To support international students in Canada, IRCC temporarily lifted the 20-hour-per-week cap on the number of hours to work off-campus while class is in session.
International students in Canada can work off-campus more than 20 hours/week
To support international students in Canada, IRCC temporarily lifted the 20-hour-per-week cap on the number of hours to work off-campus while class is in session.
1. When can international students be allowed to start working more than 20 hours/per week?
From November 15, 2022 until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will be allowed to work over 20 hours per week off-campus while class is in session.
This temporary measure will also apply to foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application as of October 9th,2022. They will also be able to benefit from this policy if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada approve their application.
2. Why does this news make a huge impact on international students in Canada?
Currently, international students who apply to study in a Canadian educational program are entitled to receive permission to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week while they are enrolled in classes. During predetermined periods, such as the summer and winter holidays, this cap is lifted. To ensure that they remain focused on finishing their studies rather than being focused on working in Canada, this new policy enables international students to support themselves financially. However, the Canadian government has temporarily relaxed this restriction in response to the almost one million job openings it is currently facing.
With the implementation of this legislation, more foreign students will have the chance to work in Canada and more workers will be available to support Canada’s post-pandemic growth. This interim amendment recognizes the significant contribution that the more than 500,000 international students already residing in Canada can make to addressing our labor deficit while pursuing their academic goals. Holders with study permits are nevertheless obliged to balance their obligations to both work and study because they are not permitted to work off-campus if they quit studying or reduce their course load to just study part-time.
3. More reasons for international students to apply for private colleges
Studying at Canadian private colleges is much more affordable than studying at a public school. With programs that only cost about CAD 4,000/year (Co-op program), students can get a work permit and now can work more than 20 hours per week which means that they can work full-time during their studies in Canada.
A simple example is if a student works as a waiter/waitress at McDonald’s, they can make up to CAD 2,000/ month if it is a full-time position.
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4. Changing status to study permit in Canada as a visitor
Studying in Canada as a tourist during your visit is a great way to stay in Canada. You can get a Study Permit while visiting and get a Work Permit to support yourself financially with this new policy.
In only one year, Canada issued approximately 450,000 additional study permits. Canada continues to have a high demand for students due to a number of factors, including the country’s high standard of educational institutions, multiculturalism, the affordability of the Canadian currency, and the prospects for employment and permanent residence that the nation provides.
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