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Off-Campus Work Permit Program

On April 27, 2006, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced that foreign students in Canada can work off campus if they meet certain eligibility requirements. CIC is now accepting applications for work permits under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.

1. Are all foreign students in Canada eligible for the program?
2. Are there any students who are not eligible?
3. How do I apply?
4. How do I find out if the institution where I study is participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?
5. If I receive a work permit, how long is it valid for?
6. Is there a fee to apply for the work permit?
7. Once I apply for the work permit, how long will it take to process my application?
8. If I meet the eligibility criteria, and the institution where I study is participating in the program, can I apply for a job off campus right away, or do I have to wait until I receive my work permit?
9. Are there any restrictions on where I can work or the type of job that I can apply for?
10. Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work once I receive my work permit?
11. Why is this program not available to foreign students when they start their studies?
12. I am considering studying in Canada. Can I apply for a work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit?

Q1: Are all foreign students in Canada eligible for the program?

A: If you are a foreign student studying in Canada, you must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for a work permit under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program:

• you must have a valid study permit;
• you must have studied full time at an eligible institution for at least six months out of the 12 months before you apply;
• you must maintain satisfactory academic standing (as defined by your academic institution);
• you must be enrolled in an academic program of study; and
• you must comply with the conditions of your study permit and your work permit, if applicable. If you fail to do so, you will be found to be in non-compliance and will not be able to re-apply for the program.

Q2: Are there any students who are not eligible?

A : a) Foreign students who are not studying at publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions are not eligible.

Publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions are:

• public post-secondary institutions that have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial government;
  or
• private post-secondary institutions that operate under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, receive at least 50% of their financing for their overall operations from government grants, and have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial government. Currently, établissements privés subventionnés d'enseignement collégial (private subsidized college institutions) in Quebec qualify.

b) If you are not enrolled at a participating institution you are not eligible.

c) All exchange students, guest students, students enrolled in English or French second language programs, and students who have received awards from the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, the Government of Canada Awards Program or the Canadian International Development Agency, or students who in the past did not comply with the conditions of their study or work permit, are not eligible for work permits under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.

Q3: How do I apply?

A: You can find everything you need to apply on the CIC Web site. You can download the application form and guide for work permits, as well as the other forms that must be submitted with your application (www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/work-students.html).

Q4: How do I find out if the institution where I study is participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?

A: Contact the institution where you are studying and ask if it has signed an agreement for the purpose of this program with the province or territory in which it is located. You can also visit the CIC Web site to see if your institution is participating (www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/guide-list.html) or contact the department responsible for education in your province or territory for more information.

Q5: If I receive a work permit, how long is it valid for?

A: Your work permit will allow you to work off campus until you complete your studies, as long as you remain in satisfactory academic standing and comply with the conditions of your work permit and your study permit.

Q6: Is there a fee to apply for the work permit?

A: Yes. The fee is $150.

Q7: Once I apply for the work permit, how long will it take to process my application?

A: Generally, it will take from one month to six weeks. Please visit our Web site to see the current processing times for work permits at www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/times/process-in.html#temp_res. However, your individual circumstances may affect the processing time. They include:

• whether you are eligible for the program;
• whether your application is complete; and
• whether the institution you attend has signed an agreement with the province or territory in which it is located.

Q8: If I meet the eligibility criteria, and the institution where I study is participating in the program, can I apply for a job off campus right away, or do I have to wait until I receive my work permit?

A: You can apply for a job right away, but you cannot legally work off campus in Canada until you receive a work permit. If you begin to work off campus before you receive a work permit, you could lose your eligibility to participate in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.

Q9: Are there any restrictions on where I can work or the type of job that I can apply for?

A: You will be able to work anywhere in Canada as long as you remain a full-time student in satisfactory academic standing while classes are in session and you comply with the conditions of your work permit.

In some cases, there may be restrictions on the type of job you can hold. For example, you may be required to undergo a medical examination for some occupations. If you have questions, contact the CIC Call Centre for more information at
1-888-242-2100.

Q10: Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work once I receive my work permit?

A: Once you receive your work permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week off campus while classes are in session. You can work full time during scheduled breaks, including summer or winter holidays and reading weeks.

While classes are in session, you must be studying full time and retain satisfactory academic standing in order to keep your work permit.

Q11: Why is this program not available to foreign students when they start their studies?

A: The likelihood of a student quitting his or her program is increased during the first months. CIC wants to ensure that work permits are issued to students who are legitimate students. When they apply, these students will be required to prove that they have been studying full time for six of the last 12 months at a participating institution.

Q12: I am considering studying in Canada. Can I apply for a work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit?