Spousal Open Work Permit for International Student Spouses: Which Programs Qualify
If your spouse is an international student, you only qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit if their study program is on IRCC’s specific eligible list: certain master’s programs, doctoral programs, a defined set of professional degrees, or an eligible pilot program. Most undergraduate and shorter graduate programs no longer qualify.
Last Updated: September 2026 · RCIC #R412319
Not every graduate program counts anymore
Before January 2025, the spouse of almost any study permit holder could get an open work permit. Now eligibility is tied to a specific, narrow list of study programs. A spouse in a 12-month MBA, for example, may not qualify, while a spouse in a 16-month-plus master’s program would.
The length and type of program matters as much as the level. A program’s title alone does not confirm eligibility.
The four ways a study program qualifies
- A master’s degree program of 16 months or longer
- Any doctoral (PhD) degree program
- One of ten specific professional degree programs
- An eligible pilot program IRCC has designated
Two paths to eligibility for international student spouses
Doctoral and 16-Month+ Master's Programs
Ten Named Professional Degrees
A small number of pilot programs also qualify, including Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot programs outside Quebec, international nursing credential recognition programs in Quebec, and midwifery, pharmacy, and nursing bridging or re-entry programs in British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba. We confirm whether your spouse’s specific program is currently on IRCC’s list before advising on eligibility, since pilot program eligibility can be narrow and location-specific.
What matters is the program, not just the degree name
A “Master of X” title alone does not confirm eligibility. We check the actual program length, which must be 16 months or longer for standard master’s programs, and whether it is a research or professional stream, since some professional-sounding titles are not on IRCC’s qualifying list at all.
We check the exact program, not just the degree level
Amir Ismail & Associates verifies your spouse’s specific program name, length, and classification against IRCC’s current eligible list before recommending you apply, so you are not relying on a program title that sounds eligible but is not.
International Student Spouse Questions
My spouse is doing a one-year master's degree. Do I qualify?
Generally no. Standard master’s programs must be at least 16 months long to qualify, unless the program is one of the ten named professional degrees or an eligible pilot program.
Does an MBA qualify?
Only if the specific MBA program is 16 months or longer. Many MBA programs are shorter and would not qualify on length alone.
My spouse is studying medicine. Do we qualify?
Yes. A Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is one of the ten professional degree programs that qualify regardless of length.
My spouse is an undergraduate student. Do I qualify?
Generally no. Undergraduate programs do not qualify except for the specific named professional bachelor’s degrees, such as Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Education, or the nursing bachelor’s degrees on IRCC’s list.
How do I find out if my spouse's exact program qualifies?
Book a Strategy Assessment. We check the program’s exact name, length, and classification against IRCC’s current eligible list before you apply.
Not Sure If Your Spouse's Study Program Qualifies?
We will confirm the program against IRCC’s current eligible list before you apply.