In a major policy update, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced changes that will significantly limit the availability of Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) over the next three years. These new measures will impact both spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers across the country.
As of September 18, new restrictions have been placed on SOWP eligibility, particularly for spouses of students in doctoral, certain master’s, professional, and pilot programs. For example, only spouses of master’s students in programs lasting at least 16 months will be eligible to apply. Additionally, IRCC has decided that starting in 2025, there will be a cap on the number of study permits issued, which will directly affect spouses of master’s and PhD students. By the end of the three-year period, 50,000 fewer SOWPs will be issued to international students’ spouses.
Temporary foreign workers are also set to face new challenges. The government plans to limit SOWP eligibility to spouses of highly skilled professionals such as executives, engineers, scientists, and workers in sectors experiencing critical labor shortages. This change will reduce the number of SOWPs issued by another 100,000 over the same three-year period.
Although no official date has been set for the implementation of these tightened restrictions, spouses of international students and foreign workers are urged to stay informed and prepare for the upcoming changes. Further details on these measures are expected to be included in the Immigration Levels Plan, which will be released on November 1, 2024.
These reforms reflect IRCC’s broader efforts to reduce Canada’s temporary resident population from 6.5% to 5% of the overall population within three years, as the country continues to recalibrate its immigration policies post-pandemic.