Quebec has expanded a temporary immigration measure to allow spouses and common-law partners of certain permanent residence applicants to obtain open work permits, providing relief to families waiting for permanent selection under the province’s skilled worker system.
The new temporary public policy, which took effect on June 5, 2026, allows eligible spouses and common-law partners of applicants under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) to receive open work permits without meeting several requirements that would normally apply. The policy will remain in effect until December 31, 2026, unless it is revoked earlier.
The move broadens an earlier temporary measure introduced on March 13 which focused on principal applicants seeking permanent selection in Quebec. The updated policy now extends support to accompanying spouses and common-law partners.
Under the policy, eligible spouses can apply for open work permits even if they have previously worked or studied without authorization or no longer meet some of the usual conditions attached to temporary resident status. The exemption also applies to individuals seeking to restore their status in Canada as workers, provided they submit their work permit application within 90 days of losing temporary resident status.
Who qualifies?
To access the benefit, the spouse or common-law partner must be accompanying a principal applicant who has been invited to apply for permanent selection through Quebec’s PSTQ and has already submitted a permanent selection application, known as a Demande de sélection permanente (DSP).
The principal applicant must also fall into one of three categories.
The first includes individuals holding a valid employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer that expires on or before December 31, 2026, and who have applied to extend that permit with the same employer.
The second category covers workers who currently have authorization through maintained status while awaiting a decision on a work permit extension and have submitted another work permit application for the same employer.
The third category applies to workers whose employer-specific work permits expired on or after March 13, 2026, and who have applied either to restore their status or extend their stay in Canada.
In all cases, applicants must provide proof that they submitted a DSP after receiving an invitation through the PSTQ.
Replacing earlier policy
The new public policy replaces the temporary measure introduced in March. According to the immigration department, it also applies to applications that were already pending as of June 5, including those submitted under the previous policy.
The policy is formally titled “Temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for prospective permanent residence candidates in Quebec and their spouses and common-law partners.”
The measure is intended to help workers and their families maintain legal status and employment while Quebec processes permanent selection applications, reducing uncertainty for skilled immigrants already living and working in the province.
