Navigating Academics and Employment: A Handbook for Overseas Scholars in Canada
In Canada, there are distinct rules and requirements that international students must meet to work on campus or off campus. Here's a simplified guide to help you navigate these regulations.
Firstly, it's important to note that students must wait until their courses have started before beginning any on-campus or off-campus employment. Once enrolled and the courses have commenced, students can work unlimited hours on campus and up to 24 hours per week off campus, provided they meet the necessary conditions.
One of the key conditions is full-time enrollment at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), having begun their studies, and their program being at least six months in length and leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. In most cases, foreign nationals studying in Canada may work on and off-campus without a work permit.
However, there are exceptions. International students cannot work off-campus if they fall into any of the five exclusion scenarios: if the study permit explicitly states that off-campus work is not permitted, being enrolled solely in an English or French (ESL/FSL) as a second language program, only taking general interest courses, only taking courses necessary for admission into a full-time program, or if the student no longer meets all the criteria to work off campus. In these cases, students need to apply for a work permit to work off campus.
If scheduled academic breaks extend beyond 150 consecutive days due to back-to-back breaks, students may only engage in off-campus work during the first 150 consecutive days. During scheduled breaks, international students can work unlimited hours. However, the maximum number of days for off-campus unlimited work in a calendar year is 180.
It's also worth noting that during authorized leave, such as the school permanently closing or going on strike, changing schools, deferred program start dates, and certain health or emergency situations authorized by the school, students cannot work on or off campus. Scenarios that count as authorized leave include the school permanently closing or going on strike, changing schools, deferred program start dates, and certain health or emergency situations authorized by the school.
When it comes to working off-campus without a work permit, it's the student's and employer's responsibility to verify that the student meets the requirements before starting employment. Students do not need to inform IRCC that they are taking an authorized leave.
For a co-op placement or internship that is built into an academic program and is required for graduation, and accounts for 50% or less of the study program's length, students must apply for a co-op work permit.
Lastly, to work in Canada, a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required. Work authorization must be granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and will be indicated in the conditions of the study permit. Breaking the conditions of the study permit can lead to losing student status, denial of future work or study permits, and removal from Canada.
The following table provides a high-level overview of the conditions and number of hours students are permitted to work on and off campus:
| Type of Work | On-Campus | Off-Campus | |--------------|-----------|------------| | Normal Conditions | Unlimited | 24 hours/week | | Scheduled Breaks | Unlimited | Unlimited (up to 180 days in a calendar year) | | Co-op Placements/Internships | Unlimited (if not required for graduation) | Unlimited (if not required for graduation and accounts for less than 50% of the study program's length) | | Off-Campus Work Permit Required | N/A | Yes (in certain scenarios) |
Working more than one job to reach the 24-hour-per-week off-campus work limit is permitted, as long as the student remains in compliance with the terms of their study permit.
International students can work remotely from within Canada for an employer outside Canada, as long as the employer has no physical presence in Canada, does not carry out any business operations in Canada, and maintains no financial connections to Canada.
Lastly, it's important to note that self-employment is typically not allowed unless specifically authorized by immigration regulations, which vary and usually require a business or self-employment visa, not covered by a standard student permit. Specific conditions include having legal permission before starting the activity and compliance with Canadian immigration laws. The study permit alone usually does not authorize self-employed work without a proper work or business visa.
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