Canada announced relief for international students who work while studying. The definition of off-campus work has been updated to allow international students to work up to 24 hours per week, an increase from the previous limit of 20 hours.
Off-campus work refers to employment undertaken by a study permit holder that occurs outside the campus of their registered educational institution. As of November 8, 2024, students can work off campus for up to 24 hours per week without needing a work permit.
Canada working rules for foreign students state that certain students can perform this type of work for up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during regularly scheduled breaks between academic sessions without a work permit.
On-campus work refers to employment undertaken at the facilities of an educational institution where a student is registered. The holders of post-secondary study permits are permitted to work on the campus of their university or college as long as they are full-time students.
An open work permit allows the holder to work for any employer for a designated period, though it may impose restrictions on occupation or location.
You cannot work off campus without a work permit if your study permit says you are not authorized to work off campus while you study and if you’re only enrolled in an English or French as a second language program.
A foreign national may work in Canada without a work permit if they are a full-time student, on the campus of the university or college at which they are a full-time student, for the period for which they hold a study permit to study at that university or college if they are the holder of a study permit and they are a full-time student enrolled at a designated learning institution.
Although they are permitted to engage in full-time work during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions, they are not allowed to work more than 24 hours per week during a regular academic session.
For Indian students, Canada is looking to implement tougher norms. Canada plans to reject visa applications from India, according to CBC News. The federal government seeks the authority to cancel specific visa applications, motivated by concerns over fraud from India and Bangladesh.
Going forward, Canada is also planning to reduce the intake of foreign students. Canada’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan aims for only 155,000 new student arrivals in 2026-2028, which is 49% fewer than last year’s target.