Frequently Asked Questions

Q.: What is a work permit?
A.: A work permit is a written authorization to work in Canada issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to an individual who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident of Canada. There are different types of work permits. Permits issued under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program are “open” permits that authorize students to perform any type of job. These permits may, however, have certain restrictions based on medical criteria. For instance, you will not be authorized to work in the health field or with young children, unless you have already passed a statutory medical examination.

Q.: How many hours is a student with a work permit under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program authorized to work?
The student is authorized to work a maximum of 20 hours a week, during regular semesters (fall, winter), and full time during the vacation periods stipulated in the academic calendar. Students enrolled part time in the summer can work more than 20 hours a week as long as they maintain satisfactory academic results.

Q.: Can students with an Off-Campus Work Permit use that permit to complete an internship required under their study program and, conversely, can a permit issued for the purposes of an internship be used for off-campus work?
A.: Work permits issued to international students are not interchangeable. Each work permit is issued according to specific criteria and contains certain restrictions. The Off-Campus Work Permit authorizes students to work a maximum of 20 hours a week. The work permit issued for an internship names the educational institution as the employer. Students must therefore apply for the work permit that corresponds to the appropriate situation and respect the requirements.

Exceptions: The Off-Campus Work Permit can be used for the purposes of a non-mandatory internship under a study program, on condition that the stipulated number of work hours is respected. The Off-Campus Work Permit can also be used to fill a position immediately following graduation, while awaiting a work permit specifically issued for that purpose.

Q.: What requirements must be fulfilled by international students interested in participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?
A.: To participate in this program, international students must:

• be enrolled full time in a participating institution
• hold a valid study permit
• have studied full-time in an eligible institution for at least six of the 12 months preceding the application
• have achieved and maintained satisfactory academic results
• sign a consent form (IMM 5582) authorizing the exchange of personal information between their institution, the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
  

Q.: Is the program open to all international students who fulfill the above-mentioned requirements?
A.: Some students cannot obtain a work permit under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program. Namely, students who:

• are participating in an exchange program
• are registered in programs or courses in French-as-a-second language or English-as-a-second language
• are participating in the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program
• are receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
• are participating in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
  

Q.: Which institutions are participating in the program?
A.: In Québec, the following post-secondary educational institutions participate in the program:

• universities
• public colleges under the jurisdiction of the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS)
• public institutions under the jurisdiction of a government department other than the MELS, such as institutes and conservatories
• private colleges deemed of public interest, accredited to receive MELS funding and subject to the College Education Regulations.

There are some institutions that are eligible but do not participate in the program. Only students attending a participating institution can apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit. List of participating institutions

Q.: What is the definition of a “full-time student”?
A.: At the undergraduate level, full-time studies corresponds to a minimum of four 3-credit courses each semester, for a total of 12 credits. At the graduate and undergraduate levels, what is understood as full-time studies can vary depending on the stage reached by the student within the study program. At the college level, full-time studies corresponds to a minimum of four courses per semester, for a total of 180 hours.

Q.: What is meant by “satisfactory” academic results?
A.: This definition is established by each educational institution and can vary according to the study program.

Q.: Is a student enrolled in a program leading to an Attestation of College Studies (AEC) eligible for a work permit?
A.: Yes, if the student’s educational institution participates in the program.

Q.: Is it the responsibility of the educational institution to find jobs for international students?
A.: Students are responsible for finding their own jobs. Their educational institutions do, however, offer resources to help them in their job search.

Q.: What is the procedure for obtaining an Off-Campus Work Permit?
A.: You may consult the “Procedure in 4 steps” to find out how to apply.

Q.: Are application fees charged?
A.: A non-refundable $150 processing fee is charged.

Q.: What is the duration of an Off-Campus Work Permit?
A.: The Off-Campus Work Permit is issued until the expiry date of the study permit.

Q.: Is a student participating in an exchange program who then enrols in a regular study program immediately eligible for an Off-Campus Work Permit?
A.: A student cannot apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit while participating in an exchange program. However, if the student enrols thereafter in a regular full-time study program leading to a Québec diploma, it is possible to include the period of the exchange program in order to satisfy, in part or in whole, the requirement of six months of full-time studies in the preceding 12 months.

Example 1: A student participated in an exchange program during the winter semester (4 months) during which he/she took full-time courses and obtained satisfactory results. This student then enrolled in a regular full-time program in the fall semester. If the studies completed by this student during the exchange semester are recognized for the purposes of the regular program, he/she could apply for a work permit upon completion of two months out of the regular study program, to fulfill the minimum requirement of six months of full-time study. Otherwise, he/she would have to wait until she completed at least six months of her regular program.

Example 2: If a student successfully completes two full-time semesters in an exchange program, he may, under the same requirements indicated in Example 1, apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit the day he begins a regular program.

Q.: Does a student have to have an employment offer before applying for an Off-Campus Work Permit?
A.: It is not necessary to have an employment offer to apply and obtain an Off-Campus Work Permit. It is necessary, however, to obtain the work permit before starting to work.

Q.: Can a student who has completed a semester in an eligible or participating institution and has been enrolled in another participating institution for at least two months apply for a work permit?
A.: The student can submit an application to the designated representative of his/her current institution. To complete the Verification Form (IMM 5581), the representative must first verify with the designated representative of the previous institution if the student was enrolled full time and obtained satisfactory academic results.

Q.: Can students with an Off-Campus Work Permit work anywhere in Canada?
A.: International students obtain an open work permit, without any restrictions in terms of where they work in Canada. Consequently, in the summer, it is possible to work in any Canadian province. Students attending an institution located close to another province can even work part time in that province during their studies.

Q.: What role do educational institutions play in this program?
A.: Educational institutions play a support and follow-up role with students. They must ensure that students who wish to participate in the program fulfill the eligibility criteria and verify, once a year, that they are still enrolled in full-time studies and that they have obtained satisfactory academic results since the last verification.

Q.: What role does the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC) play in this program?
A.: The MICC coordinates the implementation of the program in the participating institutions, in collaboration with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The MICC is the CIC’s guarantor in Québec. It must conclude, with each eligible institution that wishes to participate in the program, an implementation protocol that specifies the conditions and responsibilities with respect to the program and ensure that the program is implemented uniformly across Québec.

Q.: What must students do if they change institutions after having received a work permit under this program?
A.: The students must inform the designated representative of their new institution that they are participating in the program and ask the designated representative of their former institution to complete Section C of the institution verification form (IMM 5581) and send it to the designated representative of the new institution. Failure to do so will render them non-eligible to the program from the date of the next verification conducted by their former institution.