Complete Guide to Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Eligible Occupations in Canada - 2025

As of January 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented significant changes to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program. These changes restrict eligibility to spouses of foreign workers employed in specific high-skilled occupations, marking a departure from the previously more inclusive policy.

Key Changes Effective January 21, 2025

New Eligibility Requirements:

• The primary foreign worker must be employed in TEER 0, TEER 1, or select TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations

• The foreign worker's work permit must be valid for at least 16 months at the time of SOWP application

• Previously approved SOWPs remain valid until their expiry date

• Applications submitted before January 21, 2025, at 5:00 UTC are processed under previous criteria

Complete List of SOWP-Eligible Occupations

TEER 0 - Management Occupations

ALL occupations in this category are eligible

Legislative and Senior Management:

• 00010 – Legislators

• 00011 – Senior government managers and officials

• 00012 – Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services

• 00013 – Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations

• 00014 – Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services

• 00015 – Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities

Specialized Middle Management:

• 10010 – Financial managers

• 10011 – Human resources managers

• 10012 – Purchasing managers

• 10019 – Other administrative services managers

• 10020 – Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers

• 10021 – Banking, credit and other investment managers

• 10022 – Advertising, marketing and public relations managers

• 10029 – Other business services managers

• 10030 – Telecommunication carriers managers

• 20010 – Engineering managers

• 20011 – Architecture and science managers

• 20012 – Computer and information systems managers

• 30010 – Managers in health care

• 40010 – Government managers - health and social policy development and program administration

• 40011 – Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration

• 40012 – Government managers - education policy development and program administration

• 40019 – Other managers in public administration

• 40020 – Administrators - post-secondary education and vocational training

• 40021 – School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education

• 40030 – Managers in social, community and correctional services

• 40040 – Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services

• 40041 – Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers

• 50010 – Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers

• 50012 – Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts

• 60010 – Corporate sales managers

• 60020 – Retail and wholesale trade managers

• 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers

• 60040 – Accommodation service managers

• 70010 – Construction managers

• 70011 – Home building and renovation managers

• 70012 – Facility operation and maintenance managers

• 70020 – Managers in transportation

• 80010 – Managers in natural resources production and fishing

• 80020 – Managers in agriculture

• 90010 – Manufacturing managers

• 90011 – Utilities managers

Total TEER 0 Occupations: 42

TEER 1 - Professional Occupations

ALL occupations in this category are eligible

TEER 1 includes all professional occupations that typically require a university degree, including:

Business and Finance (11xxx):

• All financial auditors, accountants, and financial professionals

• All human resources professionals

• All business management consultants

• All advertising, marketing, and public relations professionals

Natural and Applied Sciences (21xxx):

• All engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, etc.)

• All scientists (physicists, chemists, biologists, etc.)

• All architects and urban planners

• All computer systems professionals and software engineers

Health (31xxx):

• All medical specialists and general practitioners

• All dentists, pharmacists, and veterinarians

• All registered nurses and nurse practitioners

• All psychologists and therapists

Education, Law, and Social Services (41xxx):

• All university professors and secondary school teachers

• All lawyers, judges, and legal professionals

• All social workers and counselors

Arts and Culture (51xxx):

• All professional artists, writers, and performers

• All librarians and archivists

Total TEER 1 Occupations: Approximately 150+ occupations

TEER 2 - Select Technical Occupations

ONLY the following specific occupations are eligible:

Natural and Applied Sciences Technicians:

• 22100 – Chemical technologists and technicians

• 22101 – Geological and mineral technologists and technicians

• 22110 – Biological technologists and technicians

• 22111 – Agricultural and fish products inspectors

• 22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians

• 22113 – Conservation and fishery officers

• 22114 – Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists

• 22210 – Architectural technologists and technicians

• 22211 – Industrial designers

• 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians

• 22213 – Land survey technologists and technicians

• 22214 – Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology

• 22220 – Computer network and web technicians

• 22221 – User support technicians

• 22222 – Information systems testing technicians

• 22230 – Non-destructive testers and inspectors

• 22231 – Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers

• 22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists

• 22233 – Construction inspectors

• 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians

• 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

• 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians

• 22303 – Construction estimators

• 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians

• 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

• 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics

• 22313 – Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors

Health Technicians:

• 32100 – Opticians

• 32101 – Licensed practical nurses

• 32102 – Paramedical occupations

• 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

• 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

• 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

• 32110 – Denturists

• 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists

• 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians

• 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists

• 32121 – Medical radiation technologists

• 32122 – Medical sonographers

• 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists

• 32124 – Pharmacy technicians

• 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians

• 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

• 32201 – Massage therapists

• 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing

Military and Education:

• 42102 – Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces

• 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants

Skilled Trades and Supervisors:

