Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)

Studying in Canada is one of the most popular and effective pathways for immigrating to this advanced, safe, and multicultural country. However, for many international students, moving alone can be a challenging and isolating experience. To ease this transition, the Canadian government allows family members of international students to accompany them during their studies through the Accompanying Spouse/Dependent Visa program.

What Is the Accompanying Spouse/Dependent Visa?

This visa allows the spouse and dependent children under the age of 18 of international students to live in Canada while the student is pursuing their education. It offers several benefits that make the immigration journey more manageable and family-friendly. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for an accompanying visa, the following conditions must be met:

1. Enrollment in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): The primary student must have an official admission letter from a post-secondary institution approved by the Canadian government (DLI).
2. Full-time Study: The student must be enrolled in a full-time academic program and not in a part-time or informal study program.
3. Sufficient Financial Resources: The student must demonstrate the financial ability to support themselves and their accompanying family members during their stay in Canada.

Benefits of the Accompanying Spouse/Dependent Visa

1. Open Work Permit for Spouse: The spouse of the student can apply for an Open Work Permit, which allows them to work for any employer in Canada (except for those on the restricted employer list).
2. Free Public Education for Children: Dependent children under 18 are eligible to attend public schools in Canada for free.

Important Changes to Spousal Open Work Permits (Effective January 2025) As of January 21, 2025, the eligibility criteria for spouses of international students to receive an open work permit have changed. Under the new rules, only spouses of students enrolled in specific programs are eligible. These include: Eligible Programs:

• Master’s programs (minimum 16 months)
• PhD programs
• Certain professional academic programs, such as:
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
  • Law degrees (LLB, JD, BCL)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Pharmacy degrees (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)

If someone is not eligible for an open work permit as the spouse of an international student, they may still apply for other types of work permits available through provincial programs in Canada, such as skill recognition for nurses in Quebec, supervised practice in Ontario, or specialized pathways for internationally educated nurses in British Columbia and Manitoba. Duration of the Spouse’s Open Work Permit If approved, the spouse’s Open Work Permit will be valid until the expiry date of the student’s study permit. To extend the permit, the following conditions must be met:

• The student holds a valid study permit.
• The student is physically present or will be in Canada during the study period.
• The student is enrolled full-time in a PGWP-eligible program at a DLI.
• The student is not in their final academic term.

Meeting these conditions makes the spouse eligible to apply for an extension of their open work permit.

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