Spouses and common‑law partners of certain foreign‑trained healthcare workers in Quebec can now obtain open work permits without the 16‑month work‑permit requirement that was introduced for most spousal open work permits in January 2025. The change took effect on 25 May 2026.
Who is eligible
The exemption applies only to spouses of foreign‑trained professionals who meet both of the following criteria:
-
Occupation – the principal worker must be employed in one of these National Occupation Classification (NOC) categories:
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 32103)
- Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120)
-
Quebec project – the worker must have been admitted to one of three Quebec‑run projects that recognize and recruit foreign‑trained healthcare professionals:
- Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’infirmières et d’infirmiers recrutés à l’international
- Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’inhalothérapeutes formés à l’étranger
- Projet de recrutement et reconnaissance des compétences de technologistes médicaux formés à l’étranger
These projects are administered jointly by Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), and the Ministry of Higher Education (MES).
Application procedure
Spouses apply through the regular C41 spousal open work‑permit form; no separate application is required. To benefit from the exemption, applicants must:
- Enter the code “CONJOINTSANTQC” in both the job title and brief description of duties fields on the form. Omitting the code may cause the application to be processed under the standard 16‑month rule.
- Submit the principal worker’s Quebec selection letter, signed by MIFI, MSSS, and MES, confirming admission to one of the eligible projects.
All other standard C41 eligibility requirements remain in force.
Standard spousal open work‑permit rules
Since 21 January 2025, IRIR‑Canada (IRCC) requires that, for most spousal open work permits, the principal foreign worker must hold a valid work permit for at least 16 months after IRCC receives the spouse’s application. This rule still applies to all spouses except those covered by the Quebec healthcare exemption described above.
The standard rules also limit eligibility to:
- Workers in high‑skill occupations at TEER 0 or 1, or
- Select occupations at TEER 2 or 3, under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
Broader context
The exemption is part of a series of federal measures aimed at retaining foreign‑trained healthcare workers in Quebec, a province facing acute staffing shortages. Earlier in 2026, a temporary measure allowed eligible Quebec workers to obtain an employer‑specific work permit for up to 12 additional months while their Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) application is processed.
Overall, the Quebec carve‑out does not reverse the broader tightening of spousal open work‑permit access introduced in early 2025; it merely provides a limited pathway for a specific group of healthcare professionals and their families.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
