International students in Canada are now permitted to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus while classes are in session.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), confirmed that the new regulations came into effect on November 15.
Before this change, the work limit for international students was set at 20 hours per week.
In April 2024, Minister Marc Miller announced that the off-campus work hour limit for international students would increase to 24 hours in the fall, although he did not specify the exact date for the change.
Uncapped Hours for International Students During Breaks
The 24-hour weekly limit applies only to off-campus work while classes are in session. Students can still work an unlimited number of hours:
- On-campus at any time, and
- Off-campus during academic breaks, when classes are not in session.
Reason Behind the Change
Minister Miller stated that the new 24-hour cap strikes “the appropriate balance” by allowing students the opportunity to work without negatively impacting their academic performance.
New Requirement for Changing Schools
Additionally, the government has introduced a new requirement for international students wishing to change schools. Effective immediately, students must apply for a new study permit before transferring to a different designated learning institution (DLI). In the past, students were allowed to change schools on the same permit as long as they updated their information in the IRCC online account.
According to IRCC, this new policy is part of broader efforts to “strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program.”
Changes to Work Hour Caps in Recent Years
International students have traditionally been allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic terms. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government introduced a temporary policy permitting students to work more than 20 hours per week, up to a maximum of 40 hours, to help address labor shortages and provide students with more earning opportunities.
This temporary policy ended on April 30, 2024.
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