What changed on August 11
IRCC removed the former “Applications received as a family group” instructions from several International Mobility Program pages and moved the shared guidance to a new central page, Work permit options for family members of foreign workers. The Temporary workers page and the functional guidance table of contents were updated to include it.
The update touches the instructions for administrative codes C41, C46, C47, C48 and C49. It reorganizes common material and adds new scenarios to the category-specific pages.
| Code | Who it covers | What IRCC added |
|---|---|---|
| C41 / C46 | Spouses and family members of high-skilled workers (TEER 0–3) | Free trade agreement (FTA) spouses, spouses of workers holding an open work permit under a temporary public policy, a self-employed principal on an open work permit, family members of workers moving to permanent residence, and renewals, including a facilitation measure |
| C47 / C48 | Family members of lower-skilled workers (TEER 4–5) | The same eligibility guidance on transitions to permanent residence and on FTA workers, plus new renewal sections |
| C49 | Family members of work permit holders who are Economic Class permanent residence applicants | New sections on refusals and renewals |
New and expanded guidance
- Spouses of workers covered by a free trade agreement, including the clarification that the principal worker cannot hold, or be eligible for, a spousal open work permit under the agreement.
- Documentary evidence where the principal foreign national is self-employed while holding an open work permit.
- Eligibility and renewals for family members of workers who are transitioning to permanent residence.
- Renewal scenarios for family-member open work permits, including a facilitation measure described by IRCC.
- Refusal and renewal guidance for family members of work permit holders who are Economic Class permanent residence applicants (C49).
What the update does not mean
Not an automatic open work permit. The update does not give every spouse or family member of a foreign worker an open work permit. The category, the principal worker’s authorization and circumstances, the family relationship, the timing of the application and the evidence must still satisfy the current instructions.
The high-skilled (C41, C46), lower-skilled (C47, C48) and Economic Class permanent residence (C49) categories remain distinct. A rule or document listed for one category should not be assumed to apply to another.
Practical filing checklist
- Identify the categoryConfirm the correct family-member work permit category before choosing an exemption code.
- Read both sourcesUse the new central page together with the category-specific C41, C46, C47, C48 or C49 instructions.
- Prove the relationship and the principal’s statusProvide current proof of the family relationship and of the principal foreign national’s status, work authorization and qualifying circumstances.
- Address your scenarioFor a renewal or a transition to permanent residence, explain the specific scenario instead of relying only on the previous permit approval.
- Re-check on the filing dateProgram delivery instructions can be revised without any new program being created.