• 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations

• 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations

• 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades

• 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades

• 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers

• 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades

• 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews

• 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations

• 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations

• 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators

• 72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations

• 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors

• 72101 – Tool and die makers

• 72102 – Sheet metal workers

• 72103 – Boilermakers

• 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters

• 72105 – Ironworkers

• 72106 – Welders and related machine operators

• 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)

• 72201 – Industrial electricians

• 72202 – Power system electricians

• 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers

• 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

• 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

• 72300 – Plumbers

• 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers

• 72302 – Gas fitters

• 72310 – Carpenters

• 72311 – Cabinetmakers

• 72320 – Bricklayers

• 72321 – Insulators

• 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics

• 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

• 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics

• 72403 – Railway carmen/women

• 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

• 72405 – Machine fitters

• 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics

• 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers

• 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

• 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics

• 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers

• 72422 – Electrical mechanics

• 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics

• 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers

• 72500 – Crane operators

• 72501 – Water well drillers

• 72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors

• 72601 – Air traffic controllers and related occupations

• 72602 – Deck officers, water transport

• 72603 – Engineer officers, water transport

• 72604 – Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators

• 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations

Natural Resources Supervisors:

• 82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry

• 82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying

• 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

• 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors

• 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

Total TEER 2 Eligible Occupations: 105

TEER 3 - Select Intermediate Occupations

Only the following specific occupations are eligible:

Health Support:

• 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants

• 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations

• 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

• 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants

• 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services

Education and Military:

• 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants

• 43204 – Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces

Sports:

• 53200 – Athletes

• 53201 – Coaches

Construction and Trades:

• 73100 – Concrete finishers

• 73101 – Tilesetters

• 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

• 73110 – Roofers and shinglers

• 73111 – Glaziers

• 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

• 73113 – Floor covering installers

• 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers

• 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents

• 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators

• 73209 – Other repairers and servicers

Transport:

• 73300 – Transport truck drivers

• 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators

• 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers

• 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women

• 73400 – Heavy equipment operators

• 73401 – Printing press operators

• 73402 – Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction

Natural Resources:

• 83100 – Underground production and development miners

• 83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers

• 83110 – Logging machinery operators

• 83120 – Fishing masters and officers

• 83121 – Fishermen/women

Total TEER 3 Eligible Occupations: 32

Occupations NOT Eligible for SOWP

Spouses of foreign workers in the following TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations are NOT eligible for SOWPs:

• Business, Finance and Administration (NOC 12xxx and 13xxx)

• Sales and Service (NOC 62xxx and 63xxx)

• Manufacturing and Utilities (NOC 92xxx and 93xxx)

• TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations

Application Requirements

To qualify for a SOWP under the new rules:

Primary Applicant (Foreign Worker) Must:

1. Hold a valid work permit or authorization to work

2. Have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time of SOWP application

3. Be employed in an eligible TEER 0, TEER 1, or select TEER 2/3 occupation

4. Live or plan to live in Canada while working

Spouse/Common-Law Partner Must:

1. Meet general work permit eligibility requirements

2. Be in a genuine relationship with the primary applicant

3. If in Canada, maintain valid temporary resident status

Important Notes

1. Job duties determine eligibility, not job titles - ensure clients' actual responsibilities align with NOC descriptions

2. 16-month work permit validity requirement is calculated from the date of SOWP application submission

3. Previously approved SOWPs remain valid until their original expiry date

4. Extensions may be possible for family members already in Canada under specific circumstances

5. Free Trade Agreement provisions may provide alternative pathways for certain nationalities

Summary

The new SOWP eligibility criteria represent a significant tightening of Canada's family reunification policies for temporary foreign workers. With approximately 329 eligible occupations (42 TEER 0 + ~150 TEER 1 + 105 TEER 2 + 32 TEER 3), the program now focuses on high-skilled workers in priority sectors including healthcare, construction, natural sciences, and skilled trades.

Need Professional Assistance?

Navigating the complex requirements of the Spousal Open Work Permit program can be challenging, especially with the recent changes to eligibility criteria. If you need expert guidance on SOWP applications or want to verify your occupation's eligibility, contact Canadore Immigration today.

We can help you:

• Determine your exact NOC classification and SOWP eligibility

• Prepare and submit your SOWP application correctly

• Navigate complex cases and alternative immigration pathways

• Ensure compliance with all current immigration regulations

  
  

  Contact Canadore Immigration:

• Phone: +1-705-881-7110

• Email: info@canadoreimmigration.com

Let us help you reunite with your loved ones in Canada through proper legal channels and expert immigration guidance.

This information is current as of today's date, and is based on official Government of Canada sources. Immigration law is subject to frequent changes, and legal practitioners should always verify current requirements on the IRCC website before providing advice to clients.