Introduction
Canada has introduced a targeted change that affects spouses and common-law partners of some foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec. Effective May 25, 2026, eligible partners can apply for open work permits without the previously required 16-month remaining validity on the principal worker’s permit.
What changed and when
The government removed the condition that the principal worker’s permit must have at least 16 months remaining when a spouse applies for an open work permit. That 16-month validity requirement was first put in place in January 2025 as part of broader limits on spousal open work permits. The new exemption for specified Quebec healthcare roles came into effect on May 25, 2026.
Who is eligible
The exemption applies only to spouses and common-law partners of foreign-trained healthcare professionals in Quebec who work in one of the following occupations:
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Medical laboratory technologists
Conditions that still apply
Several conditions remain in place for this exception to be used:
- The principal worker must 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 at the time the spouse or partner submits their application.
Scope and limits of the exemption
This update creates a narrow exception tailored to Quebec’s healthcare sector and does not reverse the broader spousal open work permit restrictions introduced in 2025. For most spouses of foreign workers, the 16-month validity rule remains in effect. The change is intended to help retain internationally trained healthcare workers in Quebec amid ongoing labour shortages by easing the ability of their partners to work.
Conclusion
In short, from May 25, 2026, partners of certain foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec can apply for open work permits without the 16-month remaining validity requirement, provided the principal worker meets the province’s specified recruitment or credential-recognition conditions and continues to be authorized to work in Canada. The broader 2025 restrictions still govern most other spousal applications.
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