Canada revised its 20-hours-a-week off-campus work policy to allow students having study permits with work authorization to work for over 20 hours.
The new policy will be in force till December 31, 2023, and will benefit students and Canadian employers struggling with the historic labor shortages.
Benefits of the new work policy to the students
Most students land in financial difficulties after reaching Canada because of the rising inflation, post-pandemic impact on the economy, and a drop in the value of global currencies against the Canadian dollar.
The new policy is a welcome development for students facing financial woes while paying for their tuition fees, food, accommodation, and other expenses. They can comfortably meet their financial obligations and achieve financial security by working part-time during the study program and full-time during vacations.
Students can enjoy the freedom of choosing an employer who offers a job matching their individual skills. Removing the cap of 20 hours per week of off-campus work enables immigrant students to get Canadian work experience, which will boost their employability to secure a promising job in the future.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is speeding up extensions and approvals of study permits by automating the process. Students aspiring to work off-campus or on-campus need to qualify for the following:
- Studying at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) for a course leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Possessing a study permit with work authorization
- Having a Social Insurance Number to qualify for multiple government benefits and programs besides employment.
Students meeting the above criteria can take up jobs like Customer Service Associates, cook, sales rep, dog walker, Uber driver, private tutor, clerk, or bartender to boost their earnings during the course program. They can earn a minimum of CAD 10 per hour for part-time work and double their earnings by working full-time during long vacations.
