Work and study in Canada

Valuable work experience can be gained while, at the same time, increasing your spending allowance by taking up a part-time student job for international students. Although you must provide sufficient evidence that you can pay for your education and living costs before arriving in Canada, there are a number of work permit programs for international students and their spouses / common law partners that make working in Canada possible.

Working in Canada can help you establish business connections for the future and it can even help you immigrate after graduation.

Jobs for international students in Canada

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On-campus jobs

As an international student, you can work on campus without a work permit while completing your studies if:

  • You have a valid study permit.
  • You are a full-time student at a post-secondary public school (college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec), or in a private college-level school in Quebec that operates according to the same rules as public schools with at least 50% funded by government grants, or at a Canadian private school that can legally grant degrees and certificates under provincial law.
  • You have a Social Security number.

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Off-campus jobs

As an international student, you can work off-campus without a work permit while completing your studies if:

  • You have a valid study permit.
  • You are a full-time student at an accredited educational institution (post-secondary program, or in Quebec in a vocational program at a secondary level as well).
  • Your study program is academic, vocational or professional, lasts at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
  • You only work a maximum of 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer vacation or spring break).

Some study programs include job requirements such as collaboration or internships. In such cases, a work permit is required in order for the foreign student to be able to complete the work.

Study in Canada

Internship programs and cooperative work (co-op)

If you are looking to gain valuable international work experience while attending school in Canada, co-op or internship programs may be right for you.

Many Canadian colleges and universities offer internship work programs to enhance the academic curriculum through practical, real-world industry experience. Students usually spend semesters alternating between learning in the classroom and then applying that knowledge through practical training in their field of study.

Co-op or internship programs are also an excellent way for students to earn money during the semester and to enhance your CV through valuable work experience and business contacts.

International students who wish to join co-op programs or internships need a work permit.

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Requirements:

  • A valid study permit
  • That the intended work is an essential part of the study program in Canada
  • The intended job must also form part of the academic program requirements
  • The intended duration of cooperative work or internships cannot be more than 50% of the total study program

On-campus work

Jobs for students without a work permit in Canada

Full-time post-secondary students can work without a work permit on their campus. Exemption from work permit is available as long as the student still holds a valid study permit and continues to study at the school. The exemption also applies to students who are working as teaching assistants or research assistants.

“On-campus work” is defined as work on a site within the boundaries of a post-secondary school campus. Students are only permitted to work on the campus of the school in which they are enrolled in full-time studies. If the school has more than one campus, the student can work in locations in any of them as long as they are within the same city. If the institution has campuses in different cities, then the student can only work on the campus in which he is registered as a full-time student.

Students can also work off-campus and still be exempt from work permit requirements if the place they work has an official connection to the school they are attending.

In order to work in Canada, all students need a Social Security number. To apply for a social insurance number for on-campus work purposes, the student must have a study permit and a work contract.

Work off campus without a work permit in Canada

Some foreign students may work off-campus without a work permit in Canada for up to 20 hours per week during a regular semester. These students may also work full-time during scheduled breaks (summer / winter holidays and the reading week.)

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This exception applies only in the following cases:

  • A student holding a valid study permit.
  • A full-time student enrolled in an accredited educational institution. Note: A part-time foreign student is still allowed to work off-campus if it is in the last semester and the course curriculum required to complete the study program during the last semester was a part-time curriculum.
  • If the program in which the student enrols is an academic or vocational training program after high school, or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Quebec.
  • If the duration of the study program is at least 6 months or more and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
  • If the student continues to fulfill the terms and conditions of the study permit.
  • If the student does not work more than 20 hours per week during a regular semester.

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International students are not eligible for this exception if they are:

  • Visiting or exchange students.
  • Enrolled in the public interest program.
  • Enrolled in English or French as a Second Language (ESL / FSL) program.

Students enrolled as full-time students during the summer semesters (May to August) can only work up to 20 hours per week during that period. Some intensive programs may not have scheduled breaks. Hence, students participating in these programs can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the entire study program. There are no legal restrictions preventing students from working on-campus as well as working a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus.

If employees of an accredited educational institution start a strike during a semester, foreign students at that educational institution who were working off-campus must continue to work a maximum of 20 hours per week and may not be working full-time.

International students can continue to work off-campus after graduation as long as they keep holding their study permit and apply for a postgraduate work permit within 90 days after completing their study program. If a work permit is refused after graduation, international students must stop working immediately.

Live and work in Canada

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