Miguel Martins Pereirinha

Eligibility for spousal open work permits narrowed sharply in 2025 and tightened again in 2026. Here is the current map: which workers and students can still get an open permit for a spouse, and the traps on renewal.

Since June 9, 2026, provincial nominees who applied for PR can qualify for a work permit without the acknowledgement of receipt that used to hold everything up. The measure runs to December 31, 2026.