Quebec Open Work Permit Policy for Spouses

Spouses and common-law partners of some Quebec permanent selection applicants may now be eligible for an open work permit under a new temporary public policy.

Eligibility Criteria

• The measure applies when the principal applicant has been invited through Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, known as PSTQ, and has submitted a permanent selection application, or DSP.
• Under the policy, eligible spouses may still qualify even if they previously worked or studied without authorization, had certain temporary status issues, or do not normally meet the requirements to apply for a work permit from inside Canada.

Benefits of the Policy

• The policy can also help spouses who are out of status, or who currently hold or previously held visitor or student status, if they apply to restore their status as workers within 90 days of losing temporary resident status.
• To qualify, the principal applicant must have a valid, maintained, or recently expired employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer, and must be applying to extend or restore their status.

Effective Date and Duration

The policy took effect on June 5, 2026, applies to new and pending applications, and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026.