Last Updated On 19 May 2024, 4:28 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
The full-time work hours policy by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for certain international students in Canada ended on April 30, 2024.
Multiple readers have reached out to inquire about the number of hours international students can work after April 30th and if students in Canada can work more than 40 hours or not.
In this article, we will delve into important information on working hours for international students in Canada and scenarios where students can work more than 40 hours.
International Students Working Hours After April 30th
Under the temporary public policy that IRCC introduced, only a specific cohort of international students were qualified to work full-time until April 30. Click here to see the eligibility for full-time work.
This full-time work hours policy has not been extended beyond this date, but IRCC did mention that they will increase the off-campus employment hours for students to 24 hours per week beginning in September 2024.
As of now, students are only allowed to work off campus for up to 20 hours per week while their class is in session, until the new 24-hour work policy is introduced.
You can work as an international student in Canada only if your study permit specifies that you can work on or off campus.
So it is important to read the conditions mentioned on your permit.
Can International Students Work More Than 40 Hours in Canada?
During scheduled breaks, like winter and summer holidays, as well as during fall or spring reading week, students can work full-time off campus.
It’s also possible to take on more hours or work two part-time jobs that add up to this full-time work.
It is important to note that students are expected to maintain their full-time student status before and after the break.
Students cannot work during the gap preceding their first semester of study.
Apart from the above-listed scenarios, students are allowed to work full-time even while their class is in session if they are employed by an employer in an on-campus work setting.
What does on-campus work include?
“On-campus” indicates that you can work in any of the buildings on your school campus.
If your school has multiple campuses, you may only be able to work on the one where you are currently enrolled.
As per IRCC, an “on-campus” employer can be
- the school,
- a faculty member,
- a student organization,
- yourself if you run a business that is physically located on-campus (for example, you own a coffee shop on campus),
- a private business, or
- a private contractor that provides on-campus services to the school.
How many hours constitute full-time work?
As per the IRCC, there is no standard amount of hours per week that constitutes ‘full-time’ work.
However, your employer(s) must comply with all provincial regulations governing overtime compensation and shift breaks.
What happens if a student works more than 20 hours off-campus while class is in session?
Working more than 20 hours per week constitutes a violation of the student’s study permit requirements.
By doing so, students risk losing their status and can be denied a study or work permit in the future.
They may also be asked to leave the country.
How many hours student can work in Canada?
20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks.
There is no set definition for “Full-time,” so students can work any number of hours during scheduled breaks.
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