Lori Meadows
International students in Canada are allowed to work part-time, provided they meet certain requirements and have the necessary paperwork. Students can work on or off-campus, with the number of hours varying depending on the time of year and their study programme. Students can also apply for a co-op work permit if their degree includes a work term. Working in Canada can help international students gain practical experience and build their professional networks, which may help them stay and work in the country after graduation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Work permit requirement | A work permit is not required if the study permit allows for work, and the student is a full-time student at a designated learning institution |
| Work hours | Students can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus without a work permit; there is no limit on full-time work during breaks |
| Work locations | On-campus and off-campus |
| Work types | Paid, volunteer, internships, and unpaid work; some positions require a medical exam |
| Work permit application | Requires a valid study permit, confirmation from the learning institution that work placements are required to obtain a degree, and confirmation that the co-op or internship is 50% or less of the total program |
| Work authorization | Must have a remark on the study permit authorizing work on and off-campus; if not, an amendment must be requested |
| SIN requirement | A SIN is required to work in Canada; it can be obtained after changing the conditions on the study permit |
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What You'll Learn
Work permits and study permits
International students intending to study in Canada for longer than six months must obtain a study permit at the post-secondary level. Before arriving in Canada, you must apply for and receive approval for a study permit. Additionally, if you are not a citizen of the country from which you are submitting your application, you may need to provide additional documents, such as your fingerprints and photograph (biometrics).
As an international student with a study permit, you must always be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) and demonstrate progress toward completing your study program. If you want to work during your studies, you must apply for a work permit. Your study permit will indicate whether you are eligible to work while studying. Your eligibility depends on factors such as the length of your program and whether the work is on or off-campus.
Many post-secondary international students can now work up to 24 hours per week off-campus while their classes are in session, without a work permit, provided they meet certain requirements. These include being a full-time student at a DLI and having completed all the requirements for your degree if you are a graduate student. However, working more than 24 hours per week violates your study permit conditions and may result in losing your student status and future permit approvals.
If your study permit allows you to work off-campus, you can work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as summer and winter holidays. After graduating, you may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit. Additionally, if your study program includes a mandatory work-integrated learning component, such as a co-op or internship, you will need to apply for a co-op or intern work permit.
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Working on-campus
International students in Canada are allowed to work on-campus as well as off-campus. However, there are certain requirements that must be met to be eligible to work on-campus. Firstly, you must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) that is accepted by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. Secondly, you must be registered in a post-secondary program or, if you are in Quebec, a secondary-level vocational training program. The length of your program must be a minimum of six months, resulting in a degree, diploma, or certificate.
To be able to work on-campus, your study permit must authorise you to do so. If your study permit does not include this authorisation, you must request an amendment to your study permit and then apply for a SIN from Service Canada before you can start working. The condition on your study permit should say something like: "May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies".
It is important to note that there is no set number of hours per week that counts as 'full-time' for students working on-campus. However, students are allowed to work full-time during scheduled breaks and holidays, such as winter and summer holidays and spring break. During these periods, you are allowed to work overtime and for more than one employer.
Working in Canada as an international student can provide valuable benefits, such as gaining practical work experience, building your professional network, and even helping with the immigration process after graduation. Additionally, you can develop business contacts and increase your employability.
If you are enrolled in a co-op program at a college or university, you can apply for a co-op work permit. To be eligible, you must have a valid study permit, a letter from your designated learning institution confirming that work placements are required for your degree, and your co-op or internship must comprise 50% or less of your total program of study.
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Working off-campus
International students in Canada may be able to work off-campus while studying. Working in Canada can help students gain practical work experience, build their professional networks, and even help them stay and work in the country after graduation.
To work off-campus, international students must meet certain requirements. Firstly, they must be enrolled as full-time students at a designated learning institution (DLI) recognised by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. Secondly, they must be registered in a post-secondary program or, in Quebec, a secondary-level vocational training program. The program must be a minimum of six months long and lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Additionally, students must be in their last semester of study and not require a full course load to complete their program.
In terms of work permits, international students can work off-campus without a specific work permit if they meet the above requirements and have the necessary authorisation on their study permit. The study permit must include a remark or condition explicitly authorising off-campus employment. If the study permit does not have this authorisation, students must request an amendment before starting work. It is important to note that working without the proper authorisation can result in losing student status and future study or work permit approvals.
For those who are self-employed, it is crucial to keep track of the hours worked off-campus and ensure compliance with the conditions of the study permit. The maximum number of hours allowed for off-campus work is 24 hours per week, and this includes any time spent earning wages, collecting commissions, or being on call. Students can work full-time during scheduled breaks and holidays, but if their program has no scheduled breaks, they must adhere to the 24-hour weekly limit.
It is worth noting that certain fields may require a medical exam and specific work permits, such as the CUSMA work permit. Additionally, volunteer positions, internships, and unpaid work might be considered "work" by immigration authorities, so proper work authorisation is necessary even in such cases.
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Working during breaks
International students in Canada are allowed to work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the summer or winter holidays, provided they are enrolled full-time in the term before and after the break. For instance, if a student is not enrolled for at least 12 credits in the winter term, they would not be authorised to work during the following summer break. However, an exception is made if they are full-time in the preceding winter term and will be part-time in the fall term because it is their final semester.
Students must be a full-time student before and after a break to work full-time during the break. For example, students cannot start working before their first school semester. Students on an authorised leave from their studies or switching schools cannot work off-campus and can only return to work once they are back to studying.
International students can work unlimited hours remotely for an employer based outside Canada, as long as they comply with the conditions of their study permit. This remote work does not count towards the off-campus work hour limit.
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Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to work in Canada as an international student, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have a valid study permit that authorises you to work on and off-campus. If your study permit does not have this authorisation, you must request an amendment and apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada before you can start working.
- You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada.
- You must be in your last semester of your study program and not need a full course load to complete your program.
- You must maintain your full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program. However, you may study part-time during your final semester.
- Your study permit must be valid at some point during the 180 days after you graduate and before you submit your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application.
- Your program of study must be at least eight months long (or 900 hours for Quebec programs).
- You must apply for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program of study.
- If you began your program after February 1, 2023, you are not eligible for a PGWP.
- If your study program includes an overseas component, you may be eligible for a PGWP as long as you earn a credit from a Canadian school for it.
- If you are self-employed, you are responsible for keeping track of the hours you work off-campus and complying with the conditions of your study permit.
- If you are on an authorised leave from your studies or switching schools, you cannot work off-campus until you resume your studies.
- You can only start working in Canada after your study program has started.
- If you are enrolled part-time, you are not authorised to work.
- If your study permit includes a condition prohibiting you from working in certain industries, such as childcare or healthcare, you must undergo a medical exam and apply to change the conditions of your study permit to work in those fields.
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Frequently asked questions
International students can work in Canada without a work permit as long as they have a valid study permit with a remark that authorises them to work on and off campus. If the study permit does not have this remark, students must request an amendment to their study permit and apply for a SIN before they can start working in Canada.
A SIN is a 9-digit number that the Government of Canada gives you. You need one to work in Canada.
Students working off-campus can work a maximum of 24 hours in any given week. During scheduled breaks and holidays, students can work full-time. There is no set number of hours per week for full-time work, but employers must follow the same laws for overtime payment and time between shifts.
Individuals in certain fields may be eligible for a CUSMA work permit (formerly known as NAFTA). Students from certain countries that Canada has an agreement with might be eligible for an International Experience Canada work permit, such as the Working Holiday Work Permit. If you are part of a co-op program at a college or university, you can apply for a co-op work permit.
In Canada, the definition of work for immigration purposes is not based on payment but how competitive your activities are in the labour market. Volunteer positions, internships, and unpaid work might be considered work, even if you are not paid.
