The Canadian federal government has published the list of TEER* 2 and TEER 3 occupations that can still provide for a spousal open work permit. On January 14, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that spouses of foreign workers would only be eligible for spousal open work permits (SOWPs) if their spouse worked in […]
The post These are the TEER 2 and 3 jobs that can still get your spouse a family open work permit first appeared on CIC News.
The Canadian federal government has published the list of TEER* 2 and TEER 3 occupations that can still provide for a spousal open work permit.
On January 14, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that spouses of foreign workers would only be eligible for spousal open work permits (SOWPs) if their spouse worked in
- A TEER 0 occupation;
- A TEER 1 occupation; or
- Select TEER 2 and 3 occupations.
For a spouse or partner of a foreign worker to be eligible under these rules for a work permit, the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time their spouse applies for the SOWP.
These changes took effect on January 21. The changes do not affect valid work permits that have been approved under previous measures and have not expired, nor will they affect eligible renewals of such work permits.
Prior to these changes, spouses of foreign workers could be eligible for SOWPs regardless of the foreign worker’s occupation.
Here are the TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations that will provide for SOWPs moving forward.
*TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities, and is the Canadian federal government’s method of classifying the skill level of an occupation in the National Occupation Classification (NOC), with TEER 0 being the highest skilled and TEER 5 being the lowest skilled.
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TEER 2 jobs still eligible for a family OWP
NOC group 22 – Technical Occupations Related to Natural and Applied Sciences
| Occupation title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 |
| Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics | 22312 |
| Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) | 22311 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 |
| Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians | 22302 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 |
| Construction inspectors | 22233 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | 22232 |
| Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers | 22231 |
| Non-destructive testers and inspectors | 22230 |
| Information systems testing technicians | 22222 |
| User support technicians | 22221 |
| Computer network and web technicians | 22220 |
| Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology | 22214 |
| Land survey technologists and technicians | 22213 |
| Drafting technologists and technicians | 22212 |
| Industrial designers | 22211 |
| Architectural technologists and technicians | 22210 |
| Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists | 22114 |
| Conservation and fishery officers | 22113 |
| Forestry technologists and technicians | 22112 |
| Agricultural and fish products inspectors | 22111 |
| Biological technologists and technicians | 22110 |
| Geological and mineral technologists and technicians | 22101 |
| Chemical technologists and technicians | 22100 |
NOC group 32 – Technical Occupations in Health
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Opticians | 32100 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Denturists | 32110 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
NOC group 42 – Front-Line Public Protection Services and Paraprofessional Occupations in Legal, Social, Community, Education Services
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 42102 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 |
NOC group 72 – Technical Trades and Transportation Officers and Controllers
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations | 72010 |
| Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations | 72011 |
| Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades | 72012 |
| Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades | 72013 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 |
| Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades | 72020 |
| Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews | 72021 |
| Supervisors, printing and related occupations | 72022 |
| Supervisors, railway transport operations | 72023 |
| Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators | 72024 |
| Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations | 72025 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 |
| Tool and die makers | 72101 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Boilermakers | 72103 |
| Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters | 72104 |
| Ironworkers | 72105 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Power system electricians | 72202 |
| Electrical power line and cable workers | 72203 |
| Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers | 72204 |
| Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians | 72205 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers | 72301 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 |
| Insulators | 72321 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Railway carmen/women | 72403 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers | 72410 |
| Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators | 72411 |
| Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics | 72420 |
| Appliance servicers and repairers | 72421 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 |
| Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics | 72423 |
| Other small engine and small equipment repairers | 72429 |
| Crane operators | 72500 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 |
| Air traffic controllers and related occupations | 72601 |
| Deck officers, water transport | 72602 |
| Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 |
| Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 |
NOC group 82 – Supervisors in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Related Production
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Supervisors, logging and forestry | 82010 |
| Supervisors, mining and quarrying | 82020 |
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 |
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 |
TEER 3 jobs still eligible for a family OWP
NOC group 33 – Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants | 33100 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
NOC group 43 – Assisting Occupations in Education and in Legal and Public Protection
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 |
| Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 43204 |
NOC group 53 – Occupations in Art, Culture, and Sport
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Athletes | 53200 |
| Coaches | 53201 |
NOC group 73 – General Trades
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Concrete finishers | 73100 |
| Tilesetters | 73101 |
| Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers | 73102 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Glaziers | 73111 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators | 73112 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| General building maintenance workers and building superintendents | 73201 |
| Pest controllers and fumigators | 73202 |
| Other repairers and servicers | 73209 |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 |
| Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators | 73301 |
| Railway and yard locomotive engineers | 73310 |
| Railway conductors and brakemen/women | 73311 |
| Heavy equipment operators | 73400 |
| Printing press operators | 73401 |
| Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction | 73402 |
NOC group 83 – Occupations in Natural Resources and Related Production
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Underground production and development miners | 83100 |
| Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers | 83101 |
| Logging machinery operators | 83110 |
| Fishing masters and officers | 83120 |
| Fishermen/women | 83121 |
How to find your occupation’s NOC code
The job title associated with your occupation’s NOC code may not match the job title given by your employer. For the purposes of the NOC, what matters is which duties and responsibilities you performed for a given role (regardless of what your title was).
