Canada Now Permits International Students To Work 24 Hours

The number of hours that qualifying overseas students may work in Canada during academic periods has been raised from 20 to 24 hours.

The goal of this change is to give students more chances to obtain work experience while keeping their academic focus.

With the words, “This change will give students more flexibility to manage their time and gain practical experience,” Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller emphasized the goal of the policy change.

Miller stressed the value of job experience for overseas students in October 2022, and this decision builds on his comments.

At the time, he stated: “With the economy growing at a faster rate than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and workforce needed to fuel our growth.

“Immigration will be crucial to addressing our labour shortage. By allowing international students to work more while they study, we can help ease pressing needs in many sectors across the country, while providing more opportunities for international students to gain valuable Canadian work experience and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity.”

By implementing these measures, Canada hopes to improve opportunities for international students while addressing labor shortages in key sectors, ensuring a balance between work experience and academic success.

The new regulations require international students to obtain approval before transferring to a different DLI, which ensures adherence to permit conditions and maintains academic standards across Canada’s institutions.

In Quebec, eligible international students can work off-campus without a separate work permit, provided they meet specific criteria, such as being enrolled full-time in post-secondary, vocational, or professional training programs, or at the secondary level vocational training.

The updated regulations allow international students to work up to 24 hours per week during academic terms, which offers more employment opportunities while ensuring students can maintain a sustainable study schedule.

Designated Educational Institutions (DLIs) must now submit reports twice a year to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) verifying students’ enrollment status and academic progress, ensuring compliance with study permit requirements, and upholding the integrity of the International Student Program.

International students can now work full-time during designated academic breaks, such as summer and winter holidays, giving them the opportunity to increase their earnings without interfering with their class schedules, strengthening their financial stability while continuing their education.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli