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 inspectors22313
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics22312
Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)22311
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians22310
Construction estimators22303
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians22302
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians22301
Civil engineering technologists and technicians22300
Construction inspectors22233
Occupational health and safety specialists22232
Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers22231
Non-destructive testers and inspectors22230
Information systems testing technicians22222
User support technicians22221
Computer network and web technicians22220
Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology22214
Land survey technologists and technicians22213
Drafting technologists and technicians22212
Industrial designers22211
Architectural technologists and technicians22210
Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists22114
Conservation and fishery officers22113
Forestry technologists and technicians22112
Agricultural and fish products inspectors22111
Biological technologists and technicians22110
Geological and mineral technologists and technicians22101
Chemical technologists and technicians22100
NOC group 32 - Technical Occupations in Health
OccupationNOC
Opticians32100
Licensed practical nurses32101
Paramedical occupations32102
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists32103
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians32104
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment32109
Denturists32110
Dental hygienists and dental therapists32111
Dental technologists and technicians32112
Medical laboratory technologists32120
Medical radiation technologists32121
Medical sonographers32122
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists32123
Pharmacy technicians32124
Other medical technologists and technicians32129
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists32200
Massage therapists32201
Other practitioners of natural healing32209
NOC group 42 - Front-Line Public Protection Services and Paraprofessional Occupations in Legal, Social, Community, Education Services
OccupationNOC
Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces42102
Early childhood educators and assistants42202
NOC group 72 - Technical Trades and Transportation Officers and Controllers
OccupationNOC
Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations72010
Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations72011
Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades72012
Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades72013
Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers72014
Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades72020
Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews72021
Supervisors, printing and related occupations72022
Supervisors, railway transport operations72023
Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators72024
Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations72025
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors72100
Tool and die makers72101
Sheet metal workers72102
Boilermakers72103
Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters72104
Ironworkers72105
Welders and related machine operators72106
Electricians (except industrial and power system)72200
Industrial electricians72201
Power system electricians72202
Electrical power line and cable workers72203
Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers72204
Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians72205
Plumbers72300
Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers72301
Gas fitters72302
Carpenters72310
Cabinetmakers72311
Bricklayers72320
Insulators72321
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics72400
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics72401
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics72402
Railway carmen/women72403
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors72404
Machine fitters72405
Elevator constructors and mechanics72406
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers72410
Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators72411
Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics72420
Appliance servicers and repairers72421
Electrical mechanics72422
Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics72423
Other small engine and small equipment repairers72429
Crane operators72500
Water well drillers72501
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors72600
Air traffic controllers and related occupations72601
Deck officers, water transport72602
Engineer officers, water transport72603
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators72604
Other technical trades and related occupations72999
NOC group 82 - Supervisors in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Related Production
OccupationNOC
Supervisors, logging and forestry82010
Supervisors, mining and quarrying82020
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services82021
Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors82030
Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services82031
NOC group 33 - Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
OccupationNOC
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants33100
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations33101
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants33103
Other assisting occupations in support of health services33109
NOC group 43 - Assisting Occupations in Education and in Legal and Public Protection
OccupationNOC
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants43100
Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces43204
NOC group 53 - Occupations in Art, Culture, and Sport
OccupationNOC
Athletes53200
Coaches53201
NOC group 73 - General Trades
OccupationNOC
Concrete finishers73100
Tilesetters73101
Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers73102
Roofers and shinglers73110
Glaziers73111
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators73112
Floor covering installers73113
Residential and commercial installers and servicers73200
General building maintenance workers and building superintendents73201
Pest controllers and fumigators73202
Other repairers and servicers73209
Transport truck drivers73300
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators73301
Railway and yard locomotive engineers73310
Railway conductors and brakemen/women73311
Heavy equipment operators73400
Printing press operators73401
Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction73402
NOC group 83 - Occupations in Natural Resources and Related Production
OccupationNOC
Underground production and development miners83100
Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers83101
Logging machinery operators83110
Fishing masters and officers83120
Fishermen/women83121

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.

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