Canada reducing off-campus hours of work for international students
Canada’s temporary waiver of the 20-hour-per-week limit on the number of hours that international students are allowed to work during academic sessions is scheduled to end on April 30, 2024. The temporary waiver was implemented back in October 2022 by then acting Minister Sean Fraser to reduce the labour shortages in Canada.
After April 30th, off-campus employment for students will resume as follows:
- Up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions; and
- Up to full-time hours during “regularly scheduled breaks.” A “regularly scheduled break” must be a part of the school’s academic calendar and cannot be longer than 150 days.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) guideline on the off-campus work regime provides further information on eligibility and allowable hours of work.
Hours of Work Permitted by Timing of Application
For study permits applications (extensions and initial), received before October 7, 2022, students are permitted to work more than 20 hours a week between November 15, 2022, to April 30, 2024, so long as they meet one of the following situations:
- Study permit holder who is studying at a DLI full time (or part time if it’s the final academic semester).
- Study permit has expired, but student has maintained your status and are studying at a DLI full time (or part time if it’s your the academic semester).
- Approved for a study permit but have not arrived in Canada yet.
In addition, student must meet all of these requirements to be eligible:
- Presently in Canada or have re-entered Canada by April 30, 2024.
- Has one of the following conditions printed on their study permit:
- Permitted to work 20 hours per week off campus or full time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w) and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
For study permits applications (extensions and initial), received between October 8, 2022 and December 7, 2023, students are permitted to work more than 20 hours a week between January 1, 2024, to April 30, 2024, so long as they meet one of the following situations:
- Study permit holder who is studying at a DLI full time (or part time if it’s the final academic semester).
- Study permit has expired, but student has maintained your status and are studying at a DLI full time (or part time if it’s your the academic semester).
- Approved for a study permit but have not arrived in Canada yet.
In addition, student must meet all of these requirements to be eligible:
- Presently in Canada or have re-entered Canada by April 30, 2024.
- Has one of the following conditions printed on their study permit:
- Permitted to work 20 hours per week off campus or full time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w) and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
For applications for extension of study permits received after December 8, 2023, students must stop working more than 20 hours per week without a work permit on whichever date below comes first:
- the date the study permit you’re applying to extend expires, or
- on April 30, 2024
Students who are no longer eligible to work more than 20 hours a week off campus, may be able to work up to 20 hours per week under the standard eligibility requirements.
During scheduled breaks in the school year
Students may work full-time scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week. Students may also work overtime or work 2 part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours, so long as they are a full-time student both before and after the break. Student may not work during a break that comes before commencement of their first school semester.
