These are the TEER 2 and 3 jobs that can still get your spouse a family open work permit

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:

1. 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.
2.  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.
3. 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.
4. Register and/or log in to an IRCC secure account to submit your application.
5. 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.
6. Once you have entered your personal reference code, you can upload your documents and review your application.
7. Lastly, you will be asked to submit electronic payment with a valid card to complete the application.
8. 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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