In late May 2023, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, announced a variety of new government measures aimed at keeping families together. These included an 18-month extension for open work permit holders with permits expiring between August 1 and December 31, 2023.
Here’s an exciting detail that you may not have noticed: eligibility for this extension also includes spouses and common-law partners of Canadian study permit holders. This means that while spouses and partners of international students could already apply for an open work permit while living in Canada, they can now take advantage of this 18-month extension, if eligible.
Keep reading for more details about this exciting development.
Open Work Permit Eligibility for Partners
A student’s spouse or common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit in Canada as long as the student meets these conditions:
- They must have a valid study permit.
- They must be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
- They must be studying full-time at an eligible school or institution.
International students coming to Canada may also bring their dependents, as long as they submit their visa applications online at the same time as they apply for their own study permit.
This freedom for students to easily bring their family members makes Canada an exceptionally competitive study destination, especially for older students or postgraduate students, who are more likely to bring family with them.
Work Permit Extension Eligibility
Although qualified foreign nationals in a variety of situations may apply for an open work permit, only certain categories of people are eligible for the 18-month permit extension through this new measure. These include:
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- permanent residence applicants awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application, and their spouses
- family class-sponsored spouses with valid temporary resident status, as well as their dependent children
- spouses and common-law partners of most work permit holders and their dependent children
- spouses and common-law partners of study permit holders
Spouses and partners who join international students on their journey to study in Canada can rest assured that they’ll remain eligible for an open work permit. And, for any partners or spouses currently holding an open work permit that is set to expire before the end of the year, as of June 7, they may now apply for an 18-month permit extension.
This is similar in nature to the free 18-month extensions which Canada has been repeatedly granting to post-graduation work permit holders over the past few years, and is likely to follow a similar process.
Canada Wants to Keep Families Together
The fact that spouses and partners of those studying in Canada have been given special consideration on this list is fantastic news, and a huge win for international student rights. The ability to bring family, work, and establish themselves in their destination country are crucial considerations for many students.
As the news was announced, Minister Fraser affirmed that “family reunification is one of the core pillars of Canada’s immigration system.” This measure demonstrates the government’s commitment to that statement.
This move from the Canadian government stands in stark contrast to the recent measures announced by the United Kingdom. In May of this year, the UK government took the opposite approach, banning most international students from bringing their family into the country with them.
At ApplyBoard, we’re excited to report this news, and will watch eagerly to see what other positive measures the Canadian government has in store for international students and their families.
As always, please visit the IRCC newsroom website for more details and the most up-to-date information on work permit eligibility.
Ready for more? Find more international student news on our blog, or use the ApplyBoard Platform to find the perfect study abroad program for your own journey.
