Citizenship and Immigration Canada
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Backgrounder

Off-campus work permit program

The Off-Campus Work Permit Program was launched nationally as a formalized program on April 27, 2006, for international students at public institutions following a pilot program introduced in 2003. In the last four years, over 8,300 international students have already benefited from the initiative. Prior to the introduction of this program, these students were only allowed to work on the campus of the educational institution at which they were studying.

Alberta public institutions already participating in the program include Alberta College of Art and Design, Bow Valley College, Grande Prairie Regional College, Grant MacEwan College, Keyano College, Lethbridge Community College, Medicine Hat College, Mount Royal College, NorQuest College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Olds College, Portage College, Red Deer College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge.

The new pilot project will extend the program to international students at select private institutions and enrolled in qualifying programs at Ambrose University College, Canadian University College, Concordia University College of Alberta, St. Mary’s University College, Taylor University College and Seminary, and The King’s University College. As a result, students who qualify for the program will be able to work up to 20 hours a week off-campus while classes are in session and full-time during summer and winter breaks and over their reading weeks.

To qualify for an off-campus work permit, international students must:

  • hold a valid study permit;
  • have studied full-time for at least 6 months out of the previous 12 months in an eligible institution and in a qualifying program that leads to a degree;
  • have signed a consent form authorizing the exchange of their personal information between the participating institution, the province of Alberta, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada;
  • have satisfactory academic standing in their qualifying program of study at the time of their application for a work permit and have maintained satisfactory academic standing during the 6 months of full‑time study out of the previous 12 months and since their application for a work permit;
  • continue to fulfil the terms and conditions of their study permit and work permit, as applicable; and
  • continue to meet the above eligibility requirements while participating in the program.