Canada expands access to work permits for spouses of Quebec healthcare…
Canada has exempted spouses of certain foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec from a key work permit requirement, effective May 25, 2026. The change removes the 16-month validity rule for spousal open work permits when the principal applicant works in one of three healthcare occupations and participates in a Quebec credential-recognition project, as reported by CIC News.
The exemption addresses a restriction Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced in January 2025, which required the principal worker's permit to remain valid for at least 16 months from the date the spouse applied for an open work permit. That rule still applies to spouses of all other foreign workers in Canada, but Quebec healthcare workers in the three designated occupations are now carved out.
To qualify, the principal worker must hold a position as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse (NOC 31301), respiratory therapist, clinical perfusionist, or cardiopulmonary technologist (NOC 32103), or medical laboratory technologist (NOC 32120). The worker must also have been admitted into one of three Quebec projects: the Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d'infirmières et d'infirmiers recrutés à l'international, the Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d'inhalothérapeutes formés à l'étranger, or the Projet de recrutement et reconnaissance des compétences de technologistes médicaux formés à l'étranger. These projects are run jointly by Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, Ministry of Health and Social Services, and Ministry of Higher Education.
"Applicants must enter the code 'CONJOINTSANTQC' in both the job title box and the brief description of duties box on their application form," the program delivery update states.
The exemption affects spouses and common-law partners of foreign-trained nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists who entered Canada through Quebec's credential-recognition streams. It does not extend to spouses of healthcare workers in other provinces or to workers in Quebec who were not admitted through one of the three named projects.
Eligible spouses should apply using the standard C41 spousal open work permit application and include the principal worker's Quebec selection letter signed by all three ministries—MIFI, MSSS, and MES—confirming admission into one of the eligible projects. Without the code "CONJOINTSANTQC" entered in the specified fields, IRCC may process the application under the standard 16-month rule, which would delay or deny the permit if the principal worker's authorization falls short of that threshold.
Source: CIC News — published 2026-05-29.