Can any international student's or foreign worker's spouse get a spousal open work permit in Canada?

The rules changed on January 21, 2025. For spouses of international students, an open work permit is now generally available only if the student is enrolled in a master's program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, or certain eligible professional and select programs.

For spouses of foreign workers, access is limited to spouses of workers employed in a management or professional occupation, or in a job tied to government priority sectors such as natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, and education. Spouses of workers in other occupations no longer qualify under this measure, so eligibility must be checked carefully against the current rules.