Working Regulations for International Students in Canada
Canada allows international students to work while they study and provides valuable?
opportunities for students to gain experience and become familiar with the working environment of Canada!? However, students must meet certain eligibility requirements to pursue these opportunities. Understanding these rules is crucial to maintaining legal status and avoiding any issues with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Below is an overview of the current regulations governing on-campus and off-campus work for international students in Canada.?
Working On-Campus?
Who Can Work On-Campus?
International students can work on campus without a work permit if they meet all of the following conditions:?
?They are full-time students at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), specifically:?
?They have a valid study permit or maintained status?
?They have printed conditions on their study permit allowing them to work on campus?
?They have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?
Note: If a student was full-time in every semester of their program but is studying part-time in their final semester to complete their coursework, they can still work an unlimited number of hours on campus.?
Who Cannot Work On-Campus?
Students must stop working on-campus:?
?If they stop studying full-time (unless they meet the exception for part-time students in their final semester)?
?When their study permit expires?
?If they take an authorized leave from their studies?
?If they are switching schools and are not currently studying?
Students can return to work only once they resume studies and meet all the requirements.?
Where You Can Work?
“On-campus” includes all buildings on the school’s campus. If a school has multiple campuses, students may only work at the campus where they are studying, except in the following cases:?
?If they are working as a teaching or research assistant, and?
?Their work is strictly related to a research grant?
In such cases, students may work at affiliated locations such as libraries, hospitals, or research facilities—even if they are outside the school’s campus.?
Who You Can Work For?
An on-campus employer can be:?
?The school itself?
?A faculty member?
?A student organization?
?Yourself (if running a business physically located on campus, such as a café)?
?A private business located on campus?
?A private contractor providing on-campus services?
How Many Hours You Can Work On-Campus?
There is no limit to the number of hours international students can work on campus, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.?
Working Off-Campus?
As of November 8, 2024, students are allowed to work up to 24 hours per week off campus without a work permit during their study.?
Who Can Work Off-Campus?
Students do not need a work permit to work off campus if they meet all of the following conditions:?
?They are full-time students at a DLI?
?They are enrolled in either:?
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?Their study program:?
?They have started studying?
?They have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?
Part-Time Students?
Part-time students can work off campus if:?
?They meet all the above requirements, except being full-time?
?They are in their last semester and do not need a full course load to complete their?
program?
?They were a full-time student in Canada up until their last semester?
Who Cannot Work Off-Campus?
Students cannot work off campus without a work permit if:?
?Their study permit explicitly prohibits off-campus work?
?They are enrolled only in an English or French as a Second Language (ESL/FSL) program?
?They are only taking general interest courses?
?They are only taking prerequisite courses required for admission into a full-time program?
?Their study status changes, and they no longer meet the requirements?
If students want to work but do not qualify for off-campus work, they must apply for a work permit.?
How Many Hours You Can Work Off-Campus?
?During school terms: Up to 24 hours per week?
?During scheduled breaks (e.g., summer, winter holidays, reading week): Unlimited hours, as long as they were full-time students before and after the break?
?If the program has no scheduled breaks: Up to 24 hours per week?
Violating these conditions (e.g., working more than 24 hours per week) can result in loss of student status and affect future immigration applications.?
Working After Completing Your Study Program?
After completing their program, students can work full-time while their work permit application is being processed only if:?
?They were already eligible to work off campus during their studies?
?They applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) before their study permit expired?
?They are waiting for a decision on their work permit application??
Students can work full-time while transitioning to a New Study Program if:?
?They were already eligible to work off campus during their previous studies?
?They have a valid study permit or applied to extend their study permit before it expired?
?They received written confirmation that they completed their previous program?
?They received a letter of acceptance to a new full-time program at a DLI?
?They will start their new program within 150 days of completing their previous program?
Need Help Navigating Work Regulations??
Understanding Canada’s work regulations for international students can be complex. If you need assistance with your study permit, work authorization, or compliance with these rules, R&R?
Law LLP can help! Please contact us to schedule a consultation call with one of our lawyers. Also, to stay updated on the latest Canadian immigration news, we recommend following our LinkedIn page. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to Canada!?