International students in Canada can work 24 hours a week off-campus

International students in Canada can now work up to 24 hours per week off-campus while their classes are in session.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Marc Miller confirmed that the new regulations have taken effect as of November 15.

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Prior to this change, the limit was 20 hours per week.

In April 2024, Miller announced that the number of off-campus work hours for international students would be increasing to 24 hours in the fall, but did not say what date the change would take effect.

Uncapped hours for foreign nationals on study permits

This cap and the prior cap only apply to hours that students work off-campus while their classes are in session.

Students could, and still can, work any number of hours

• On campus; and
• Off-campus during breaks between academic terms, when classes are not in session.

Rationale for the change

According to Miller, this 24-hour cap struck “the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without compromising academic outcomes.”

New requirement for study permit prior to changing schools.

Also in today’s announcement, international students can no longer change schools without applying for a new study permit.

Students must apply for, and must in some cases be approved for, a new study permit prior to changing designated learning institutes (DLIs). 

Prior to the change, students could change schools on the same study permit so long as they updated their IRCC online account with the new information.

As per IRCC, these changes are in line with the department’s work to “strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program.”

Changes to international students’ working hours cap in recent years

International students in Canada have traditionally been allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in Canada during regular school terms or semesters.

However, during the pandemic, the government announced a temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week, up to a maximum of 40 hours.

This policy was put in place to ease the country’s labour shortage while also giving students the chance to earn more money.

This temporary policy came to an end on April 30, 2024.

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