New Work Limits for International Students: What APX Careers Wants You to Know
Starting in September, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced that international students will be allowed to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week. This change comes as the federal government seeks to better align Canada’s policies with those of other countries and address a surge in international student enrollments.
The temporary waiver of the 20-hour cap on work hours for international students, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease labor shortages, is set to expire. “Looking at best practices and policies in other like-minded countries, most of them 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 studying,” said Miller.
Read this: Canada to introduce new rules around off-campus work hours for international students
The new 24-hour work limit is considered a balanced approach to ensure that the primary purpose of international students’ stay in Canada remains education, not employment. Miller emphasized, “To be clear, the purpose of the international students program is to study and not to work.”
Critics have argued that allowing international students to work full-time could essentially transform a study permit into an unofficial work visa, thus undermining its original purpose. The cap at 24 hours is deemed “reasonable,” permitting students to work three full eight-hour shifts without detracting significantly from their academic responsibilities. Internal research by Miller’s department indicates that over 80% of international students are currently working more than 20 hours a week, highlighting the need for a regulated balance.
While the new work limit is being introduced, international students will return to the previous 20-hour limit until September, when the permanent 24-hour cap will take effect. Importantly, there are no restrictions on the number of hours international students can work during periods when they are not actively enrolled in classes, such as the summer months.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Press revealed that officials had warned the government that the temporary waiver could distract students from their studies and undermine the goals of the temporary foreign worker programs. Initially, there was consideration of setting the cap at 30 hours per week, but studies indicated that working near full-time hours could significantly impact students’ academic performance.
For international students considering their career paths, APX Careers Ltd is here to help navigate these changes. APX Careers works closely with Canadian institutions to place co-op students in practical roles, assist in job preparation, and support employers in hiring and hosting international students. With these new work hour regulations, APX Careers remains committed to ensuring that international students can balance their work commitments while excelling in their studies.