Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released official guidance on which family members of foreign workers can apply for an open work permit. This policy provides a structured pathway for qualifying relatives to work in Canada without being tied to a single employer. The open work permit is distinct from employer-specific authorisations, offering more flexibility for eligible family members.
The IRCC has defined eligibility around three specific family relationships. The first category includes spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers already residing in Canada. The second category extends to dependent children of foreign workers. The third category includes dependent children of those dependent children, meaning grandchildren of the foreign worker may also be eligible under certain conditions.
The scope of the policy is deliberately narrow, excluding relatives such as parents, siblings, and other extended family members of foreign workers. This means that not all family members of foreign workers qualify for an open work permit. The IRCC has set specific criteria to ensure only eligible family members can apply for this permit.
Qualifying family members who wish to apply must pay a combined application fee of CA$255, which includes a standard work permit fee of CA$155 and an open work permit holder fee of CA$100. Processing times vary based on application volumes and individual case details, and prospective applicants are advised to check the IRCC's official website for current wait time estimates.
This policy offers a practical route for spouses, children, and grandchildren of foreign workers to secure their own right to work in Canada without requiring sponsorship from a specific employer. For Ghanaians and other Africans already working in Canada on a foreign worker visa, this policy provides an opportunity for their family members to join them.
Canada has been making several changes to its immigration policies, including a work permit exemption for eligible citizens of the UK. This exemption allows UK citizens to undertake certain business activities in Canada without obtaining a standard work permit, following the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as its 11th member on 1 September 2026.
The new policy is expected to benefit many foreign workers and their families in Canada. According to the IRCC, this policy aims to provide a more flexible and streamlined process for eligible family members of foreign workers to work in Canada.
Key points
- The IRCC has identified three specific family relationships eligible for an open work permit: spouses and common-law partners, dependent children, and dependent children of dependent children.
- The application fee for an open work permit is CA$255, including a standard work permit fee and an open work permit holder fee.
- The policy excludes relatives such as parents, siblings, and other extended family members of foreign workers.
