Canada Introduced New Work Permit Pathways for Dependent Children

Canada Introduced New Work Permit Pathways for Dependent Children

In a significant move aimed at addressing labor shortages and enhancing family integration, Canada has introduced a progressive policy that opens doors for dependent children of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to obtain work permits. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to strengthen families, foster community integration, and tap into untapped talent within the country.

Under this new policy, certain family members, including spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children, are eligible for work permits. These eligible individuals encompass those whose parents are either TFWs engaged in roles across various Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories or principal applicants of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program holding open work permits (OWPs). The policy also extends to family members of economic class permanent resident applicants who currently hold work permits.

Eligibility

It is projected that this pioneering policy will extend work opportunities to the families of over 200,000 foreign workers, infusing vitality into Canada’s workforce. The eligibility criteria for dependent children are comprehensive:

• The child should be below 22 years of age.
• The child should be unmarried and devoid of a common-law partner.
• For children aged 22 or above, dependency is established if they have relied on parental financial support before turning 22 and are unable to support themselves due to a persistent physical or mental condition. This medical condition must persist throughout the application processing.