The Canadian government has announced significant changes to the rules regarding open work permits for the families of international students and foreign workers. These amendments, which came into effect on January 16, 2025, aim to reduce the large number of open work permits granted to family members of foreign workers and students.

Main details of the changes:

1. Restrictions on open work permits: Under the new amendments, family members of international students and foreign workers will face greater difficulties in obtaining open work permits, meaning that many will not be able to work in Canada during their family members' stay.

2. Impact on work capacity: With the imposition of these restrictions, many family members who relied on working in Canada during the stay of the primary family members (students or foreign workers) will have to seek alternatives. This will particularly affect families that depend on the income of working individuals who are not the primary students or workers.

3. Reasons for the change: The Canadian government presented the changes in the context of a broader plan to limit the large influx of temporary foreign workers and students in the country. This change is expected to contribute to reducing the percentage of temporary residents in Canada to 5% of the total population by 2026. The government sees this move as necessary to address the increasing challenges in the labor and housing market in the country.

4. Response and concerns: These amendments have raised concerns among many international students and foreign workers who fear that this will negatively impact their financial stability and living conditions in Canada. Additionally, reports indicate that families who relied on open work permits will be the most affected by these new measures.

5. Impact on the local economy: The change in policy is likely to limit the ability of many skilled workers to contribute to the local economy, which may create economic challenges in some sectors that heavily rely on foreign workers.

Future challenges:

These changes indicate that Canada is seeking to strike a balance between the need to attract skilled workers from abroad and improving the local market situation amidst housing and job challenges. However, this step remains controversial among stakeholders who believe that these restrictions may negatively impact Canada’s ability to attract global talent in the future.

These changes will remain a hot topic in political and economic discussions in Canada, especially as the government continues to try to address ongoing economic crises.