As of today, international students in Canada are temporarily able to work no more than 20 hours per week during the academic year.
Last month, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that students would now be allowed to work no more than 20 hours a week between November 15, 2024 and December 31,2024. It is a one-time measure launched to help Canada’s labor shortage, particularly in positions traditionally held by students, such as food services, retail and hospitality. However, there is no restriction on the type of employment.
The new measure means the 500,000 international students already in Canada are allowed to work more hours.
Am I eligible to work in Canada?
Considering the price of tuition, combined with the cost of books, rent, food and transportation, many international students find it necessary to work part-time during their studies.
International students coming to Canada on a student visa are eligible to work without the need to obtain a work permit. Students may work off-campus during an academic semester, provided they are enrolled to return to their studies in the following semester. There is no limit to the number of hours a student can work during an academic holiday, such as during the winter holidays or the summer.
You are allowed to work while studying in Canada if you:
- hold a valid study permit;
- are studying full-time at a specified educational institution
- has commenced studies and is in satisfactory academic standing as determined by your institution;
- are studying in an academic, vocational or vocational training program that is at least six months in duration and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate; And
- have a social insurance number (SIN)
Why Canada needs International Students?
In addition to paying higher tuition than Canadian students, international students contribute to the Canadian economy through the consumption of their goods and services. Furthermore, most international students choose to live in Canada after graduation.
Canada needs immigrants to cope with a historic labor shortage and fill nearly one million job vacancies. In response to the shortage, Canada recently released the Immigration Level Plan 2024-2025, which plans to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents per year by 2025. This makes international students a valuable resource as they have been shown to integrate more quickly into Canadian labor. Market as economic immigrants because of their work and study experience and a high level of proficiency in English or French.
Over 400,000 study permits to be issued in 2024
Between January and August 2024, the IRCC issued more than 452,000 study application permits, and there remains high demand for them, as shown by recent backlog data. There are currently some 125,966 applications for study permits in inventory and 34,000 seeking study permit extensions.
Why do students want to move to Canada?
According to a recent study by the Canadian Bureau of International Education, Canada is one of the top choices for international students because of its reputation for security and stability as well as being a tolerant and inclusive country.
There is also an acceptance rate for international students in Canada. The study, released in July, cited receiving an acceptance letter from an educational institution as the easiest part for students to come to Canada.
obtaining permanent residency as an international graduate
Once you have completed your educational program, you may be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP allows you to work in any profession for up to three years, depending on the duration of your study programme. While work experience gained as a student cannot be used as part of your application for permanent residence, with the PGWP your work experience is valued. After completing one year of work in Canada under the PGWP, you may be eligible for permanent residency under the Express Entry program.
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