Can I work in Canada as an international student?
An international student in Canada may be eligible to work in Canada while studying as long as his/her study permit includes conditions that state he/she can work on or off campus. Students can only start working after starting their studies and all must meet other eligibility requirements.
Off campus work rules
If a student is eligible to work off-campus, they may work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic terms and full-time during scheduled academic breaks, such as winter, spring, and summer breaks.
To be eligible to work off campus, an international student must:
Have a valid study permit
Be studying full-time at a designated educational institution
have started studying and remain in satisfactory academic status according to the evaluation of their educational institution
Be studying in an academic or professional training program that lasts at least six months and leads to a certificate, diploma or degree.
have a social insurance code (SIN).
If a student’s status changes during the time of employment and they no longer meet any of the above eligibility requirements, they must cease off-campus employment.
Students who are not eligible for off-campus work include:
Students enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) program
Students who have participated in a course or program for non-academic purposes (such as workshops)
Be an exchange student in a designated educational institution
Students taking courses required for admission to a full-time program
Students who take a leave of absence from their studies
Students who have transferred from one university to another and are not currently studying
Work rules on campus
A student can work on campus as long as he/she meets the following eligibility criteria:
Have a valid study permit
Have a social insurance code
Enrolled as a full-time student in a public or private higher education institution.
Work on campus means working for an employer on the campus of the educational institution where the student is enrolled.
Recruitment can:
be for the university itself,
for a faculty member,
be for a student organization,
be for a private business on campus,
for a private contractor providing services to the university, or
Work as self-employed in the university campus.
In addition, if a student works as a teaching or research assistant, or if the work is directly related to a research fellowship, the student may work in a university-affiliated library, hospital, or research center, even if the employment location is not on campus.
Students who are not eligible to work on campus include:
Students who discontinue full-time studies, unless they are in their final semester and meet other requirements Students whose study permit has expired
Students who have taken leave from their studies
Students who have received a transfer and are not currently studying.
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