Those dependent children on temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada can now obtain work permits under a new policy. The Canadian government intends to address the country’s chronic labor shortages by providing more options for families to remain together and assimilate into Canadian society.
Those dependent on temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada can now obtain work permits under a new policy. The intention behind providing more options for families to remain together and assimilate into Canadian society is to address the country’s chronic labor shortages.
A work visa will be available to family members who match certain requirements. TEER workers, including spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children, who are either the primary applicants (of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program) or have an open work permit (OWP). These workers work in the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category. A work visa is also available to family members of economic-class permanent residents.
Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) low-wage streams are not currently accepting family members belonging to TEER 4 or 5 occupations.
Training, education, experience, and responsibilities are categorized in TEER categories (1 to 5) according to the amount or type of training, education, experience, and responsibilities necessary for that occupation.
A Comprehensive Overview of Canadian Occupational Categories (TEER 0 to TEER 5)
- TEER 0: Management occupations demanding advanced education and extensive work experience. Roles like advertising, marketing, and public relations managers, along with financial managers, fall into this category.
- TEER 1: Occupations requiring a university degree, such as financial advisors providing financial advice and software engineers involved in computer software design and development.
- TEER 2: Jobs necessitating a college diploma, 2 or more years of apprenticeship training, or supervisory roles. Examples include computer network and web technicians maintaining computer networks, and medical laboratory technologists conducting tests and analyzing samples in medical labs.
- TEER 3: Occupations typically asking for a college diploma, apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or over 6 months of on-the-job training. Dental assistants, dental laboratory assistants, and bakers are representative of this category.
- TEER 4: Entry-level positions with requirements like a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training. Jobs in this group, such as home childcare providers, retail salespersons, and visual merchandisers in retail stores, do not demand extensive education or specialized skills.
- TEER 5: Jobs not mandating formal education, relying on short-term work demonstration. Manual labor or basic service tasks define these occupations. Examples include landscaping and grounds maintenance laborers, delivery service drivers, and door-to-door distributors handling the transportation and delivery of goods.
Enhancing family work permits: Empowering Canada’s talent
Family members and spouses of major applicants (of a work or study visa program) who worked in high-skilled professions or were overseas students were previously only eligible for work permits. Providing work permits to TFWs’ spouses, dependents, and common-law partners will help Canada promote financial security and make it easier for families to integrate into their communities. By allowing untapped talent to remain in Canada, the government also contributes to the Canadian labor market.
More than 200,000 foreign employees and their families are expected to be able to enter the Canadian workforce as a result of this new regulation.
Work permit for dependent children – It’s eligibility
For eligibility in the program, a dependent child must be either yours, your spouse’s, or your common-law partner’s, and meet specific criteria.
To qualify, the dependent child must be under 22 years old, unmarried, and not have a common-law partner.
If a child is 22 or older, they can still be deemed dependent if they were financially reliant on their parents before turning 22 and are unable to support themselves owing to a physical or mental condition. Applicants must continue to address these medical conditions in the application until it is processed.
Important Considerations for Dependent Children’s Work in Canada
A different definition of dependent children may apply to children who are qualified based on criteria set on or before October 23, 2017. Even if a child is solely in the custody of their other parent, the sponsorship application must include them. Formal agreements or court rulings addressing custody or duty do not exempt them. Furthermore, these minors must pass stringent medical, security, and background checks.
Inclusion of your dependent children in your application allows you to potentially sponsor the child as a family class member in the future if the custody or living arrangements change. It is likely that permanent residents who fail to declare the names of all of their family members in their applications will lose their residency status. As a result, authorities consider children in the custody of a former spouse or partner as dependent.
TFWs’ dependent children must apply together with their parents or separately for a work visa in order to work in Canada. Canadian citizens or permanent residents may sponsor foreign employees who are eligible for an open work permit. ESDC may require their employer to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if they do not qualify for an open work visa. Employers usually subject foreign workers to this evaluation before recruiting them.
The minimum age requirements for the type of employment a dependent child wishes to pursue. Before applying for a job in Canada, applicants should check the province or territory within which they wish to work. In some situations, dependent children may need to undergo a medical check before they can work in Canada.
