Essential Work Status Granted to Spouses of Full-Time Students in Canada

Spouses of Full-Time Students in Canada Now Eligible for Essential Work Status

Subparagraph 205(c)(ii) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) required the following spouses or common-law partners of full-time students to do work, and the Minister identified that work as necessary on April 30, 2024:

• Wives or common-law partners of graduate program participants enrolled full-time (master’s and doctoral),
• Spouses or common-law partners of full-time students participating in a province or territory’s pilot program eligibility. 
• University full-time students enrolled in professional degree programs (such as law, dentistry, or medicine)
• Spouses or common-law partners who are extending their work permit as spouses of full-time students enrolled in a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) qualifying program of study at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution and who currently possess a valid open work permit under the C42 category.