Employers have been facing unusual challenges in finding and retaining the workers they need during this period of economic recovery and growth. The Government of Canada is continuing to take concrete actions to address current industry needs.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, has announced the temporary lifting of the 20-hour-per-week cap on the number of hours that eligible post-secondary students are allowed to work off-campus while class is in session.
What International Students Need to Know?
International students with off-campus work authorization on their study permit who are in Canada from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023, will no longer be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule. Foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application, as of today, will also be able to benefit from this temporary change, provided their application is approved.
By this temporary measure, over 500,000 international students currently in Canada will allow working additional hours which will help Canada’s industry shortage, while continuing to seek their studies. Students who stop studying or reduce their course loads to only study part-time are not eligible to work off campus, as they are expected to balance study and work commitments.
During this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin automating the extension of study permits. Since all applicants in this pilot have previously been approved to study in Canada, there is a consistently high approval rate for these types of applications. As part of the pilot program, a small group of applicants will be able to get their extended study permits processed much faster to improve client service. It will be expanded if the pilot proves successful so officers can focus on more complex cases and reduce processing times. Continuing Canada’s overall efforts to improve customer service and application processing times, today’s announcement also benefits international students and graduates.
Additional information you should know
- A transition period for those studying online from abroad
- An opportunity for those with expired or expiring post-graduation work permits to get an additional 18-month open work permit.
Source: The Government of Canada’s official website
Disclaimer: The information is obtained directly from the Government of Canada website. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing(Oct 7, 2022), but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please check their official website and digital channels.
