Good news for families. In 2026, the federal government — that is, Ottawa, which runs immigration for all of Canada — widened access to open work permits for the spouses and common-law partners of certain temporary workers. An open work permit (OWP) lets a person work for almost any employer, with no job offer required first. It's the opposite of a closed permit, which ties you to a single boss.
A federal measure, but with a strong Quebec angle. Because the decision comes from Ottawa, it applies across Canada. But several of the 2026 changes target workers specifically recruited or selected by Quebec. If your spouse or partner works here as a temporary worker, it's worth checking whether you now qualify.
First, the base rule. A spousal open work permit is mainly for people whose partner holds a skilled job — usually at TEER 0 or 1 (TEER is the federal grid that ranks jobs by skill level), or select TEER 2 or 3 jobs — under the International Mobility Program (the economic-immigration stream that skips the labour-market impact assessment). As a rule, the principal worker's permit must still be valid for about 16 months when the spouse's application is received. That's the general framework Ottawa has loosened over 2026. You can check the full criteria on the federal government's spousal open work permit eligibility page.
First change: Quebec-selected workers (PSTQ). Since June 5, 2026, the spouses of temporary workers who were invited to apply for permanent selection under the PSTQ (Quebec's Skilled Worker Selection Program) and who filed their permanent selection application can get an open work permit. This temporary public policy for Quebec-selected workers and their spouses expires December 31, 2026.
Second change: spouses of healthcare workers. As of May 25, 2026, the spouses of foreign-trained healthcare professionals recruited by Quebec under specific projects no longer need the principal worker's permit to be valid for 16 months. The application uses the usual form, but requires a special code and Quebec's selection letter signed by three provincial ministries, according to CIC News. The exact details change often — check the official page before applying.
A note about other provinces. From June 9 to December 31, 2026, Ottawa also introduced a temporary measure for spouses of PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) candidates — a program that exists in provinces other than Quebec. So it doesn't apply to people selected by Quebec, but it shows the widening trend is Canada-wide. See the temporary public policy for prospective PNP candidates.
Good to know for newcomers: check right now whether your spouse or partner becomes eligible for an open work permit through one of these measures. But be careful: these are temporary measures, most ending December 31, 2026, and the exact conditions (codes, documents, dates) keep changing. Always confirm your eligibility on the official government page before paying any fees or filing an application.
