On September 18. Immigration Minister “Marc Miller” announced significant changes to Canada’s temporary resident programs regarding the eligibility criteria for Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs). The announcement revealed the implementation of further limits on SOWP eligibility for spouses of students in doctoral and certain master’s programs, select professional programs, and certain pilot programs. 

The new rules will restrict SOWPs to spouses of students in master’s programs (minimum duration of 16 months). Additionally, IRCC plans to limit SOWPs for spouses of temporary foreign workers, only granting them to partners of highly skilled professionals. These include C-suite executives, scientists, engineers, lawyers, professors, technicians, or spouses of workers in sectors having key labour shortages.

These changes are expected to cut 100,000 SOWPs by 2025, as part of Canada’s effort to decrease the number of temporary residents, which grew significantly during the pandemic to support the economy. More details will be released by November 1 in the updated Immigration Levels Plan.

Earlier this year, IRCC announced that Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) would only be available to spouses of students enrolled in specific master's or doctoral programs at designated Canadian learning institutions (DLIs), with some exceptions for high-demand undergraduate degrees.

Additionally, IRCC decided to include master's and PhD students in the cap on study permits for 2025, setting aside 12% of the 437,000 available permits for them. However, master’s and PhD students who apply in 2024 will fall outside the cap.

Although further changes have not been fully detailed, the new rules are expected to reduce the number of SOWPs issued to international students' spouses by 50,000 over the next three years.

Earlier this year, IRCC announced that Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) would only be available to spouses of students enrolled in specific master's or doctoral programs at designated Canadian learning institutions (DLIs), with some exceptions for high-demand undergraduate degrees.

Additionally, IRCC decided to include master's and PhD students in the cap on study permits for 2025, setting aside 12% of the 437,000 available permits for them. However, master’s and PhD students who apply in 2024 will fall outside the cap.

Although further changes have not been fully detailed, the new rules are expected to reduce the number of SOWPs issued to international students' spouses by 50,000 over the next three years.