It is possible to work in Canada while you are here as a
student, and there are opportunities for jobs on and off campus. You will need
to apply.
Working on Campus
You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work
permit if:
you are a full-time student at:
a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university,
or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in
Quebec
a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same
rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50
percent of its financing for its overall operations from government
grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in
Quebec qualify) or
a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to
confer degrees and
you have a valid study permit.
Working off Campus
The Off-Campus Work Permit Program allows certain foreign students to work
off campus while completing their studies. To qualify, you must be a full-time
student enrolled at a participating publicly funded post-secondary educational
institution or in an approved program at an eligible privately funded
institution.
are public post-secondary institutions, such as a college or university or
a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec or
are private post-secondary institutions that operate under the same rules
and regulations as public institutions, and receive at least 50 percent of
their financing for their overall operations from government grants
(currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec
qualify) or
have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial or
territorial government.
are located in a province or territory that has signed a memorandum of
understanding with CIC
have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial or
territorial government and
have approval from their provincial or territorial government to grant
specific degrees.
Please note that not all programs offered by private post-secondary
educational institutions qualify. For more information on qualifying programs,
contact the eligible institution directly.
For a list of participating institutions in the Off-Campus Work Permit
Program, see the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
To work off campus, you must apply for a work permit. Do not begin to work
off campus until you have received your work permit. The work permit authorizes
you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and
full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays, and
spring break).
A work permit does not guarantee that you will find a job. It is your
responsibility to look for work. Even if you work off campus, your studies must
be the main reason you are in Canada. If you are no longer a full-time student
or do not maintain satisfactory academic results, you must return your work
permit to a local Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.
For more information about the program and the application process, contact
the international student adviser at your educational institution.
Co-op and Internship Programs
For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum.
Foreign students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must
apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.
Who can apply
To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following conditions:
You must have a valid study permit.
Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of
study in Canada.
Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a
letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50 percent
of the total program of study.
How to apply
There are four steps to apply for a work permit:
1. Obtain an application kit.
You can download and print the application kit you need from Find an
application form or guide in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side
of this page. The application you need is called IMM 5580 (Applying for a
Work Permit Student Guide).
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. Photocopy
the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your
records.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions and be
sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing,
your application may be delayed. The Document Checklist in the application kit
will tell you what documents to include.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be
typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Incomplete applications will
not be processed, but will be returned to you. This will delay the application
process.
There is no processing fee for this work permit.
4. Mail the application form and documents.
The application kit contains the mailing address where you must send your
application.
Working after Graduation
If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must
apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated
from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable
Canadian work experience in their field of studies. This program allows all
participants to work up to one year in the Montréal, Toronto or Vancouver
areas, and to work up to two years everywhere else in Canada.
A work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program cannot be valid
for a longer period than the length of your studies. For example, if you
graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a one- or
two-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an
eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is
valid for no more than eight months.
Note: In some circumstances, the work
permit may be valid for less time than the length of your studies.
Work available to your spouse or common-law
partner
Eligibility
Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit if:
you are a full-time student at:
a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university
or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in
Quebec
a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same
rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50
percent of its financing for its overall operations from government
grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions
in Quebec qualify) or
a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to
confer degrees
you have a valid study permit or
you have a valid work permit.
Validity
Work permits for your spouse or common-law partner are valid for the same
period of time as your study or work permit.
Note: Accompanying spouses or common-law partners of foreign
students (including spouses or common-law partners of foreign students with
post-graduation work permits) are eligible for an open work permit, which means
they do not need a job offer or a labour market opinion from Service Canada.
Find out more about a labour market opinion in the Related Links section at
the bottom of this page.
How to apply
There are five steps to apply for a work permit:
1. Obtain an application kit.
You can download and print the application kit from Find an application
form or guide in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this
page. The application you need is called IMM 5580 (Applying for a Work
Permit Student Guide).
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee
for processing your application is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible
for a work permit before you apply.
Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working
copy for your records.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions and be
sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing,
your application may be delayed. The Document Checklist in the application kit
will tell you what documents to include.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be
typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Incomplete applications will
not be processed, but will be returned to you. This will delay the application
process.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
You can pay the fee at most banks in Canada. The application processing fee
is payable in Canadian funds only.
You can also pay online through Pay application fees in the Quick
Find section on the right-hand side of this page. Be sure to print your receipt
of payment and include it with your application. Note that some credit cards
issued outside North America are not compatible with the online payment system.
When you pay the fee at a bank you must obtain the original receipt of
payment (IMM 5401) and send it with your application. To get the receipt see Order
a fees receipt under the Related Links section at the bottom of the page.
5. Mail the application form and documents.
The application kit contains the mailing address where you must send your
application.
