Study Abroad, Work Abroad!
Can an international student work in Canada while studying? You may be eligible to work in Canada while studying, if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus. You must also meet all the other requirements. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.
Work on or off campus:
As a study permit holder, you may be able to work on or off campus without getting a work permit. Make sure you meet the requirements before you find a job.
- Eligibility:
- You have a valid study permit.
- You are required to work in order to complete your study program in Canada.
- You have a letter from your school that confirms all students in your program need to complete work placements to get their degree.
- Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.
How to apply:
How you apply for a co-op work permit depends on if you already applied for your study permit or not. Answer a few questions to get your instructions.
Work as a co-op student or intern:
You will need to get a work permit if your study program includes a required co-op or internship placement.
- Eligibility:
- You have a valid study permit.
- You are required to work in order to complete your study program in Canada.
- You have a letter from your school that confirms all students in your program need to complete work placements to get their degree.
- Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.
How to apply:
How you apply for a co-op work permit depends on if you already applied for your study permit or not. Answer a few questions to get your instructions.
Work after you graduate:
You may also be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to continue working in Canada after you graduate.
Starting September 1, 2023, eligibility criteria will change for certain programs at some designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Quebec.
You can apply for a PGWP if:
- Your study permit has been valid within the last 180 days
- You have a valid visitor record
- You submitted an application to extend your study permit before it expired and no decision has been made on your application
- You submitted an application to change your status to visitor before your study permit expired and no decision has been made on your application
You must also have:
- Completed a study program
- Maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program
- Graduated from one of the following:
- A public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
- A private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
- A private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
- An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
- A Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
You can apply for a PGWP from outside Canada as long as you’re eligible and you’ve been approved for a study permit. You don’t have to have held a valid study permit at any point during your online studies from outside Canada.
You can apply for a PGWP if you:
- Were enrolled in a program that was in progress in March 2020 or
- Started or will start a program between spring 2020 and summer 2022 and
- You have a study permit or
- You’ve been approved for a study permit or
- You applied for a study permit before starting your study program
- Your study permit must eventually be approved.
And you:
- Completed a study program
- Maintained full-time status as a student during each semester of your study program
- Graduated from one of the following:
- A public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
- A private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
- A private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
- An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
- A Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
Description:
If you’re pursuing your dreams in the Great White North, we’ve got fantastic news for you! As an international student studying in Canada, you have the exciting opportunity to work part-time during your academic journey.