New Rule: Canada increases working hours for international students
Students will be allowed to work 24 hours per week from September this year
Canada: Starting in September, international students in Canada can work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week, down from the current 20-hour cap.
Minister of Immigration Marc Miller announced a new work limit for international students in Canada. Miller said the new limit is "reasonable" and would enable students to work three eight-hour weekly shifts.
The Canadian government has previously capped international students' work hours, allowing them to work full-time to make ends meet. However, that waiver is set to expire soon, and the government has announced new rules for international students who want to work off-campus.
How does the rule work?
Starting in September, international students can work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week. This is a reduction from the current limit of 40 hours per week, but it is still a significant increase over the pre-pandemic limit of 20 hours per week. The move aims to balance international students' needs and the concerns of critics who worry that allowing students to work full-time could turn a study permit into an unofficial work visa.
There are no limits on the number of hours international students can work when they're not actively enrolled in class, such as during the summer.
When we lifted the 20 hrs/week work rule for international students, we did so to support the post-pandemic recovery. Today, I announced that this measure will no longer be extended and, this fall, off-campus student work hours will be limited to 24 hrs/week.
— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) April 29, 2024
What rationalises the new rule?
Immigration Minister Marc Miller explained the rationale behind the new rules: "Looking at best practices and policies in other like-minded countries, most limit the number of working hours for international students. Canada's rules need to be aligned, or we will find our programs attracting more and more applicants whose primary intent is to work and not study. To be clear, the purpose of the international student program is to study and not to work."
The new rules come as the federal government clamps down on a nationwide surge in international student enrolments. Critics have warned that allowing international students to work full-time could undermine the program's purpose. However, the government also hears from international students who say they must work more to pay for their studies. Miller said that the new cap of 24 hours seems "reasonable" and would allow students to work three eight-hour shifts a week.
What is the opinion of Int students?
Many international students have welcomed the move, saying it will help them pay for their studies while still allowing them to focus on them. "I'm pleased to hear about the new rules," said Maria, an international student from Colombia. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to work at all when the waiver expired. But now I can work part-time and still have time to study."
The new rules are a welcome development for international students struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. The Canadian government has shown that it is committed to supporting international students while ensuring that the program remains focused on its primary goal - allowing students to study and learn in Canada.