IRCC expanded work permit eligibility for spouses of significant investment project workers in British Columbia

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a major policy change on March 23, 2026, expanding eligibility for open work permits for spouses of workers under Significant Investment Projects in British Columbia. The update removes previous restrictions that limited eligibility to spouses of high-skilled workers at specific TEER levels. Now, spouses of all SIP workers—whether employed in high-skilled occupations (TEER 0-3) or low-skilled positions (TEER 4-5)—can apply for open work permits under administrative codes C41 or C47. The new policy takes effect immediately for applications submitted on or after March 23, 2026.

#canada_immigration, #work_permits, #bc_immigration, #sip_workers, #spousal_work_permits, #ircc, #british_columbia, #open_work_permit