Canada Doubles International Student Work Hours: Boosts Limit to 40 Hours Weekly

Infostride News has reported that Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have recently extended a policy that allows certain international students to work beyond the standard 20-hour-per-week limit for off-campus employment. This extension, initially implemented in 2022 to address labor shortages, permits full-time (40 hours per week) off-campus employment and was set to expire on December 31, 2022. However, a recent announcement has extended the policy until April 30, 2024.

Prior to this policy change in late 2022, IRCC had restricted international students to a maximum of 20 hours per week for off-campus work during the school year. Nevertheless, during scheduled academic breaks, they were allowed to work full-time. As of December 7, 2023, international students already in Canada or those with submitted study permit applications will continue to benefit from the extended off-campus work hours.

Infostride News reports that Minister Miller provided an update on temporary policies affecting international students that were set to expire at the end of 2023. According to the report, the waiver on the 20-hour-per-week limit on the number of hours international students are allowed to work off-campus while class is in session will be extended to April 30, 2024. This extension applies to international students already in Canada and applicants who have applied for a study permit as of December 7, 2023. They will be able to work off-campus for more than 20 hours per week until the specified date.

Minister Miller is quoted as saying, “We continue to examine options for this policy in the future, such as expanding off-campus work hours for international students to 30 hours per week while class is in session.” While the policy is not permanent, it provides temporary relief for financial burdens faced by many international students across Canada. The decision to allow increased work hours has been acknowledged by an Ecuadorian international student who emphasized that it eases financial concerns.

To be eligible for extended work hours, international students must attend in-person classes at a Canadian post-secondary institution, have off-campus work authorization on their study permit, and, for those who applied by October 7, 2022, benefit from the removal of the previous restriction.

Infostride News notes that IRCC has expressed a commitment to exploring future policy options, including the potential expansion of off-campus work hours to 30 per week during class sessions. This suggests an ongoing effort to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by international students studying in Canada.