Starting this fall, international students in Canada will be restricted to working a maximum of 24 hours per week off-campus during the academic session. This announcement was made by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, emphasizing the primary focus for international students should be their studies.
The decision marks a change from a previous pilot program introduced by Sean Fraser, the former Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister, in 2022. The pilot program had temporarily lifted the 20-hour-per-week cap, allowing students to work off-campus for more hours while classes were in session. This program concluded on December 31, 2023.
Marc Miller, in a statement on April 29, reinforced the government’s stance that the integrity of the student program must be protected, stating, “First and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work.” He also noted that while the workweek cap had been waived until April 30, 2024, there would be no further extensions.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also highlighted that the new 24-hour limit would help students maintain a balance between their academic responsibilities and work commitments. However, during scheduled academic breaks, students will still be allowed to work unlimited hours, including the upcoming summer session.