Regulation 207 — Open work permits — eligible categories
Text of provision
A work permit may be issued under section 200 to a foreign national in Canada who
(a) [Repealed, SOR/2017-78, s. 9]
(b) is a member of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class set out in Division 2 of Part 7;
(c) is a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of the Act;
(d) has applied to become a permanent resident and the Minister has granted them an exemption under subsection 25(1), 25.1(1) or 25.2(1) of the Act; or
(e) is a family member of a person described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d).
Plain English
Regulation 207 lists the categories eligible for an open work permit: post-graduation work permit holders, spouses or common-law partners of certain temporary workers, spouses or common-law partners of certain international students, holders of bridging open work permits (pending PR), IEC Working Holiday participants, and other prescribed categories.
An open work permit allows the holder to work for any eligible employer in Canada in any occupation, unless the permit has conditions restricting the sector or location.
Practical effect
The expansion of open work permit eligibility in recent years — particularly for spouses of skilled workers and international students — has been a significant quality-of-life improvement for temporary residents in Canada. Previously, spousal work permits were restricted to specific employers. The shift to open permits gives families more flexibility to pursue careers while awaiting permanent residence. However, open work permits may be restricted in the healthcare sector in some provinces following 2023 regulatory changes addressing queue-jumping concerns.