UK → CANADA · SKILLED TRADES · FAMILIES

Moving to Northern Alberta or BC with a partner or children

Many UK tradespeople move with a partner and children. The trade and the visa are only part of the plan. Here are the four questions from a family's point of view.

1. What job can my partner get?

That depends on your partner's own permit. With an open work permit your partner can work for most employers. Without one, your partner may not be able to work in Canada at all. Plan this before you go.

2. Do my partner's UK skills transfer?

The same rules apply to everyone. If your partner works in a compulsory trade, they need trade authorization in that province, as well as a work permit. Regulated professions such as nursing or teaching are licensed by a regulatory body in each province, and the process varies by occupation and province. Use the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition tool to check whether your partner's occupation is regulated where you plan to live and to find the body to contact, ideally before you arrive.

3. Will one income be enough?

Use the Job Bank ranges in each trade guide and plan with the low figure, not the high one. See our cost of living comparison for living costs. Pay is never guaranteed.

4. Can my family get permits, and maybe PR together?

IEC can't include family. Family members can't be added to an IEC application. If your partner is eligible in their own right (for example, a UK citizen aged 18 to 35), they can make their own IEC application.

Spouse open work permit. Your spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit if both of these apply:

You work in a TEER 0 or 1 job, or in an eligible TEER 2 or 3 job. Most skilled trades are on the eligible list.
Your own permit is valid for at least 16 more months when your partner applies.

In practice, your partner usually needs to apply early in your first IEC participation, while you still have at least 16 months left.

Children. Since January 21, 2025, dependent children don't qualify for this family open work permit. For school, IRCC says a minor child coming to Canada with a parent who has a work permit needs a study permit and must apply before entering Canada; in that situation the child's application doesn't need a school letter of acceptance. A child already in Canada with a parent who is authorized to work may attend school without a study permit, though IRCC recommends getting one. The rules depend on the child's situation, so check IRCC's page on studying in Canada as a minor before you travel.

Permanent residence. When you apply for PR, IRCC says you must include all your family members on the application, including your spouse or partner and dependent children, even if they aren't coming to Canada with you, and all of them must pass a medical exam and background checks. IRCC Some programs give the family more options. For example, spouses of Rural Community Immigration Program applicants can get a separate open work permit.

Dated facts (checked November 9, 2026 · next review December 1, 2026)

Spouse open work permit: TEER 0/1 or eligible TEER 2/3, and at least 16 months left on the principal's permit. IRCC
Dependent children have not qualified for family open work permits since January 21, 2025.
Family members can't be included on an IEC application. IRCC IEC

What we do and what we don't

We help families plan the immigration side for a professional fee. We don't recruit, place workers or charge any fee for jobs. No guarantees.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add my partner to my IEC Working Holiday application?

No. Family members can't be included on an IEC application. Your partner can apply to IEC in their own right if eligible, or may qualify for a spouse open work permit.

When can my spouse apply for an open work permit?

You must be working in a TEER 0 or 1 job, or an eligible TEER 2 or 3 job, and your own permit must be valid for at least 16 more months when your spouse applies.

Can my children get work permits?

Since January 21, 2025, dependent children don't qualify for family open work permits.

Can my family get PR with me?

In most PR programs, your spouse or partner and dependent children can be included. Each program has its own rules, so an individual review is needed.

Next step

Find your family's route at Start here. Message us on WhatsApp or email us: WhatsApp · info@civs.ca.

General information, not legal advice. No guarantees. Sources were checked on November 9, 2026.