Spouses and common-law partners of applicants for permanent selection in Quebec can now benefit from a new temporary public policy that allows them to obtain special work permits.

Under this policy, spouses or common-law partners accompanying a qualifying applicant for permanent selection may receive an open work permit without having to fulfill the usual requirements.

Qualifying spouses or partners are exempted from certain requirements they would typically need to meet to obtain an open work permit and have their status restored as temporary residents:

• The requirement not to have engaged in unauthorized work or study.
• The requirement not to have committed serious violations of their temporary resident status.
• The standard requirements for applying for a work permit from within Canada.

The policy also extends to foreign nationals who are out of status or have visitor or student status and are seeking restoration of status as workers along with a work permit application, provided they submit the application within 90 days of holding temporary resident status.

To qualify, the principal applicant for permanent selection must have been invited through Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, submitted a Demande de sélection permanente to Quebec, and fall into one of three situations:

• Valid work permit: The principal applicant has a valid employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer expiring on or before December 31, 2026, and has applied to extend it.
• Maintained status: The principal applicant has work authorization through maintained status for a Quebec employer, applied for an extension of an employer-specific work permit, and submitted a subsequent work permit application for the same employer.
• Expired work permit: The principal applicant’s employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer expired in 2026 on or after March 13, and they have applied for an extension of stay or restoration of status.

Regardless of the situation, the principal applicant must confirm in their work permit application that they have submitted a DSP in response to an invitation for permanent selection through the PSTQ.

This policy is valid until December 31, 2026, and became effective on June 5, 2026, applying to all applications received on or after that date, including pending applications from the previous policy.