To determine your NOC code, compare the main duties listed in the NOC to the duties you performed in your role. For most immigration purposes, you must have performed all the duties in the lead statement of the NOC, and at least 51% of the main duties.
For more information on the TEER levels and Canada’s NOC system, visit our dedicated webpage.
How to apply for a SOWP as the spouse of a foreign worker
Provided that they meet all the necessary eligibility criteria, newcomers looking to secure a Canadian SOWP for their spouses or partners may follow these steps:
- Visit IRCC’s eligibility questionnaire page and answer the questions when prompted. Once completed you will be given a document checklist tailored to your situation.
(a) Answers in this section may differ depending on whether a spouse or partner is applying for a work permit along with the principal applicant, or if they are applying for their permit after the principal applicant has received their work permit.
(b) Answers can also differ based on whether the spouse or partner applying for and OWP is currently in Canada or not. - Once all questions have been answered, you will be given a personal reference code, an application guide and a tailored document checklist for your situation. Make note of your personal reference code as it will be needed later in the process.
- Gather the documents listed in your checklist in support of your SOWP. Among the needed documents you may need
(a) Proof of relationship to the principal applicant;
(b) Proof that the applicant can or will be legally authorized to work in Canada;
(c) Proof that the principal applicant can work in Canada for at least 16 months after the work permit application is received;
(d) Proof that the principal applicant is or will be working in an eligible TEER level 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. - Register and/or log in to an IRCC secure account to submit your application.
- After signing in, click on the text entitled: “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit”.
(a) From here you will be taken to a separate page and prompted to enter your personal reference code from earlier. If entered successfully, your reference code should generate an application homepage for this specific application. - Once you have entered your personal reference code, you can upload your documents and review your application.
- Lastly, you will be asked to submit electronic payment with a valid card to complete the application.
- After submitting your payment, you should be automatically redirected to a page informing you that your application has been submitted.
Background on today’s change
Today’s measures are part of a wider suite of initiatives that the Canadian government has undertaken to reduce the temporary resident (study or work permit holder) population in Canada.
The changes to SOWP eligibility for spouses of students and foreign workers in effect today were first announced in September of 2024.
At a press conference on September 18 of that year, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that the government would be limiting the availability of SOWPs to spouses of foreign workers working in highly skilled and/or in-demand occupations. At the time the minister provided only a high-level description of which occupations would provide for SOWP eligibility.
In addition, at the same press conference Miller also announced his intention to limit the availability of SOWPs to spouses of international students enrolled in
- doctoral programs;
- master’s programs of at least 16 months in duration Study at the master’s level; or
- one of the following professional degree programs:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD).
- Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL).
- Doctor of Medicine (MD).
- Doctor of Optometry (OD).
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm).
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc).
- Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.).
- Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc).
Miller said that the government expected that the above changes would result in the issuance of 150,000 fewer SOWPs over the next three years.
Further to these changes, IRCC has also implemented targets for admission of net new work permit holders under the International Mobility Program (IMP)—under which SOWPs are issued—within the annual Immigration Levels Plan. The following table breaks down IRCC’s planned total admissions of net new IMP work permit holders from 2025 to 2027:
| Year | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New new IMP work permit holder admissions | 285,750 | 128,700 | 155,700 |
Many of the TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations that still provide eligibility for SOWPs align with occupations in the Federal Economic Priorities bucket for planned admissions of new permanent residents: healthcare and trades.
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