Quebec Extends Special Work Permits to Spouses of Permanent Selection Applicants

Quebec has introduced a new temporary public policy for spouses of applicants for permanent selection in the province. Under this policy, effective from 5th June 2026, spouses or common-law partners who are accompanying a qualifying applicant seeking permanent selection can receive work permits without meeting certain requirements that are normally applicable.

Accompanying spouses and common-law partners can now receive a work permit even if they have formerly worked or studied without authorization and failed to comply with certain temporary resident conditions and the usual eligibility criteria for applying for a work permit from within Canada.

The policy is also applicable for those foreign nationals who have lost their temporary resident status, as well as those who currently hold or previously held visitor or student status. Such individuals can apply to restore their status as workers while submitting an open work permit application. However, to remain eligible, they must file their restoration and work permit applications within 90 days of losing their temporary resident status.

The spouse or common law partner becomes eligible only if the principal applicant has been invited to apply for permanent selection through Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) and must have submitted a Demande de sélectionpermanente (DSP).

Furthermore, the principal applicant must fall into any of the three categories:

• hold a valid employer-specific work permit for a Quebec employer that expires on or before December 31, 2026, and have applied to extend that permit with the same employer.
• working under maintained status while awaiting a decision on an extension of their employer-specific work permit and having submitted a subsequent application for the same employer.
• may have held an employer-specific work permit that expired on or after March 13, 2026, and have applied either to extend their stay or restore their status.

The new policy will remain in force until 31st December 2026, and it applies to all applications received on or after 5th June 2026, as well as applications already in process. The new measure aims to support families and also help workers remain in Quebec while pursuing permanent immigration pathways.

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