IRCC has expanded a temporary Quebec work permit public policy effective June 5, 2026. Eligible spouses and common-law partners of certain Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program candidates may now apply for open.

work permits if they have valid status in Canada or their status expired within the last 90 days.

• Spouses and common-law partners of eligible Quebec temporary foreign workers may now qualify for open work permits.
• The principal worker must be connected to Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program and must have submitted a Demande de sélection permanente.
• The measure is temporary, applies until December 31, 2026, and applicants should act before status or work authorization issues become more serious.

Quebec Open Work Permit Expansion for Spouses of Eligible Skilled Workers

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced a new expansion to its temporary immigration measure for Quebec workers and employers. Effective June 5, 2026, certain spouses and common-law partners of eligible temporary foreign workers in Quebec.

may apply for an open work permit while the principal applicant moves through Quebec’s permanent selection process.

The update was published by IRCC in an official notice titled Canada helps families stay united and contribute to Quebec’s workforce. IRCC also issued the updated public policy, titled Temporary public policy to facilitate. work permits for prospective permanent residence candidates in Quebec and their spouses and common-law partners.

This is a breaking update for temporary foreign workers in Quebec, their families, and Quebec employers relying on workers who. are being considered under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, known in French as the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés.

What Changed on June 5, 2026

The main change is that IRCC is now extending work permit facilitation to spouses and common-law partners of certain eligible Quebec workers. Under the updated measure, once the principal temporary foreign worker is found eligible under.

the public policy, their spouse or common-law partner may apply for an open work permit.

This is important because the March 2026 measure focused primarily on eligible workers who needed. an employer-specific work permit to continue working in Quebec while Quebec reviewed their permanent selection application.

The June 5 update adds a family component by allowing qualifying spouses or common-law partners to seek open work authorization.

An open work permit is generally more flexible than an employer-specific work permit because it is not tied to one named employer. This can help spouses or common-law partners remain employed, change jobs where permitted, and.

support household stability while the family waits for the Quebec selection process to advance.

Who May Be Affected

This update may affect families where the principal applicant is a temporary foreign. worker in Quebec and is pursuing permanent selection under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program.

According to IRCC’s public policy, the principal worker must generally be connected to Quebec employment and. must have been invited by Quebec to apply under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés.

The worker must also have submitted a Demande de sélection permanente, often referred to as a DSP.

The spouse or common-law partner must be included as an accompanying family member in the principal applicant’s permanent selection application. They must also have valid temporary resident status in Canada, or must have had.

temporary resident status that expired within 90 days of submitting the work permit application. If restoration is required, the person must apply for restoration of temporary resident status.

Eligibility Overview

Applicant	Main Requirement	Work Permit Type	Key Deadline
Principal Quebec worker	Must meet the public policy conditions, including Quebec work, PSTQ invitation, and submitted DSP	Employer-specific work permit	Measure expires December 31, 2026
Spouse or common-law partner	Must be named as an accompanying family member and have valid status or status expired within 90 days	Open work permit	Measure expires December 31, 2026

Facts: What IRCC Has Confirmed

Need Help Securing Your Work Permit?
Work permit applications require precision. Our RCIC professionals handle LMIA, employer compliance, and complex cases to ensure approval.
Secure My Work Permit → Free Consultation
• IRCC has expanded the temporary Quebec measure effective June 5, 2026.
• The expansion allows qualifying spouses and common-law partners to apply for open work permits.
• The spouse or common-law partner must be named on the principal applicant’s Quebec permanent selection application.
• The principal applicant must be connected to Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program and must have submitted a Demande de sélection permanente.
• The spouse or common-law partner must have valid temporary resident status in Canada or must have had status expire within the last 90 days.
• The public policy is temporary and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, unless revoked earlier.

Why This Matters for Quebec Families

This change matters because many temporary foreign workers in Quebec are waiting for. provincial selection decisions while also trying to maintain legal work authorization and family stability.

Without work authorization for a spouse or common-law partner, families may face income pressure, difficulty. maintaining housing, or uncertainty about whether both adults can remain active in the labour market.

The updated measure gives eligible families a more practical bridge while Quebec assesses the principal applicant’s permanent selection file. It also recognizes that permanent residence is often a family process, not only an individual worker process.

