Canada Work Visa Rules March 2025 Update & What You Should Know

🔎 Recent Key Updates & Context (as of March 2025)

As of 21 January 2025, IRCC tightened the rules for family OWPs. Now, only spouses or common-law partners of certain international students or foreign workers are eligible. Canada+2Canada+2
Eligibility for spouses depends on:
- For international students: being enrolled in a master’s program (16+ months), doctoral program, or a designated eligible program at a qualifying institution. Canada+1
- For foreign workers: the worker must be employed in high-skilled occupations (TEER 0 or TEER 1), or select occupations within TEER 2/3 in sectors with labour shortages or government priority (e.g. certain technical, science, healthcare, or skilled-trade roles). Canada+1
- The worker’s permit must have at least 16 months remaining when the spouse applies. Canada+1
Dependent children of foreign workers are no longer eligible for OWPs under these rules. Canada+1
Note: OWPs approved before January 21 2025 — and still valid — remain valid until expiry. Canada+1

IRCC appears to have updated the extension process: applicants who apply for permit extension before their current permit expires can benefit from “implied status” — meaning they are authorized to continue working while the extension is processed. IRCC Canada+1
It is strongly recommended to submit extension applications at least 30 days before the current permit expires. Canada
The extension (or change-of-conditions) process expects required documents (passport, permit, job offer/LMIA or employer compliance — if applicable) to be up-to-date. Immigration Consultant in Surrey BC+1

If you plan to apply for, extend, or renew a work permit — or bring a spouse/partner with you — here are some practical take-aways as of March 2025:

Spouses/partners must carefully check eligibility: only certain student or worker profiles qualify for family OWPs. If you (or your partner) don’t meet the TEER or program-duration criteria — spouse OWP may be denied.
Children of foreign workers — no more automatic OWPs under the family-permit rules, so you’ll need alternate arrangements if family reunification is the goal.
Apply early for extensions — ideally at least a month before expiry — to maintain status while waiting for processing.
Ensure all documentation is up-to-date (passport validity, work permit, job offer/ employer compliance if required) to avoid delays or rejection.
If applying from abroad or starting a new permit — double-check whether you qualify under current rules; do not assume old visitor-to-work-permit pathways or broad family-permit allowances still apply.