Working in Canada as International Students

For undergraduate students:For most undergraduate students, summer term is a “scheduled break”. This means international students aren’t required to be enrolled in any courses to be in compliance with their study permit. Students holding valid study permits are permitted to work full time during summer term as long as they are enrolled as full-time students before and after the summer break, unless the fall semester after is their final semester. For graduate students: Summer is a regular academic term like Fall and Winter. You must be enrolled as a full-time student to be eligible to work on or off campus. You cannot work more than 20 hours per week off-campus. For graduate students and those enrolled at the School of Continuing Studies, full-time enrolment is defined by the program.

IRCC announced on April 28th, 2024 that the temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus came to an end on April 30, 2024. Students can no longer work full-time under the expired temporary policy. Starting September 2024, students may work off campus for up to 24 hours per week if requirements are met. The on-campus work authorization is not impacted by this update. How does the update affect me? For students starting in Summer: Undergraduate and graduate students commencing their studies in the summer are only authorized to work a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus, provided they fulfill the necessary work authorization criteria. For students starting in September: Students can’t work during a break comes before the start of their very first school term. They can only start working in Canada when their study program has started. Students starting this Fall may work for 24 hours per week off-campus. For more information on work authorization, visit IRCC’s Work Authorization page. To work off-campus, an international student must:

• Have a valid study permit with a condition allowing you to work off campus
• Be a full-time student
• Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level
• Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)

International students cannot work off campus if they are:

• Participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).
• Participating in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT.
• Receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
• Participating in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile.
• Participating in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program.
• Participating in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program.
• Registered in either an English as a Second Language or French as a Second Language program
• A visiting or exchange student without a study permit.

Detailed information can be found here.

International students may work on campus at York with their study permit if they are full time students in a degree/diploma/certificate program. The study permit must be valid and have a condition authorizing the student to work on campus. Please note:

• There is no time limit for On-Campus work.
• A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required.

Detailed information from Immigration Canada can be found here. If you are looking for an on campus job, a way to get involved, or an opportunity to improve your leadership skills, be sure to check out the Work at YI and Get Involved page.

What is a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?

A Social Insurance Number is a nine-digit number that you need in order to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. It allows an employer to process payroll while informing the Canadian Revenue Agency about the amount of money a person earns.

How to Obtain a SIN?

If an international student has received a job offer regardless on or off campus, the student must apply for a SIN before he/she can receive earnings and benefits. To apply for a SIN, international students need their original passport, study permit and a document to confirm your address. Detailed information on Social Insurance Numbers and to apply, visit the Government of Canada's Social Insurance Number page. Note: If your employer has questions about the process for hiring an international student, detailed information can be found on Service Canada's website.

For many students, York’s internship and co-operative education programs provide great opportunities to supplement their in-class education with in-the-field experience. In many cases, these work placements are paid positions and therefore can also help to offset the financial cost of a university education. If you are considering adding an Internship or Co-operative Education placement to your degree, York has several options depending on your area of studies. Visit the Career Centre's webpage In order to participate in a co-op or internship placement, you require a Co-op Work Permit. Eligibilities for Co-op work permit include:

• You must have a valid study permit.
• Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
• Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
• Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50% (percent) of the total program of study.

Detailed information can be found on IRCC's Work as a co-op student or intern page. We recommend all students with a required work placement in their program apply for a co-op work permit, regardless of the temporary policy. The application for a co-op work permit is free and it gives them the flexibility to do their work placement outside of the temporary policy dates. For detailed information on how to apply for the Co-op Work Permit, please visit our Immigration Application Resources page.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

Upon completion of your program at York, you may be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit which is an open work permit that allows you to work in Canada for up to three years. Please note that you must have continuously studied full time in an academic program for more than eight months to be eligible. Part time studies may make you ineligible for a post graduate work permit. At the time of the application your study permit must be valid if you would like to work full time while waiting for the permit to be processed. You must apply within 180 days of the release of your final grades. You will need to provide both a graduation letter AND an official transcript in the work permit application. For detailed information on how to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit, please visit our Immigration Application Resources page.

York's Career Centre has the knowledge and resources to help you in all stages of your career path. They can help you to improve your resume, prepare for interviews, plan your post-graduate career, and even find a job while you are still a student. Visit their website to learn about all of the services available to you.