New Eligibility Requirements for Canada Spousal Open Work Permit

If you are an international student in Canada and have been planning to sponsor your spouse for immigration to Canada from India, this article is for you!

IRCC recently made changes to Canada’s Spousal Open Work Permit eligibility. On January 22, 2024, they announced many changes to the international student program and one of the changes stated that the spouses of international students in undergraduate and college programs will no longer be eligible for Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). 

As of March 19, 2024, spouses and partners of students on a study visa are eligible for a SOWP – if their sponsor is currently studying a master’s or doctoral degree program at a Canadian university or polytechnic institution.

Who is eligible to apply for a SOWP?

Spouses of undergraduate students can apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit only if the student is enrolled in one of the below-listed 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)

Documents Required for SOWP

If your spouse or partner is applying for a SOWP, they must provide the following documents required for Spouse Visa Canada to prove a relationship with you (international student in Canada). 

One document among these must prove your enrolment in a degree program.

• A valid Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)

• Proof of enrolment letter from your (spouse or partner of the person applying) DLI

• Transcripts from your current program

What happens if you already applied?

Those who have applied for a SOWP before March 19, 2024, are still eligible for the permit if their partner:

• Has a valid study permit in Canada

• Is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

• Is a full-time international student at one of the schools listed below: 

• a public post-secondary school (college or university), or CEGEP in Quebec

• a private college-level school in Quebec

• a private school that can legally reward degrees under provincial law (a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree)

For current Spousal Open Work Permit holders who apply for an extension, these requirements will be the same.

What happens if you are not eligible?

The spouse and partners of foreign students in Canada who are no longer eligible to apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit can explore other options:

• Work Permit

• Visitor Visa (TRV)

That said, those who enter Canada as a visitor are not allowed to work. 

With a SOWP, your partner or spouse can work for almost any Canadian employer and support their family. 

All Set?

If you need help understanding the work permit rules and process, connect with the best Canada Visa Consultants in Ludhiana, Nationwide Visas. They have 17 years of experience in successfully assisting thousands of Indians to achieve their dream of studying abroad and now their spouse to go live with their spouses.

Good Luck!