How to work and study in Canada
While in Canada, you have the opportunity to both study and work at the same time. However, there are certain conditions that must be met.
If you hold a study permit, your main focus and reason for being in Canada should be your studies. This means you are required to engage in full-time study throughout the duration of your course. With a study permit, you can work while you study under certain conditions:
- be enrolled as a full-time student;
- be enrolled in a designated post-secondary educational institution or, in Quebec, in a secondary-level vocational training program;
- be enrolled in a general or vocational training program lasting at least six months and leading to a diploma or certificate;
- hold a valid study permit;
- have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Please note that you can only start working in Canada once you have begun your program of study. You cannot work before you begin your studies.
Important:
If you do not have a study permit, you cannot work while studying in Canada.
International students accepted into Canada can have their spouses and common-law partners apply for an open work permit. This permits them to work for any employer in Canada throughout the period covered by their partner's study permit. The processing of an application for an open work permit typically takes several months. Various factors can affect the processing time, so it's advisable to initiate the process early. In most cases, spouses or common-law partners are required to submit their work permit applications online. Before applying, it is recommended to thoroughly read the instruction guide. Additional information on procedures can be found on this page.
Conditions for working in Canada while studying
You must have received your study permit and be authorized to enter Canada. If you are authorized to work while studying, this will be indicated in the conditions on your study permit. If you are authorized to work off-campus, you do not need a work permit. However, you cannot work off-campus without a work permit if any of the following situations apply to you:
- you have a study permit that specifies that you are not authorized to work off-campus for the duration of your studies;
- you are only enrolled in a French or English as a Second Language (FSL/ESL) program;
- you are only taking general interest courses;
- you are only taking courses that are a prerequisite for acceptance into a full-time program of study;
- your situation changes and you no longer meet all the requirements to work off-campus.
If any of these situations apply to you, and you wish to work while studying in Canada, you must apply for a work permit.
If you have a study permit, your off-campus work during regular academic sessions is limited to 20 hours a week. However, during scheduled breaks such as winter and summer vacations, as well as spring and fall breaks, you can work full-time, approximately 40 hours a week. The definition of "full-time" doesn't have a fixed number of hours, but your employers must comply with provincial laws regarding overtime pay and time between shifts. This flexibility allows you to work overtime or hold two part-time jobs, exceeding your usual hours, as long as all regulations are followed.
Keep in mind that if you're on a leave of absence or not actively studying due to changing educational institutions, you are not allowed to work off-campus. Your eligibility to work resumes only when you're back in school. If you're self-employed, it's your responsibility to document your off-campus hours and demonstrate that you comply with your study permit conditions. While working for an employer outside Canada remotely is allowed, you must still meet the study permit conditions, and this type of work doesn't contribute to the 20-hour per week off-campus work limit.
When working on campus, you can take on as many hours as you'd like, in addition to any off-campus work, as long as you still meet the criteria for on-campus employment. "On-campus" employment includes working in any building on your university's campus. If your university has multiple campuses, generally, you can only work on the campus where you are enrolled. However, exceptions apply if you're a teaching or research assistant or if your work is directly tied to a research grant. In such cases, you're allowed to work in a library, hospital, or research facility associated with your educational institution, even if it's situated off campus.
Your on-campus employer could be the educational institution itself, a faculty member, a student organization, a private company, a contractor offering on-campus services to the school, or even you if you run a business physically situated on the campus. It's essential to cease on-campus work once you are no longer a full-time student, except in specific circumstances such as your last semester and meeting other criteria, the expiration of your study permit, taking a leave of absence while studying, or changing institutions without being actively enrolled.
Whether you work on or off campus, you'll need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). The SIN is a 9-digit number provided to you by the Canadian government. You need it to work in Canada. In order for you to apply for a SIN to work on campus, one of the following conditions must be printed on your study permit:
- May accept employment on or off the campus of the institution where they are registered if they meet the eligibility criteria set out in paragraphs 186f), v) or w). Must stop working if he/she no longer meets these criteria;
- This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada. May accept on-campus employment only if they meet the eligibility criteria described in R186f). Must stop working if they no longer meet these criteria.
In order to apply for a SIN to work off-campus, one of the following conditions must be printed on your study permit:
- May work 20 hours per week off-campus or full-time during regular vacations if they meet the criteria described in section 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations;
- May accept on- or off-campus employment if they meet the eligibility criteria under paragraph 186f), v) or w). Must stop working if no longer eligible.
If there are no work conditions indicated on your study permit, you may request that these conditions be added if you are authorized to work off-campus or on-campus. There is no fee to have these conditions added. You will need to request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply to Service Canada for a SIN.
Good to know:
Until December 31, 2023, foreign students in Quebec do not necessarily need to apply for a co-op work permit. You do not need a co-op work permit to complete your co-op work term if you meet certain specific conditions. See this page for more information on this temporary exemption.
Co-op programs in Canada
Some study programs mandate students to undertake multiple paid internships to fulfill graduation requirements. These internships typically span 12 to 15 weeks and are commonly referred to as the “régime coopératif” in French-speaking universities. While only a limited number of these co-op programs are accessible to international students in Canada, there are exceptions. If you find yourself in such a program, you'll be required to secure a co-op work permit alongside your study permit.
To apply for your work permit, your educational institution must provide you with a letter confirming that all students in your program are required to complete work terms for graduation. The necessary documents for the application include this letter, the IMM5710 form, and photocopies of your passport pages. It's important that internships are integral to your program of study and that these work experiences account for no more than 50% of the total duration of your academic program.
Finding a job in Canada
Many post-secondary institutions offer job search assistance. If you're not sure where to turn, your first port of call should be your institution's international student services. You can also check the classified ads or the Canadian government's job search site.
Staying on in Canada with a post-graduation work permit
If you obtain an eligible degree in Canada, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to extend your stay. The length of validity of your PGWP depends on the duration of your program of study. The PGWP allows you to work for any eligible Canadian employer. Eligibility requirements for the GDWP changed in June 2022. You can consult the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website to see the programs and establishments that give access to this work permit. Note that if you choose not to obtain a study permit (for example, if your program of study is less than 6 months), you will not be able to obtain a PGWP. If you don't qualify for a DPWP, you have other options for remaining in Canada after your studies. Consult this page to find out if you are eligible for another type of work permit.
Other professional programs in Canada
You have the option to work in Canada through the International Experience Canada program. To be eligible, you should be between 18 and 35 years old, and your country of origin must have a signed agreement with Canada.
If you're required to complete an internship as part of your studies and have a job offer from a Canadian employer, the International Co-op category is designed for you. Alternatively, if your goal is to travel and fund your trip through work, you can explore the Working Holiday category. Opting for a permit in this category also allows you to pursue temporary studies, such as taking English courses.
Starting June 27, 2023, temporary expatriate workers can now pursue studies more easily without the need for a study permit up until the expiration of their work permit. The Minister of Immigration officially announced this change, extending study authorization for work permit holders with immediate effect. This new policy replaces the previous one, which placed a maximum duration of 6 months on study programs accessible to foreign workers without a study permit. The updated measure is set to be in effect for the next three years. For further details, refer to the "Studying and working in Canada: the new measures" section of this article and check your eligibility on this page.
Working in Canada will give you valuable work experience. It will also enable you to establish business contacts for the future and may also help you gain permanent residency.
Useful links:
