Canadian government give utmost importance to family reunification in its immigration policy. Now, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a new measure to support this cause by enabling more families to be reunited.
Under this new measure, people who are the spouses, partners, or dependents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary workers, or students already living in Canada may now be eligible for an Open Work Permit (OWP).
Open Work Permits for outland applications
Earlier, Open Work Permit was limited to applicants going through inland sponsorship or those already in Canada with a TRV (Temporary Residence Visa). However, with the new change, even those applying from outside of Canada (outland sponsorship) can now be eligible to apply for Open Work Permits.
As part of this measure, family members are defined as spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children (18 or above). The IRCC aims to process all spousal sponsorship applications within a 12-month timeframe.
Also read- Canada Work Permit eligibility requirements, Fees and Process
Eligibility criteria for open work permits
As per IRCC guidelines, people who are family members and fulfil specific criteria are eligible for open work permits. To be eligible, they must possess a valid temporary resident status, maintain that status, or be eligible for and have applied to reinstate their status. Moreover, they should share the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada at the time of applying for the OWP.
IRCC policy says that officers may grant an open work permit to foreign natives who fulfil either one of the following conditions:
The foreign national is:
- A primary applicant who has submitted a PR application under the spouse or common law partner in Canada or as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner under the family class that has been accepted for processing by IRCC
- Has submitted a work permit application, where the period of the work permit requested is a maximum of 2 years
- Is the subject of a sponsorship application submitted by their Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse, common law or conjugal partner
- Has the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application, and
- Has valid temporary resident status in Canada or is eligible for and has applied for restoration of status
OR
The foreign national is:
- A dependent child that has been included as an accompanying family member in the application for PR
- Has submitted a work permit application where the period of the work permit requested is for a maximum of 2 years
- Has the same residential address as the principal applicant and their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application, and
- Has valid temporary resident status in Canada or is eligible for and has applied for restoration of status
Other key measures taken by Canadian government for Family reunification.
Apart from the announcement of open work permits for outland spousal sponsorship the government of Canada has taken various other family reunification measures, i.e.
- Quicker temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal applicants
- New and separate processing tools for spousal TRV applicants
- Open work permit extensions for OWP holders expiring between August 1st and the end of 2023
Also read-
Canberra invites 822 candidates in latest ACT invitation round held on 14 July 2023
Canada has Finally Launched the Open Work Permit for H-1B Visa holders- Apply now
French Language Proficiency is a new Game Changer for obtaining Canada PR invitation
IRCC Reduces CRS score to just 375 in Latest Express Entry Draw- Invites French-speaking candidates
To know more and apply for relevant visa for immigration to Canada this year, you may contact Visas Avenue trusted Immigration Advisor and Consultant on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.
British Columbia PNP Issues invitations to Skilled Workers and Entrepreneur Category 
Quick Inquiry 
Rajneesh Kumar
20 July, 2023 
