(Daily Point) — Canada has implemented new regulations affecting spouses and partners of international students, restricting their ability to work in the country.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on Monday that spouses of undergraduate students are no longer eligible to work in Canada.

Effective March 19, Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP) will only be granted to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs at recognized universities. Degree programs such as Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD), Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL), Doctor of Medicine (MD), and others are among those eligible for the SOWP.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller cited the high influx of immigrants as a factor driving these regulatory changes during a recent Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration meeting.

To qualify for the SOWP, spouses must provide documentation proving their relationship to the student, including a valid Letter of Acceptance from the institution, an enrollment letter from the student’s institution, and transcripts from the student’s current program.

Spouses who applied for a work permit before March 19 must hold a valid study permit and be enrolled as full-time students at a public post-secondary institution to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).