Canada has cemented its status as a top destination for international students, particularly from India, which leads this growing trend. In a move set to benefit students financially and professionally, Canada has increased the weekly limit for off-campus work from 20 to 24 hours. This change, effective November 8, 2024, comes as part of efforts to enhance opportunities for international students while maintaining their academic focus.
Announcing the decision, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, emphasized that the new cap strikes a balance between allowing students to gain work experience and ensuring they can concentrate on their studies, according to several media reports.
The extended work limit offers international students a chance to earn more income and gain valuable work experience without compromising their primary objective of studying.
Eligibility Criteria for Off-Campus Work
Not all international students qualify for off-campus work. To be eligible without a work permit, students must meet the following requirements:
- Enrollment at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): They must be full-time students in post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional programs.
- Program Type: Eligible programs include post-secondary training or vocational training at the secondary level in Quebec, lasting at least six months and leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- Valid Study Permit: The study permit must explicitly allow off-campus work.
- Social Insurance Number (SIN): Students must obtain a SIN to begin employment.
Students who do not meet these conditions are prohibited from working off-campus.
How many hours count as full-time work?
Well, according to the official website of Canada immigration, there is no set number of hours per week that counts as ‘full-time’ work. Simply put, if your program doesn’t have scheduled breaks then you can work up to 24 hours per week. However, working more than 24 hours per week will be a violation of the study permit. Due to which students can lose their status and may not be able to get approval for study or work permit in the future.
Who cannot work off campus?
As per the information, a student can’t work off campus without a work permit if any of these situations applies to them:
- The student’s study permit says they aren’t authorized to work off campus while they study.
- They only enrolled in an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program.
- They are only taking general interest courses.
- They are only taking courses required to be accepted into a full-time program.
- Their situation changes and they no longer meet all the requirements to work off campus.
However, if the study situation changes for a student then they may be able to change the conditions of their study permit. They can apply to change the conditions of their permit if:
- They have changed their study program to one that may allow them to work off campus and
- Their study permit says, “This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada”.
OR
- The immigration office included a condition on their study permit that may no longer apply.
Previously, international students were allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during their academic sessions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary policy permitted students to exceed this limit, a provision that ended on April 30, 2024.
With this latest adjustment, Canada aims to support international students in achieving a well-rounded experience—academically, professionally, and financially—further solidifying its appeal as a global education hub.