On January 22, 2024, IRCC announced that open work permits would only be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. The eligible programs for Spousal Open Work Permits were announced, and the new policy became effective on March 19, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Here are the eligibility criteria provided by the Government of Canada:
Starting March 19, 2024, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you have a valid study permit and you are studying in either
- a master’s or doctoral degree program in a university or polytechnic institution, or
- one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
- Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD)
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)
- Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
- Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)
Your spouse or common-law partner must provide one of the following documents to prove your enrolment in a degree-granting program of study:
- a valid letter of acceptance from your designated learning institution (DLI)
- a proof of enrolment letter from your DLI
- transcripts from your current program
We will ask them to provide additional documents, such as
- proof of their relationship to you, the student
Important Changes to Canadian Study Permits: New Limits, Attestation Requirements, and Post-Graduation Work Permit Updates
Source: Government of Canada
Disclaimer: The information is obtained directly from the websites in the source section. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Please check their official website and digital channels for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
