Which TEER is eligible for a spouse open work permit?

TEER levels only determine the Canada spouse work permit eligibility for the spouses of Foreign Workers and PGWP holders. If you are the spouse of an International Student (Master’s/PhD) or an Inland PR Sponsorship applicant, TEER is not your primary gatekeeper.
If your spouse is an international student, eligibility is mostly tied to the type/level of study, not TEER. See our FAQ “Which courses are eligible for a spousal open work permit?”

However, for those under the temporary foreign worker program, the rules are much more precise.

1. The Core Rule (Non-PR Pathway Workers)

If you are a foreign worker (including those on a PGWP) and not currently in a specific PR stream, your spouse is only eligible for a spousal open work permit if you meet two major conditions simultaneously:

• The Job Condition: You must work in a TEER 0 or 1 (Management/Professional) role OR a select TEER 2/3 role in a “priority” sector.
  • Shortage Sectors (TEER 2/3): Healthcare, STEM (Natural & Applied Sciences), Construction, Agriculture, and Education (e.g., ECEs and Teacher Assistants).
  • Excluded Sectors: Most TEER 2/3 roles in Sales, Service, and Administrative Support are not eligible.
• The 16-Month Rule: Your work permit must have at least 16 months of validity remaining at the moment your spouse clicks “submit.” If your permit is shorter due to passport expiry or a 1-year PGWP, your spouse will likely be refused.

2. The PR-Pathway Exception (TEER 4 & 5)

Workers in lower-skilled roles (TEER 4 or 5) can still support an SOWP only if they have transitioned to a designated Permanent Residency pathway.

• The Rule: If you are a Provincial Nominee (with a support letter) or have applied for PR through an eligible economic pilot, your spouse qualifies regardless of your TEER level.
• 6-Month Validity: In this specific scenario, your work permit only needs 6 months of validity remaining instead of 16.

3. Important “Hidden” Details for 2025

Meeting the TEER requirement is just the first step. To ensure a successful application, you must account for these technicalities:

• Medical Exams (IME): If your spouse intends to work in healthcare or with children (common in TEER 2/3 shortage roles), they must complete an upfront medical exam. Without it, their permit will be issued with a “No Childcare/Healthcare” restriction.
• The Child OWP Ban: As of January 21, 2025, dependent children of high-skilled workers are no longer eligible for an open work permit. They can only come as visitors or students.
• Proof of Employment: You must provide a job letter and 3 recent paystubs. Applying “simultaneously” the day you graduate (before you have paystubs) is the most common reason for 2025 refusals.

Need assistance with a spousal open work permit and want to move through the process smoothly and confidently, you can book a consultation with our Canadian immigration advisers. Also you can review our Immigration Consultant Prices to find the package that fits your needs.

If you need a full overview on spouse visa Canada requirements, you can visit our dedicated webpage for a complete breakdown of the family reunification process.