For Quebec employers, the measure may also help retain workers who are already trained, already integrated into the workplace, and already supporting regional labour needs.

While the principal applicant’s permit remains employer-specific under the policy, the spouse or. common-law partner may have broader work flexibility if approved for an open work permit.

Analysis: What This Signals About IRCC’s Quebec Strategy

Analysis: This update appears to support a targeted transition strategy. Instead of broadly increasing temporary resident intake, IRCC is focusing on people who are already in. Canada, already working in Quebec, and already moving toward permanent residence through a provincial selection process.

Analysis: The measure also fits within the federal government’s stated goal of reducing the share of non-permanent residents while stabilizing permanent residence admissions. By supporting workers and their families during the CSQ assessment stage, IRCC is helping selected. temporary residents remain compliant and economically active while they move toward a more permanent immigration outcome.

Analysis: Applicants should not treat this as a general open work permit pathway for all spouses in Quebec. The policy is narrow. It depends on the principal worker’s eligibility, Quebec’s invitation and DSP process, the family member being. included in the permanent selection application, and the spouse or common-law partner’s status situation in Canada.

What Applicants Should Do Next

If You Are the Principal Worker in Quebec

Review whether you meet the public policy conditions before your work permit expires. You should confirm whether you have received the required Quebec invitation under the Programme.

de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés and whether you have submitted your Demande de sélection permanente.

You should also check whether your current or recent employer-specific work permit falls within the policy requirements. The measure is not designed for every temporary worker in Quebec.

It is tied to specific work permit, employment, and Quebec selection conditions.

If You Are the Spouse or Common-Law Partner

Confirm that you are listed as an accompanying family member in the principal applicant’s Quebec permanent selection application. If you are not included, this may create a serious eligibility issue for the open work permit under this public policy.

You should also check your current status. If you still have valid temporary resident status, applying before expiry is generally safer. If your status expired within the last 90 days, review whether restoration is required and whether the timing still fits the policy.

If Your Status Is Expiring Soon

Do not wait until the final days of your status to review your options. Work permit and restoration strategies can be time-sensitive. A late or incomplete application can create complications, especially where the public policy requires specific proof of Quebec selection steps and family inclusion.

If You Were Previously Refused

A previous refusal does not automatically mean you cannot benefit from a new or updated policy, but the refusal reasons matter. Applicants should review whether the refusal involved missing documents, status problems, ineligibility under Quebec rules, inadmissibility, or failure to prove the relationship.

Practical Strategy for Quebec Applicants

Applicants should first collect proof that the principal worker was invited by Quebec to. apply under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés and has submitted a DSP.

They should then gather evidence of the spouse or common-law relationship, proof of current or recently expired. temporary resident status, and confirmation that the spouse or partner is included as an accompanying family member.

Families should also review how this temporary work permit strategy fits into their broader permanent residence plan. For example, a Quebec pathway may require different planning than Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, or a federal work permit strategy. Applicants comparing options can review Quebec immigration strategies, work permit extension options in Canada, and Provincial Nominee Program pathways.

For applicants who are still considering non-Quebec options, it may also be useful to review how to improve your CRS score. However, Quebec-selected skilled worker applicants should remember that Quebec permanent residence pathways operate differently from Express Entry-managed programs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming the spouse automatically qualifies before the principal worker is found eligible under the public policy.
• Forgetting to include the spouse or common-law partner in the Quebec permanent selection application.
• Applying after status problems become more difficult to fix.
• Submitting an open work permit application without proof of the Quebec invitation and DSP process.
• Confusing this Quebec-specific measure with general spouse open work permit rules for temporary workers.

Official Sources

Applicants should review the IRCC notice and the full public policy before applying. The official IRCC notice is available here: IRCC notice on Quebec families and workforce support. The full public policy is available here: IRCC temporary public policy for Quebec PR candidates and spouses.

Get Help Reviewing Eligibility

This update may create an important opportunity for eligible Quebec families, but it is not automatic and not universal. Before applying, workers and spouses should review their Quebec selection documents, work permit history, current status, family member inclusion, and restoration needs where applicable.

For a personalized review of your eligibility and application strategy, Book a consultation.

Compliance Disclaimer

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.