As of May 27, 2025, IRCC introduced a temporary public policy to facilitate easier job changes for foreign workers already in Canada.
Now, individuals who hold employer-specific permits, even under maintained status, can start new work before their new permit is processed—regardless of whether it is for the same or a different employer/occupation.
This means fewer gaps in employment, less downtime for employers, and more flexibility for workers who are being laid off, underemployed, or seeking a better opportunity.
More Restrictive Rules for Family Open Work Permits
From January 21, 2025, IRCC implemented the following key changes:
Only spouses/common-law partners of high-skilled workers (TEER 0–1, certain TEER 2–3) with at least 16 months’ validity remaining on the principal’s permit are eligible.
- Spouses of students now require master’s or PhD enrolment.
- Dependent children are no longer eligible.
Candidates who have applied before the cutoff are under earlier norms, and existing permits are valid until their end dates.
Alberta Immigration & Residency Updates
Alberta remains favoured with streams like the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
For eligibility, candidates must:
- Have an existing work permit under LMIA or certain exemptions.
- Have a full-time job prospect in Alberta in a qualifying occupation.
Meet requirements of residency, education, language, and 12 recent work history months. Prominently, open permits after graduation (PGWPs) from Alberta public institutions are eligible, but open permits for spouses are not.
Processing Delays and Systemic Issues
In spite of job mobility policies to reduce downtime, processing delays persist:
LMIA processing times grew from 58 to 165 business days (Sept 2023–Mar 2025), leading to permit overlaps, loss of status, and impacts on healthcare access.
The need for temporary work approvals and proactive compliance is highlighted by certain situations that prevent employees from renewing authorisation or from accessing services in an unreasonable amount of time.
What Is This for Foreign and Open-Permit Workers?
- Employer-specific permit holders can now change jobs more quickly with the implementation of interim work authorization.
- Spouses and dependants need to examine new eligibility in detail—applications filed after Jan 21 have stricter conditions.
- Alberta-bound workers benefit from well-defined streams like AOS but must meet permit and residence requirements.
- All workers must monitor processing times carefully and avoid gaps in permit expiration.
Actionable Steps for Future or Existing Workers
- Confirm interim work authorization eligibility before a job change.
- Common-law spouses/spouses need to ensure the sponsor has valid high-skilled work permits (>16 months).
- Alberta AOS applicants need to secure LMIA-based work permits, residency, work offers, and 12 months of employment.
- Plan ahead within processing times—options for extensions or bridging solutions.
- Stay current: IRCC officially releases these changes—watch their website and consult on new policy.
Whether you’re navigating job transitions, family permit restrictions, or Alberta’s provincial streams, a proactive approach makes all the difference. Imperial Immigration, a trusted Canadian immigration consultant in Edmonton, can help ensure that your application stays on track amid changing policies.
