Canada has expanded access to open work permits for spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec.
Effective May 25, 2026, eligible spouses no longer need the principal worker’s work permit to be valid for at least 16 months. This requirement was introduced in January 2025 as part of broader restrictions on spousal open work permits.
The exemption is limited to spouses of foreign-trained healthcare professionals in Quebec who work in one of three eligible occupations:
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Medical laboratory technologists
The principal worker must also have been admitted into one of Quebec’s approved recruitment or credential recognition projects for foreign-trained healthcare professionals.
The principal worker must still be authorized to work in Canada when the spouse applies.
This exemption does not reverse Canada’s broader 2025 restrictions on spousal open work permits. The 16-month validity rule still applies to most other spouses of foreign workers. Instead, the update creates a narrow exception for Quebec’s healthcare sector, where the province is working to retain internationally trained professionals amid ongoing labour shortages.
