Canada extends Indian and other international students' workweek to 24 hours

With effect from November 8, 2024, Canada increased the weekly restriction for international students' off-campus work from 20 to 24 hours. Students currently enrolled in the country will benefit from this reform, which would enable them to work more while still pursuing their education. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, stated, “The new cap strikes a balance between allowing students to gain work experience and ensuring they can concentrate on their studies."

Who is eligible for off-campus work?

Off-campus employment will not be feasible for all international students. Students must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be eligible without requiring a separate work permit:

Full-time enrolment at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): This covers professional, vocational, and post-secondary educational programs.
Type of study program: Off-campus employment is only permitted for students participating in programs that last at least six months and result in a degree, diploma, or certificate. In Quebec, secondary vocational training is also included in this.
Valid study permit: The study permit must allow for off-campus work.
Social Insurance Number (SIN): Prior to beginning employment, students must apply for a SIN.

Students are not allowed to work off campus if they don't match these requirements.

How many hours are considered full-time work?

There is no fixed amount of hours per week that constitutes "full-time" employment, according to the Canadian immigration website. However, when there are no planned pauses in their curriculum, students are able to work up to 24 hours a week. Their future employment or study permit applications may be in jeopardy if they surpass this limit, which would be against the rules of the study permission.

Who cannot work off-campus?

Students in the following groups are prohibited from working off campus without a separate work permit:

Students who are specifically prohibited from working off-campus by their study permit.
Students enrolled in programs that teach English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL).
Students who have taken only general interest courses. .
Students enrolled in classes required for a full-time program admission.
Students who no longer meet the eligibility standards due to changes in their academic conditions.

Depending on whether they enroll in a program that permits off-campus work, students may be able to modify the terms of their study permit if their circumstances change.

Changes following the Covid-19 pandemic

International students were permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during the school year prior to the pandemic. A temporary policy that permitted students to surpass this restriction during the Covid-19 outbreak expired on April 30, 2024.

Recent immigration changes in Canada

Canada has been altering its immigration laws in a number of ways. The nation has also implemented changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program and even terminated the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program in addition to this new work cap for overseas students. These modifications are a reflection of Canada's continuous attempts to control the number of international students and match immigration laws with the demands of the labor market.

Inflation: Another challenge for students

Indian students in Canada must contend with growing inflation in addition to the job cap. According to government figures, Canada's inflation rate decreased from its four-decade high of 8.1% in June 2022 to 2% as of October 2024. Living expenses are still high despite the decline, especially when it comes to rent and food. Food costs rose 2.8% year over year in October 2024, with fresh vegetables seeing a 2.2% increase. Students already dealing with restricted expenses are further burdened by this. Housing costs: In July 2024, rent and housing expenses increased 4.9% year over year, with large cities like Toronto and Vancouver feeling the brunt of this increase. Fuel and energy: Students are unsure of how to handle their spending due to the volatility of energy prices. The public is also putting pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration because of the growing expense of living. Both Canadian citizens and international students are impacted by this, as they struggle to locate reasonably priced housing and pay for their living expenses. The Canadian government responded by capping the amount of visas granted to foreign students, estimating that there will be less than 300,000 this year as opposed to over 437,000 last year.