Significant changes to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program

As of January 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented significant changes to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program. These modifications affect eligibility criteria, the list of qualifying occupations, application procedures, and the context behind these changes.

Full List of Eligible Occupations

Under the new regulations, spouses or common-law partners of foreign workers are eligible for an open work permit if the principal foreign worker is employed in specific occupations categorized under the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) system. The eligible TEER categories include:

• TEER 0: Management occupations.
• TEER 1: Occupations that usually require a university degree.
• TEER 2 and TEER 3: Selected occupations that typically require college diplomas or apprenticeships.

Additionally, for a spouse or partner to qualify under the new rules, the foreign worker must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time of the SOWP application.

Prior to this update, spouses of foreign workers could be eligible for SOWPs regardless of the foreign worker’s occupation.

*TEER, which stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities, is a classification system under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC), with TEER 0 being the highest and TEER 5 being the lowest.

List of Eligible TEER 2 and TEER 3 Occupations for SOWPs

NOC group 22 - Technical Occupations Related to Natural and Applied Sciences

Occupation

NOC

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

NOC

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

NOC

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

NOC

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

NOC

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

NOC group 33 - Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services

Occupation

NOC

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

NOC

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

NOC

Athletes

53200

Coaches

53201

NOC group 73 - General Trades

Occupation

NOC

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

NOC

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

To identify the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code for your spouse’s or partner’s job:

1. Visit the NOC Website: Access the official NOC website.
2. Search for the Job Title: Use the search function to enter your spouse’s or partner’s job title.
3. Review Job Descriptions: Compare the job duties listed in the NOC with your spouse’s or partner’s actual job responsibilities to ensure an accurate match.
4. Note the NOC Code and TEER Category: Once identified, note the corresponding NOC code and its TEER category to confirm eligibility.

The Canadian government announced these changes to the SOWP program on January 14, 2025, with the new regulations taking effect on January 21, 2025. The primary objectives of these modifications are to:

• Align with Labor Market Needs: By restricting SOWP eligibility to spouses of workers in specific occupations, the policy aims to address labor shortages in high-demand sectors.
• Manage Temporary Resident Numbers: These changes are part of broader measures to regulate the number of temporary residents in Canada, ensuring that immigration policies align with the country’s economic and social objectives.

It’s important to note that these changes do not affect valid work permits approved under previous measures that have not expired, nor do they impact eligible renewals of such work permits.