Family Sponsorship
Ottawa Closes Spousal Work Permit Route After Fraud Concerns
A change in federal policy has sharply reduced how many spouses of international students can obtain open work permits in Canada, and newly disclosed government correspondence shows why regulators moved so decisively.
An access-to-information request turned up an internal report sent from Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi to immigration officials, flagging integrity concerns tied to Indian study permit applications. The report described marriages of convenience being openly advertised in Indian newspapers and on dating apps, arranged specifically so a spouse could accompany a student to Canada and work under an open permit.
An immigration lawyer who obtained the report has argued Canada should limit study permits to applicants who can support themselves, saying study permits should not function as a shortcut into the country for a spouse.
The Policy Response
Under changes introduced by the former immigration minister, Ottawa restricted spousal open work permits primarily to spouses of graduate-level international students, cutting off the pathway for most undergraduate-level applicants. The goal, according to the federal government, was to reduce fraud risk while ensuring students entering Canada could genuinely support their own studies rather than relying on a spouse’s income.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The scale of the drop is significant. Indian study permit holders fell from 277,950 in 2023 to 188,125 in 2024, and then to 93,840 in 2025 — a decline of roughly two-thirds in just two years. India has traditionally sent more international students to Canada than any other country, so a shift of this size has ripple effects across the post-secondary sector, where international tuition has become an important revenue source for many colleges and universities.
Two Ways to Read the Decline
Not everyone agrees on why applications fell so sharply. Some observers point directly to the closure of the spousal work permit pathway as the main driver. Migrant worker advocates offer a different reading, suggesting some prospective students are choosing not to apply to countries where they cannot bring family members with them, regardless of the specific permit rules involved.
Both explanations likely play a role. The end of open work permits for most undergraduate spouses removed a significant financial incentive for some applicants, while broader global competition for international students has intensified as other countries adjust their own family-accompaniment policies.
What It Means for Applicants Now
For prospective students, the practical takeaway is that spousal work permits are no longer a reliable planning assumption for undergraduate study in Canada. Anyone applying at that level should budget for a single income and factor in that a spouse will likely need a separate, independent basis to work in Canada, rather than relying on an open permit tied to the student’s status.
Staying Ahead With Canada Immigration News
Integrity reviews like this one tend to reshape immigration pathways quickly, and further tightening or clarification is possible as the federal government continues to monitor fraud risk. Canada Immigration News will keep following this story and every policy change that affects study and work permit planning, so check back often for the updates that matter to your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can spouses of international students still get open work permits?
Generally only spouses of graduate-level international students remain eligible; the pathway for most undergraduate-level students’ spouses has been closed.
Why did Ottawa restrict spousal work permits?
Internal government correspondence flagged concerns about marriages of convenience being used to obtain open work permits, prompting a policy tightening aimed at reducing fraud.
How much did Indian study permit numbers drop?
Indian study permit holders fell from 277,950 in 2023 to 93,840 in 2025, a decline of roughly two-thirds over two years.
Is the decline only about work permit rules?
Not entirely. Some advocates point to broader trends, including prospective students choosing not to apply to countries where they cannot bring family members.
