🇨🇦 New Rules for Spousal Work Permits in 2025 05 02

🇨🇦 Key Updates to Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Eligibility
1. For Spouses of International Students
Eligible Programs:

Spouses can apply for an open work permit if the international student is enrolled in:

A master’s program with a minimum duration of 16 months

A doctoral (PhD) program

Select professional degree programs, including:

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)

Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Doctor of Optometry (OD)

Pharmacy degrees (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)

Bachelor of Education (BEd)

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)

Ineligible Programs:

Spouses of students enrolled in undergraduate or diploma programs not listed above are no longer eligible for SOWPs.​

2. For Spouses of Foreign Workers
Eligible Occupations:

Spouses can apply for an open work permit if the foreign worker is employed in:

A TEER 0 or 1 occupation (high-skilled jobs)

Select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors facing labor shortages or aligned with government priorities, such as:

Natural and applied sciences

Construction

Health care

Natural resources

Education

Sports and military sectors

Work Permit Validity:

The foreign worker must have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time of the spouse's SOWP application.​

3. Dependent Children
Dependent children of international students and foreign workers are no longer eligible for family open work permits.​

✅ Exemptions and Renewals
Exemptions:

Spouses covered under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) remain unaffected by these changes.

Spouses being sponsored for permanent residence can still apply for a SOWP if they have legal temporary status in Canada.​

Renewals:

Existing SOWPs issued under previous regulations remain valid until their expiration.

Renewals can be applied for, provided they align with the original eligibility criteria and the principal applicant's permit validity.​

📊 Impact on Indian Nationals
Indian nationals, who constituted nearly 37% of all study permits issued by Canada in 2023, are significantly affected by these changes. While spouses of students in eligible programs can still obtain work permits, those associated with ineligible programs may need to explore alternative pathways.

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