Canada Increases Off-Campus Working Hours for International Students in 2026
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Canada has announced new norms for international students who work while studying, as IRCC has revised the definition of off-campus work, now allowing international students to work up to 24 hours per week, compared to the previous limit of 20 hours.
Canada has announced a new relief measure for international students who work while studying. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised the definition of off-campus work, now allowing international students to work up to 24 hours per week compared to the previous limit of 20 hours per week.
- Off-campus work in Canada refers to employment undertaken outside the premises of the Educational Institution or university where the student is enrolled. Post November 8, 2024, eligible study permit holders could work off campus for up to 24 hours per week during regular academy sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks, without needing a separate work permit
- On-campus work in Canada, on the other hand, refers to employment within the facilities of the students鈥� educational institution. The holders of valid post-secondary study permits are eligible to work on campus, as long as they maintain their full-time student status.
- Students with an Open Work Permit can also work for an employer in Canada, although certain conditions regarding job type or location might still apply, however, international students cannot work off campus without a work permit if they study permit explicitly restricts them from doing so, or if they are enrolled solely in an English or French as a second language (ESL or FSL) program.
- Full-time students enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) can work on campus without a work permit for the duration of their study permit, provided that they remain full-time students throughout. While they can work full-time during academic breaks, they are strictly limited to 24 hours per week during active study periods.
- Meanwhile, Canada is strengthening its stance on International student admissions, particularly from India. According to CBC News, the federal government is planning to reject or cancel certain visa applications due to rising fraud concerns.
- Additionally, under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the country aims to reduce new international student arrivals to 155,000, which is a significant 49% decrease compared to last year's intake target.
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While Canada continues to support international students through flexible work visa policies, the government's strict visa and intake measures signal a changing landscape for studying abroad aspirants.
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