published on 11 July 2024 @ 4:22 pm · COMMENT

Understanding the Changes to Work Permits for Spouses of Foreign Students in Canada

In a recent update, Canada has revised its regulations concerning work permits for spouses of foreign students, significantly impacting eligibility criteria. These changes aim to streamline and focus eligibility on specific categories of students, limiting the availability of work permits for spouses.

Under the revised rules, only spouses of graduate students, students in professional programs, or participants in an eligible pilot program are eligible to obtain a work permit.

Graduate programs include master’s and doctoral degrees. Professional programs encompass fields like law, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, education, and engineering. Currently, the only eligible pilot program is designed for internationally trained French-speaking nurses in Quebec.

Spouses currently holding work permits under the previous policy can typically extend their permits under the old rules. This allows them to continue benefiting from the broader eligibility criteria.

General requirements, such as demonstrating residency or intention to reside in Canada during the study period and proving a genuine relationship, remain unchanged.

These adjustments reflect Canada’s efforts to align work permit policies with its economic and educational priorities. While the changes may restrict access for some spouses of foreign students, they aim to optimize opportunities for those in advanced academic and professional pathways or participating in targeted pilot initiatives.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE