Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enacted new qualification conditions for the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) and made it public on March 19, 2024. These new conditions started that day.
This was a much-required explanation after the new laws for international students were declared by the Minister for Immigration at the start of 2024. Formerly declared as new modifications to the Spousal Open Work Permit within the coming weeks, it has formally started.
The New Canada Spousal Open Work Permit Qualification Measures For 2024
Foreign student partners seeking an open work permit as spouses or common-law partners must satisfy the conditions below.
There are currently three scenarios in which an international student’s spouse is qualified to apply for an open work permit starting on March 19, 2024.
If the partner applies for an open work permit on or after March 19, 2024.
Starting March 19, 2024, if you are registered in tutorials in one of the skilled courses with an authentic study permit, your partner may be qualified for an open work permit.
A professional course program at any institution, which includes a master’s or doctorate, or one of the polytechnic institutions below:
- Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS, DMD)
- Engineering Bachelor’s Degree (B.Eng, BE, BASc)
- Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Law (LLB, JD, BCL)
- Education Bachelor’s Degree (B. Ed)
- Medical doctor (MD)
- Nursing Bachelor of Science (BScN, BSN, or BNSc)
- Veterinary medicine doctor (DVM)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm), Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Your partner must submit one of the documents below to ascertain your registration for a degree-awarding course.
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- A legal letter of approval from the academic institution of your selection
- A verification letter of registration from your Designated Learning Institution.
- Transcripts for the present studies
- Evidence of their connection with the student.
If the partner makes an application for an open work permit before March 19, 2024.
If, before March 19, 2024, your partner or spouse presented a request for an open work permit, your partner may be qualified for an open work permit if you satisfy the three conditions below:
- You have an authentic study permit.
- Your present study course is qualified for a post-graduation work permit.
- You go to one of the types of academic institutions below as a full-time student:
- A private institution in Canada that can lawfully grant degrees under regional law, such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program.
- A public post-secondary institution, college or university, CEGEP in Quebec.
- A private institutional-level education in Quebec.
If your spouse desires to make an application for an extension of their present open work permit:
- You have an authentic study permit.
- Your current study course is qualified for a post-graduation work permit
- You went to one of the academic institutions below as a full-time student.
- A public post-secondary institution, which includes a College or university, or CEGEP in Quebec.
- A private institutional level education in Quebec
- A private school in Canada that can lawfully grant degrees under regional law, for instance, a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program.
