Canada Imposes 24-Hour Weekly Cap on Off-Campus Work for International Students
As of September, a fresh regulation will restrict international students, including those from India, studying in Canada, to a maximum of 24 hours of off-campus work per week. This rule was implemented as of Tuesday. Canada stands out as a top destination for Indian students, underscored by a 2022 report from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). The report reveals a significant cohort of 3,19,130 Indian students in Canada, with Indians comprising the majority among international students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, stated in a Monday press release that the temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will expire on April 30, 2024, and will not be extended. As the Canadian government tightens regulations due to a surge in international student enrollments across the country, the number of hours students may work off campus per week will be reduced to 24 hours this fall.
According to a news release, “Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary.” Recent studies carried out in both the US and Canada indicate a significant decrease in academic performance among students who work more than 28 hours per week. Moreover, there is an elevated risk of students dropping out of their programs when they work over 24 hours per week.
Eligibility for Off-Campus Work in Canada
Before beginning off-campus work in Canada, both you and your employer must ensure that you are eligible to work without a work permit. Failure to meet these requirements could result in having to leave the country. You are only permitted to commence working in Canada once your study program has commenced; working before starting your studies is not permitted. If you are authorized to work during your studies, it will be specified in the conditions outlined on your study permit. If you meet the criteria for off-campus work eligibility, a work permit is not required.
Restrictions on Off-Campus Work in Canada
Indian students in Canada can’t work off campus without a work permit in any of the following situations:
– Your study permit says you aren’t authorised to work off campus while you study.
– You are only registered in an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program.
– You are only taking general interest courses.
– You are only pursuing courses required to be accepted into a full-time program.
– Your situation changes and you no longer meet all of the requirements to work off campus.
