Working in Canada
On-Campus Work
Full-time students registered in a degree or diploma-granting course are allowed to work on the campus of the institution at which they are registered without the need for an employment authorisation.
An international student who is going to school full-time can work up to 20 hours on campus. This means that if there is a job opening at the school’s bookstore or in the cafeteria or somewhere on the school’s property, you may apply for work for that job. There is a lot of competition for these kinds of jobs, so this is not something you should count on when you arrive in Canada to study. The Canadian government lists those schools where students can work as “a university, community college, CEGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.” You must also have a valid Study Permit.
Off-Campus Work
The Off-Campus Work Permit Program allows foreign students at some publicly-funded post-secondary educational institutions in Canada to work off campus while completing their studies.
Post-Graduation Work
The post-graduation work program allows some graduating students to gain Canadian work experience in their field of study. Since May 16, 2005, this program has allowed certain students to work for up to two years after their graduation.
Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Co-op and internship programs
If the program that you are admitted to has a work requirement or co-op program, meaning that you are required or have the option to work at a job related to your program as part of the curriculum, you may be allowed to do this. There are conditions to this; for example, the program must be certified or approved to allow students to work.
For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. Foreign students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.
To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must have a valid study permit.
- Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
- Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
- Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50 percent of the total program of study.
Did you know that international students are valuable to the Canadian workplace?
As such, Government of Canada has recently made it easier for international students to work in Canada. As you may know, international students could previously only work on-campus, but it is now possible for eligible students to work off campus as well. Furthermore, changes in the work visa ease the job search process. Qualified international students are now able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. This new program has no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. The duration of the permit has been extended to three years.
Canadian employers know that international students bring different skills and a global perspective to the workplace. International students also have much to benefit from working in Canada, which is a safe, advanced, and multicultural country. However, making the transition from your home country to a new and unfamiliar place is not always easy. Recognizing this, the University of Toronto and its School of Continuing Studies English Language Program (ELP) offer valuable programs and resources that assist international students in accessing career opportunities in Canada.
The ELP helps students develop essential communication skills required for career success in Canada. The ability to speak clearly and coherently, present ideas effectively and persuasively, and successfully interview are key aspects to many jobs; and the ELP can help students master these skills through language and cultural courses. For example, a 12-week Business English course supports aspiring professionals by teaching business communication, vocabulary and idioms, and the standards of behaviour in an English-speaking workplace. ELP students have the opportunity to explore important cultural differences that need to be bridged in order to participate successfully in today’s global economy.
Your University job center will always have a wide range of job postings, including part-time, full-time, summer, or casual jobs and run programs to prepare students for the job hunting process. They will offer a wide range of services and programs covering issues such as working in Canada, immigration, crossing cultures, and successfully adapting to Canadian society.
Spouses
If you are the wife or husband of a full-time student studying in Canada at a university, community college, CEGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees, you may be able to work in Canada. The student must hold a study permit. You should contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more details.
Working after you graduate
You may be able to work in Canada for up to a year following your graduation. In order to do this, you must have a valid Study Permit when you apply for a Work Permit, you must have studied full-time at a university, community college, CEGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees. The job must relate to the studies you took and you must apply for a Work Permit within 90 days of graduation.
Social Insurance cards and numbers – SIN
In order to be paid in Canada, you must have a Social Insurance Number or a SIN. You can apply for a SIN card through Human Resources Development Canada once you arrive in Canada. There may be some cases where you need to have already been offered a job before you can apply for a SIN card.
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