Gaining work experience as an international student offers a host of advantages. They gain the confidence needed to work in an environment foreign to them, compared to a familiar work culture in their country of origin.

If you are an international student working while studying in Canada, this post is for you. If yes, then you’re probably already aware of the work hours. Initially, students are permitted to work for not more than 20 hours per week. However, the Government of Canada has lifted the cap on these hours for post-secondary students, who work off-campus while class is in session.

This announcement of the lift on working hours has a definite time period, from November 15, 2022 until December 31, 2023. International students in Canada with off-campus work authorization on their study permit will not be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule. 

This is also applicable to foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application, as of October 2022. They will also be able to benefit from this temporary change, provided their application is approved.

Work rule extension and its benefits for international students

The extension of work hours held flexible for students while studying in Canada may offer a host of benefits.

This move by the Canadian Government will provide many international students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in Canada. There will be an increase in the availability of workers to sustain Canada’s post-pandemic growth. Currently, there are more than 500,000 international students living in Canada who are available to potentially work for additional hours. 

Although this is a temporary change, it reflects the significant role international students play in addressing our labour shortage, while continuing to pursue their studies. Students who have study permits still have the chance to strike a balance between their studies and work commitments. This is because those students who complete their studies, quit or reduce course loads to only study part-time are not eligible to work off-campus.

Facts that you must know about working while studying in Canada

It is essential to stay aware of a few facts that can help you accommodate for work while studying in Canada.

• Many post-secondary international students in Canada are allowed to work on and/or off campus, with their authorisation to work printed directly on their study permit. In the past, around half of the post-secondary international students in Canada were found to be earning income during their studies.

• Before the announcement was made, the student with the authorisation to work off-campus was allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week while class was in session and full-time during scheduled breaks. The scheduled break includes summer or winter holidays and fall or spring reading week. Students eligible to work on campus are not subject to a cap on hours for on-campus work.

• With regards to off-campus working, students can work more than 20 hours per week while class is in session, if:
  • The student holds a study permit and studies at a Designated Learning Institution or DLI full-time or part-time for their academic session.
  •   The study permit application should have been submitted on or before October 7, 2022.
  • The student should be arriving in Canada or should be in Canada by December 31, 2023.

• To be able to work overtime, the international student should be a fulltime student before and after the scheduled breaks. Also, the student cannot work during the break that comes before the first school semester commences.

• Applications being considered as part of the pilot to automate study permit extensions will require to meet certain criteria in order to be automated. Those applications that fall outside the criteria will be manually reviewed by officers. Students need to note here that the automated process will not refuse applications or recommend refusals. Any decision to refuse an application will continue to be made by an officer only.

Why most foreign students want to study in Canada

You can explore several facts of studying in Canada as it is one of the world’s leading destinations for international students. In 2021, it let over 620,000 international students from around the world, which is a figure which has tripled over the past two decades. Canada granted nearly 450,000 new study permits last year alone. Demand for higher studies in Canada remains firm due to various lucrative factors, such as the quality of the country’s educational institutions, multiculturalism, affordability of the Canadian dollar, and the work and permanent residence opportunities that the country offers.

According to research done by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), it was reported that a majority of international students show their interest in staying back in Canada as permanent residents upon completing their studies.

Statistics Canada research shows that international students who acquire permanent residence tend to integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market. The influential factors include Canadian work and study experience, as well as English and/or French language proficiency.

With these flexible working rules, you can earn more while pursuing higher education in Canada. Reach out to us for further assistance on study abroad programs.