In these instructions, “officer” refers to employees of both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency.

The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with the following:

• Open work permit – General processing and issuance
• Conditions and validity period on work permits

On March 19, 2024, the Minister designated the work performed by the following spouses and common-law partners of full-time students as necessary under paragraph R205(c)(ii):

• spouses and common-law partners of full-time students in graduate programs (master’s and doctorate) in a university or polytechnic institution
• spouses and common-law partners of full-time students in professional degree programs in a university (e.g., medicine, dentistry, law)
• spouses and common-law partners who hold a valid open work permit under the C42 category and who are extending their work permit as spouses of full-time students in a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligible program of study at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution.

This International Mobility Program (IMP) work permit category is intended for spouses and common-law partners who are not, themselves, already study permit holders actively engaged in full-time studies. The reasons for allowing spouses to enter Canada and work is to increase the competitiveness of Canada’s academic institutions or economy.

In these instructions, “spousal” refers to either common-law partner or married spouse situations.