Thinking about working as an international student in Canada? Yes you can! Although eligibility depends on a student’s authorization as mentioned on their study permit or work permit.
If you do not have a work permit but hold a study permit in Canada, you may be eligible if you are enrolled at an eligible Canadian institution. Your study permit must list a condition stating that you are eligible to work in Canada. You can ask to have work conditions added to your study permit free of cost (if eligible). Contact Oversiis immigration for help.
There are two criteria under which a student can work in Canada.
- On-Campus
- Off-Campus
“On-campus” means you can work at all the buildings on your school campus. If your school has more than one campus, you may only work at the campus where you’re studying in most cases.
You can work at other locations if
- you’re working as a teaching or research assistant and
- your work is strictly related to a research grant
Eligibility requirements to work on-campus:
- You are a full-time post-secondary student at a:
-
- public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
- private college-level school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools, and is at least 50% funded by government grants, or
- Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law
- you have a valid study permit and
- you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
“Off-campus” means you can work anywhere outside your school premises as long as your permit conditions are met. You can work up to 20 hours/week during regular school terms/semesters and work full time (as per your employer weekly requirement) during breaks, holidays and reading week.
Eligibility requirements to work off-campus
To work off campus (without a work permit) you must meet all of the following requirements:
- you’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada
- you’re enrolled in
- a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or
- a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
- your study program
- is at least 6 months long and
- leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
- you have started studying
- you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
International students with a study permit must stop working:
- on the day you stop studying full-time
- when your study permit expires
- when on an authorized leave from your studies
- when switching schools and aren’t currently studying
Working during school will allow you to gain real life experience in your desired field of studies which can be useful when applying for jobs after graduation. Having the relevant work experience can also help you be successful in your PR application if you are planning to live in Canada permanently.
