On May 22, 2024, Canada announced updates to its Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), expanding work designations for spouses or common-law partners of full-time students. Effective April 30, 2024, this includes partners of students in graduate programs, professional degree programs, or those participating in eligible pilot programs. It also applies to partners holding a valid open work permit under the C42 category and extending their work permit as spouses of full-time students in a PGWP-eligible program of study. Applications received before April 29, 2024, are exempt from this change.