(CANADA) Families of foreign military personnel serving in Canada are facing tighter rules on work access, after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) quietly brought in new limits on open work permits for their spouses and children effective January 21, 2025. The change removes most work options for dependent children and many spouses who previously could work freely in the civilian labour market while a family member wore a Canadian uniform.
What changed and who is affected
Under new instructions that took effect on January 21, 2025, IRCC officers can no longer issue open work permits under administrative codes C46 or C48 to dependent children of military personnel, except where a formal reciprocal agreement between Canada and another country applies. Spouses of workers in TEER 4 jobs — a category that includes many military occupations — also lose access to open work permits under code C47 for applications filed on or after the same date.
IRCC frames the move as part of a broader effort to reduce the overall number of temporary residents and to narrow family access to open work permits to spouses of higher‑skilled workers and certain international students. While the policy applies to several groups of foreign workers, the impact on military families is already being felt at bases across the country.
Immediate impacts on families
Many partners and older teenagers relied on Canadian jobs to help support their households and gain local experience. The change affects those who previously took part‑time or seasonal roles in retail, food service or recreation without a specific job offer.
“We moved here on the understanding my wife could work, and now that door has been slammed shut midway through our tour,” said a European officer posted to a base in Ontario, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak publicly.
“This will make it harder to justify future deployments for many families.”
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the January rule change effectively means dependent children of military personnel who are in Canada on temporary status will generally no longer be able to work at all, unless they:
- qualify for a separate employer‑specific work permit on their own merits, or
- benefit from a reciprocal defence agreement.
The change to code C47 similarly affects spouses of workers in TEER 4 roles — the National Occupational Classification level that often covers lower‑paid or less formal qualifications, including many support positions within military structures.
Spouses of higher‑skilled TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 workers can still apply for open work permits, but only if the principal worker meets detailed criteria that IRCC has been tightening through changes announced in 2024 and 2025.
Costs and official rationale
An IRCC spokesperson, in a written statement, said the revised military family rules “align with broader reforms to ensure Canada’s temporary resident levels remain sustainable and that open work permits are focused on situations where they deliver the greatest labour market benefit.”
IRCC noted the standard fees remain:
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit basic fee | CA$155 |
| Open work permit holder fee (where applicable) | CA$100 |
For many affected families, the financial fee may be less worrying than the loss of a second income or the chance for children to build a work history in Canada.
Real-world consequences and examples
Kate Morgan, an immigration lawyer in Halifax who advises several foreign defence families, said the January 21, 2025 shift has already forced clients to cancel job plans.
“One spouse had an offer to work at a nearby hospital in a non‑clinical role,” she said. “They were counting on that salary, but by the time the paperwork was ready the new rules kicked in, and the permit was refused because the principal worker’s position fell under TEER 4.”
Foreign military personnel in Canada usually enter under government‑to‑government arrangements rather than the standard work permit streams used by private employers, but their family members often depend on the same immigration tools as other temporary residents.
Until now, many spouses and dependants could apply for an open work permit using the general form IMM 5710, the application to change conditions or extend stay as a worker, without needing a specific employer lined up.
IRCC’s updated guidance tells officers to refuse such requests from most military children and from spouses of TEER 4 workers, unless a recognised reciprocal agreement clearly allows it. The department has also:
- clarified what documents are acceptable to prove family relationships and the principal worker’s job classification, and
- directed officers to record refusal reasons carefully for any applications made outside of defence agreements.
Official information on work permits, including eligibility rules and fees, is posted on the federal immigration website at IRCC – Work permits. The IMM 5710 form itself is available on the government site as the application to extend or change a work permit from inside Canada.
Concerns from defence officials and morale effects
Some defence officials worry the stricter approach could make Canada a less attractive posting for allied forces, especially compared with countries that let spouses and older children work more freely. A senior officer from a NATO member state said families had already started asking whether they should accept Canadian assignments starting after January 21, 2025, once news of the open work permit limits spread through internal networks.
“People understand that Canada, like many countries, is reviewing its temporary resident numbers,” the officer said. “But when your partner suddenly can’t work, or your adult child can’t take a basic job on base or in town, that has a real impact on morale.”
Policy context
The reforms form part of a broader reset of Canada’s temporary resident policies under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, as IRCC moves to slow growth in international students, some categories of foreign workers and their family members.
In earlier announcements, the department said it wanted to ensure open work permits were not used so widely that they:
- distorted local labour markets, or
- reduced incentives for employers to offer proper wages and conditions.
For now, affected military families are weighing whether a Canadian posting still feels worthwhile given the new limits on family members’ ability to work and gain local experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
IRCC’s January 21, 2025 instructions revoke most open work permit eligibility for dependent children of foreign military personnel under codes C46/C48 and for spouses of TEER 4 workers under C47. Exemptions apply only with reciprocal defence agreements or when dependants secure employer‑specific permits. The policy aims to reduce temporary resident numbers and prioritize open permits for higher‑skilled workers. Families face lost income and curtailed local work experience; they should check reciprocity, consider alternative permit routes, and seek legal guidance.
