Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, recently announced significant changes to the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) program as part of broader reforms to Canada’s temporary resident programs. These adjustments are expected to dramatically reduce the number of SOWPs issued by more than 100,000 over the next three years.
During a statement on September 18, Minister Miller highlighted new restrictions on SOWP eligibility for spouses of international students, particularly affecting those enrolled in doctoral, select master’s, and professional programs. The changes include limiting SOWP access for spouses of master’s students to programs that are at least 16 months long.
This announcement follows an earlier decision by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to restrict SOWP eligibility to spouses of students in specific master’s or doctoral programs at designated Canadian learning institutions. Some undergraduate programs in high-demand fields remain eligible for these permits.
Moreover, IRCC will include master’s and doctoral students in a cap on study permits starting in 2025. Twelve percent of the 437,000 study permits issued that year will be reserved for these students. However, the cap will not apply to master’s and PhD students in 2024.
According to Minister Miller, these new regulations will result in 50,000 fewer SOWPs for spouses of international students over the next three years.
Impact on Temporary Foreign Workers
The new regulations will also affect temporary foreign workers outside the international student program. SOWP eligibility will now be limited to the spouses of highly skilled workers, including C-suite executives, scientists, engineers, lawyers, professors, and technicians. It will also apply to spouses of workers in industries facing significant labor shortages.
These changes will further reduce SOWP issuance by another 100,000 over the next three years.
How to Apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit
Although the precise date for these tightened restrictions has not yet been announced, the current guidelines allow spouses of international students to apply for a SOWP if their sponsor is enrolled in a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree program such as:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
- Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Applicants must provide supporting documents, including a valid letter of acceptance or proof of enrollment from the sponsor’s institution, as well as proof of the spousal relationship.
Approved SOWPs are generally valid for the same length as the sponsor’s study permit.
Broader Changes for Temporary Residents
The overhaul of the SOWP program is part of a wider set of reforms introduced by IRCC this year. These reforms include a cap on study permit applications, which will take effect in 2024, and the introduction of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applicants. University graduates must meet a CLB level of 7, while college graduates must achieve a CLB of 5.
Minister Miller indicated that additional details about temporary resident levels will be unveiled in the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, set for release by November 1. This will mark the first time temporary resident levels are included in the plan, which traditionally outlines Canada’s immigration targets for the next three years.
Canada saw over 2 million temporary residents arrive in 2023, and these new restrictions are part of IRCC’s goal to reduce temporary residents from 6.5% to 5% of the country’s population by 2026.
Minister Miller explained that while immigration measures were critical to Canada’s economic recovery post-pandemic, many of them are no longer necessary. The current focus is on reducing the temporary resident population to sustainable levels.