International Students Back To 20 Hours/Week Of Off-Campus Work

Bottom Line

The temporary policy allowing international students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus has expired effective April 30, 2024. International students can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks – like the upcoming summer holidays. However, any international student who is also studying can now, once again, work a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus.

The Temporary Public Policy to Lift the Limitation that Eligible Study Permit Holders Can Work Without a Work Permit no More than 20 hours per Week Off-Campus During Regular Academic Sessions (the "Temporary Policy") was implemented on November 15, 2022, in response to the economic and labour challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally slated to expire on December 31, 2023, the Government of Canada chose to continue the Temporary Policy until April 30, 2024.

On April 29, 2024, the Government of Canada published a news release confirming that Temporary Policy would not extend past April 30, 2024. This means that international students without work permits will once again be restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours a week off campus during the academic school year.

As part of its plans to reform the International Student Program, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller has announced that starting this fall, the Government of Canada intends to increase the work limit to 24 hours per week. However, until then, the limit remains at 20 hours. Notably, international students can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays.

Takeaway

Since the Temporary Policy has been rescinded effective April 30, 2024, employers must be sure that no international students are being scheduled to work more than 20 hours as of this week.

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