Jobs in Canada: See How to Work in Canada with Student Visa

Studying in Canada is expensive with tuition fees of more than $20,000 per year, making it difficult for an average international student to survive without recourse to part-time jobs to bring some extra cash.

One of the main benefits of studying in Canada is the govt's permission to work while studying, but there are certain things that you should be aware of.

How many hours are you permitted to work, are you allowed to work and what type of type, will be discussed in this guide.

WORK ON-CAMPUS
International students with a valid study permit and social insurance number, who are studying full time in Canada can work without work permit unrestricted on-campus provided the international student is studying in any of the following

• A post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP (publicly funded pre-university college) in Quebec,
• A private college-level school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools, and is at least 50 per cent funded by government grants
• Or, a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law

WORK OFF-CAMPUS
International students studying in Canada with a valid study permit can work 20 hours per week without a work permit. To be able to work off-campus, the international student must satisfy the following criteria.

• Have a valid study permit
• Are a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• Have started studying
• Are in a program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate and is at least six months long
• And, have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Note: If you are a final semester student and you do not need full full-tuition to finish your study, you still qualify to work off-campus.

WORK AS A CO-OP STUDENT OR INTERN
Co-op students are mandated to acquire valuable work experience as part of their course. You can work as an intern if you meet the following criteria.

• You have a valid study permit
• Working is a crucial part of your study program in Canada
• You have a letter from your school that confirms all students on your course need to complete work placements as part of their degree
• And, your co-op or internship is 50 percent or less of the total program of study.

LIFE AFTER SCHOOL IN CANADA
Canadian companies have a preference for degrees obtained within Canada, as this is a very high level of graduate employability. Upon graduation, international students can either stay and work as a temporary worker in Canada or could become a permanent resident through many of the sources of PR immigration.

You can apply for a post-graduate work visa if you

• are 18-years-old or older
• have continuously studied full-time in Canada
• have a document from your school (transcript, official letter, certificate, etc.) that confirms you completed and passed all your program requirements
• apply for a work permit within 90 days of when it was confirmed that you completed your program and
• have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit.
• If you don’t qualify for the above criteria, it’s worth looking if you are eligible for another type of work visa.