- Canadian officials warn that Indian students used marriages of convenience to secure spousal work permits.
- Stricter immigration policies have disrupted common migration strategies for students formerly prioritizing work over study.
- Indian applicants are increasingly shifting toward Germany and Sweden due to more favorable spousal visa options.
A Canadian migration official in New Delhi warned that some Indian students used marriages of convenience to help a spouse qualify for a Canada open work permit after Ottawa tightened the route. The note surfaced in March 2025. The window had closed quickly.
Han Duan, the First Secretary (Migration) at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, tied the practice to the cost of studying in Canada. He sent the communication to Sean McLuckie, Director of Irregular Migration and Risk Intelligence. The pressure was money.
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Duan was blunt. "Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal Open Work Permits (OWPs). This practice was widely advertised in local newspapers and on dating apps." The note was direct.
He then linked the behavior to the policy changes. "The recent policy changes have disrupted common strategies used by applicants who intended to change schools or prioritise work over study." The memo drew a line between the rules and the responses.
The communication said some applicants shifted toward Germany, where spouse visa routes remained available. It also said the number of Indian undergraduate students applying to Canada had dropped over the past few years, partly because Ottawa closed the path. The traffic moved.
In Punjab, the arrangement is often called an IELTS marriage or a contract marriage. In the version described in the note, a woman with strong IELTS scores studies first, while a spouse's family pays for the plan. The spouse then goes to Canada on an OWP and works full time. The deal is upfront.
Some families have reported selling ancestral land to pay the bills. Others were left with debt after visa refusals or broken ties in Canada. The cost can stay home long after the plan collapses. The damage lasts.
| Date | Change | Who remained eligible |
|---|---|---|
| January 22, 2024 | Canada ended open work permits for spouses of most undergraduate international students | Spouses of master's and doctoral students only |
| January 21, 2025 | Canada limited spousal open work permits further | Spouses of master's programs lasting 16 months or longer, doctoral programs, or select professional programs |
Germany stayed open to some applicants
Duan said applicants with strong academic credentials were turning to Germany, Sweden, Finland and Ireland. Those countries still offered more favorable spousal visa options. Canada had become the harder choice.
Canadian authorities also reported a sharp drop in study permit applications from India through 2025 and 2026. They tied that decline to the January 2025 restrictions on spousal open work permits. The numbers fell.
Canada treats a marriage of convenience as misrepresentation. Under Section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, people found in that category can face a 5-year ban. That penalty follows the file.
On May 25, 2026, the department warned again against relationships of convenience. It said officers were trained to detect false marriages and could take legal action. The scrutiny stayed in place.
Duan dated the note March 22, 2025 and addressed it to Sean McLuckie. The paper trail ran through the New Delhi mission. It still points to one thing.
