Quebec Grants Open Work Permits to Spouses of PR Applicants

Canada's immigration department (IRCC) launched a new temporary public policy on June 5, 2026, allowing spouses and common-law partners of Quebec permanent residence applicants to obtain open work permits under significantly relaxed conditions. 

The policy replaces an earlier measure that came into effect on March 13, 2026, and will remain active until December 31, 2026.

This move marks a notable step toward keeping immigrant families together and financially stable while their permanent residence applications are being processed in Quebec.

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Who Is Eligible Under the New Quebec Work Permit Policy

The policy targets spouses or common-law partners who are listed as accompanying a qualifying applicant for permanent selection in the Quebec PNP. What makes this policy stand out is that these individuals do not need to meet the usual open work permit requirements.

Specifically, eligible spouses are exempted from:

The requirement of not having engaged in any unauthorized period of work or study. The requirement of not having committed certain violations of the temporary resident status conditions.

The standard conditions required to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

The policy also extends to foreign nationals who are currently out of status, or who hold or previously held only visitor or student status. 

These individuals can apply for restoration of status along with their work permit application, provided they submit the application within 90 days of last holding temporary resident status.

What the Principal Applicant Must Satisfy

For a spouse to qualify, the primary applicant must have received an invitation through Quebec's Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) and must have submitted a Demande de selection permanente (DSP) to Quebec. Beyond that, the principal applicant must fall into one of three specific situations:

Valid Work Permit: The applicant holds an employer-specific Canada work permit for a Quebec employer expiring on or before December 31, 2026, and has already applied to extend it with the same employer.

Maintained Status: The applicant has work authorization through maintained status for a Quebec employer and has submitted a subsequent work permit application for the same employer.

Expired Work Permit: The applicant held an employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer that expired on or after March 13, 2026, and has applied for either an extension of stay or restoration of status.

In every case, the principal applicant must include confirmation of their DSP submission with their work permit application.

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Key Dates and What This Policy Means Going Forward

The policy took effect on June 5, 2026, and applies to all applications received on or after that date. Importantly, it also covers pending Canada Work Permit applications filed under the earlier policy, which has been revoked and replaced by this new measure.

Like all temporary public policies of this nature, it may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice, and it is currently set to expire on December 31, 2026.

For families navigating Quebec's immigration pathway, this policy offers meaningful short-term relief.

A spouse who may have been stuck without work authorization due to a technicality or an overstay can now regularize their status and become eligible for a work permit, allowing them to contribute economically while the family waits for a permanent residence outcome.

The full policy, titled "Temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for prospective permanent residence candidates in Quebec and their spouses and common law partners," is available on the IRCC's official website.

Source: quebec.ca

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