Numerous international students have frequently enquired about the possibility of combining their academic pursuits with employment in Canada. The good news is that foreign full-time students are permitted to work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week while studying in Canada. International students are permitted to work and study provided that they possess a genuine study permit and satisfy other prerequisites.
However, there is a catch: international students are only permitted to begin working once they have commenced their academic program. Consequently, you must be enrolled in your university or college at the time of your employment search. You are unable to labour prior to the commencement of your program. Additionally, you may work for up to twenty hours per week during school sessions and a full-time schedule during scheduled vacations, such as summer vacation.
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The majority of students do not require a work permit to work while they are studying, regardless of whether their job is on-campus or off-campus. Rather, your study permit will specify whether you are permitted to labour off-campus.
You may be permitted to work and study in Canada for a total of more than twenty hours during the semester if your academic program includes work experience. Your acceptance letter will specify this. If this condition is approved by the government, you will be granted both a study permit and a work permit. This permit will authorise you to conduct business exclusively on campus.
Working on-campus as an international student
You will be permitted to work off-campus while pursuing your education in Canada without the necessity of obtaining a work permit, provided that you:
- possess a study permit;
- Be enrolled as a full-time student in a designated learning institution (or a post-secondary school in Quebec province);
- The study program is academic, professional, or vocational, and it lasts for a minimum of six months and results in a diploma or certificate.
- During academic sessions, employees are permitted to work a maximum of twenty hours per week, while they are permitted to work full-time during scheduled vacations, such as those in the winter or spring.
Certain academic programs necessitate residencies or cooperative education. In order for the international student to complete the task, a work permit is necessary in this situation.
Work Permits for Co-Op Students and Interns
Although foreign students in Canada are not required to obtain a separate work permit in order to labour while studying, there is an exception to this rule. In order to successfully complete their program of study, certain study programs necessitate that international students complete a Co-op or internship work placement. In this scenario, in addition to your study permit, you must obtain a Co-op labour permit.
A valid study permit and a letter from your school confirming that all students in your program are required to complete work placements in order to obtain their degree are necessary to obtain a Co-op work permit.
The Co-op employment permit may be issued in conjunction with your study permit. Your work permit may be processed as part of your study permit application if your acceptance letter specifies that a Co-op or internship placement is mandatory as part of your academic program.
It is also feasible to submit an application for a Co-op work permit subsequent to the acquisition of a study permit. The application process can be conducted either online or on paper. This is a matter that your school should be able to assist you with, as the placement is a component of your academic curriculum and they likely assist numerous students in applying for this permit annually.
Requirements for Eligibility to Work and Study in Canada
Foreign students who are enrolled full-time in a DLI in Canada and possess a study permit are permitted to work off-campus without a work permit. This implies that you are eligible to work for any Canadian employer in any occupation, regardless of the location. If you desire, you may also conduct business on campus.
Working off-campus entails employment with any Canadian employer that is not affiliated with the institution. Working on campus refers to employment with any employer located on the school’s campus, including the university, a faculty member (such as a research assistant), or a private contractor that provides services within the school, such as a restaurant or gym.
It is crucial to acknowledge that, despite your intention to work while studying in Canada, you will still be required to provide evidence of adequate financial resources when applying for a study permit.
This implies that you must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your academic pursuits without the necessity of working. Anticipated future earnings will not be recognised as evidence of sufficient financial resources. Therefore, the mere fact that you intend to work while studying will not satisfy the requirement to demonstrate financial capacity prior to your arrival.
The conditions of employment and whether you are permitted to work in Canada will be indicated by your study permit. This allows you to register for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada. A SIN is a crucial prerequisite for commencing employment while studying in Canada.
If the statement required to register for a Social Insurance Number is not included in your study permit, it is possible to have it corrected at no cost.
Although it is possible to complete this process after your arrival, it is significantly more advantageous to do so promptly upon your arrival and the issuance of your study permit. If you are uncertain about the information on your study permit, you may enquire with the immigration officer at the port of entry about your permission to work.
Unless you are otherwise authorised to work in Canada, you are prohibited from doing so if your study program is less than six months in duration. Alternatively, if you are enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) program.
Furthermore, while studying in Canada, visiting or exchange students at a university or college are prohibited from working.
It is crucial to recognise that employment is not permissible during one’s academic pursuits in Canada until one commences their program.
Work after studying in Canada
It may be necessary to cease employment in Canada immediately upon the completion of your studies. However, there are alternative methods by which you can continue to operate in a variety of circumstances.
You may be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if you desire to remain and work in Canada. This permit will grant you the ability to work for any employer in Canada for a period of up to three years immediately following your graduation. If you are eligible and wish to remain and work in Canada, you must submit an application within ninety days of receiving written confirmation that you have successfully completed your academic program.
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