  • Doctoral programs
  • Select professional programs (e.g., Medicine, Law, Engineering)

Previously, spouses of students in various programs, including shorter master’s degrees, were eligible.

New Rules for Temporary Foreign Workers’ Families
OWPs will now apply only to spouses of workers in specific occupations under the TEER classification, such as management, healthcare, and engineering. Workers must also have at least 16 months remaining on their permits. Dependent children will no longer qualify for OWPs.

Criticism and Concerns

Critics argue that these measures may not effectively address underlying issues such as worker rights and access to permanent residency pathways. Advocacy groups have called for more comprehensive solutions to support migrants, emphasizing the need for policies that ensure fair treatment and integration into Canadian society. Concerns have also been raised about the potential impact on Canada’s international reputation as a welcoming destination for students and skilled workers.

Related Posts

Quebec’s New Immigration Reality

July 2026 marks another significant shift in Canada's immigration system. While federal and Quebec governments present these measures as administrative reforms, they reflect a broader political and economic strategy: managing migration primarily according to labour market needs while imposing tighter controls on temporary migrants, refugee claimants and international students. Although many of the new measures apply across Canada, their impact will be particularly significant in Quebec, where debates over immigration... Read more →

20,000 Workers Ignite the Streets of Montreal

Last Saturday, the Immigrant Workers Centre joined a massive demonstration in downtown Montreal, where more than 20,000 workers from unions and community organizations took to the streets for International Workers Day. The march brought together unions, social movements, and students in a clear show of resistance against worsening working conditions and attacks on social rights. Participants raised strong demands for better wages, stronger protections, and the defense of public services.... Read more →

May Day in Montreal Not a celebration but a call to fight

Last Friday, dozens of migrant workers and their allies gathered at Metro Parc in Montreal to mark May Day with a clear spirit of resistance. This was not a celebration, but a moment to organize and push back against exploitation, wage theft, racism, and deportations. The gathering drew inspiration from the legacy of Affaire de Haymarket, reminding everyone that workers’ rights were never given but won through struggle. The chants... Read more →

Quebec 257 dead. 43 in Montreal. A system that kills.

In front of the CNESST offices in Montreal, workers’ voices filled the space. We gathered there, as the Immigrant Workers Centre, alongside UTTAM, CSN Construction, and the Alliance syndicale de la construction. We did not come only to lay flowers or recall names. We came to say clearly that these deaths are not fate. They are the result of a system. In 2025, 257 workers were killed on the job... Read more →