Last Updated On 3 March 2024, 10:29 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Recently, the Immigration Minister of Canada announced and introduced multiple measures to improve the international student program at the beginning of 2024.
From increasing the cost of living effective January 1, 2024, to the requirement of a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from a province or territory, the changes are for the benefit of upcoming cohorts of international students.
However, those who intend to enter Canada as international students have voiced their disapproval of recent changes to the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and spousal open work permit (SOWP).
These new changes are debatable and we respect all the opinions. During this announcement, there was another key takeaway; a ray of hope for international students in Canada.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller also announced that they are extending the full-time work policy for eligible students until the end of April 2024.
This is primarily because students currently eligible for full-time work are depending on working more than 20 hours a week to cover their expenses.
The press release also states that IRCC is looking for alternatives and considering increasing weekly working hours for international students by up to 30 hours.
So Who Can Work Full-Time Until April 2024?
Former immigration minister Sean Fraser introduced a temporary policy allowing international students to study in session while meeting certain criteria to work more than 20 hours per week.
He did not put any cap on the number of hours, meaning international students were allowed to work unlimited hours as long as they maintained their study program requirements.
But he set a criteria and not all the international students were eligible to work full-time.
Only study permit applicants meeting the below criteria were eligible and are eligible until April 30, 2024:
If study permit application (or extension) was received by IRCC by October 7, 2022,
If any of the following apply to you, you may work off campus for more than 20 hours per week between November 15, 2022, and April 30, 2024:
- You are a full-time student at a DLI with a study permit (or part-time if it’s your last semester of study).
- Despite the expiration of your study permit, you have kept your status and are enrolled full-time (or part-time if it’s your last semester) in classes at a DLI.
Furthermore, you also need to fulfill all of the following requirements:
If study permit application (or extension) was received by IRCC between October 8, 2022, and December 7, 2023
If any of the following apply to you, you may work off campus for more than 20 hours per week between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2024:
- You are a full-time student at a DLI with a study permit (or part-time if it’s your last semester of study).
- Despite the expiration of your study permit, you have kept your status and are enrolled full-time (or part-time if it’s your last semester) in classes at a DLI.
- Although your study permission has been granted, you have not yet entered Canada.
Any individual who has submitted a study permit application or extension to IRCC after December 7, 2023, is ineligible to work more than 20 hours.
Will Canada increase the weekly working hours for international students to 30 hours?
The new reforms by Immigration Minister Marc Miller for international students are like medicine—somewhat bitter, but will help everyone, including international students themselves.
Canada has set a cap on the number of international students annually, reducing the number of temporary residents by limiting eligibility for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) and spousal open work permits (SOWPs).
So it seems increasing the working hours for international students from 20 to 30 hours will actually help in overall compensating for the reduction in the number of SOWPs and PGWPs to some extent.
Additionally, as the immigration minister stated, it will “set up international students for success.”
With the reduction of international students, PGWP, and SOWP holders and increasing the work hours from 20 to 30 hours, will at least be able to cover up the void to some extent created by the lesser number of foreign students entering Canada due to new reforms.
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