Canada Services Working

Services for Students
Studying in Canada

As an international student, your visa or student authorization restricts you from working in Canada while studying. However, you may work on campus at the institution where you study without a Work Permit if you:

are engaged in full-time study at a university, community college, CEGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute
have a valid Study Permit.

Some institutions operate work-study schemes where the employer is sponsored either by the provincial government or by the institution to hire students who are considered to be in financial need.

Co-op jobs

Some programs of study in Canada incorporate a term of work with studies known a co-op job. Students spend one or two semesters in classes followed by one semester in a placement or job directly related to their studies. Because these programs are viewed as part of your course requirements as a student, and because your university is technically your employer or sponsor, Immigration Canada allows international students to work in this way.

International students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must apply for a Work Permit. To be eligible for a Work Permit, the following conditions apply:

You must have a valid Study Permit (unless you are a minor high-school student who does not require a Study Permit);
The intended employment must be an essential part of your course of study in Canada;
The employment must be certified as part of the academic program by a responsible academic official of the institution;
The co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50% of the total program of study.

For further details about work permits, click here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/extend-worker.html

Working after you graduate

After they have graduated from a Canadian college or university, international students are allowed a one-time opportunity to hold a job on a full-time basis for a period of one year. The following conditions apply:

You must be engaged in full-time studies at a university, community college, CEGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees;
The job must relate to the course of study you have just completed and in the field
You must apply for a Work Permit within 90 days of graduation from your college or university;
You must have a valid Study Permit when you apply for the Work Permit.
The one-year period cannot be extended unless a search for a qualified Canadian does not yield any results.

Studying in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Saskatchewan?

If you are an international student who graduates from a publicly funded, post-secondary institution in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Saskatchewan, you may be eligible to renew your post-graduation work permit for a second year.

For more information, please see
www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/04/0408-pre.html

Studying in Manitoba, New Brunswick or Quebec?

If you are a full-time student at certain public post-secondary institutions in Manitoba, New Brunswick or some regions of Quebec you may be eligible to apply for a work permit that allows you to work a limited number of hours off-campus.

For further information, please see
www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/04/0404-pre.html

Studying at a private institution?

International students and graduates of private institutions may apply for a Work Permit to work in Canada. The following conditions apply:

You must have a job offer that has been confirmed by Human Resources Development Canada;
You must have a valid Study Permit in order to apply for a Work Permit from within Canada.

As each province has different conditions, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-opps.html for more information, or contact the international student advisors at the colleges you are interested in applying to for more information about these programs.

Social Insurance number and income tax return

If you are going to earn money by working in Canada, you will require a Social Insurance Number (SIN). A SIN is necessary to enable you to be paid by your employer and speed up the calculation of your tax return.

To apply for a SIN you will need your passport and proof of your student status. Each major city has a Canada Employment and Insurance Centre where this application can be filled out, or if no location is convenient, it can be processed by mail. Please note that it may take up to a month to process.

In Quebec the SIN must be obtained through the Department of Cultural Communities for an extra fee and with proof of your enrolment.

International students have to pay tax on any income they earn because in Canada taxation is based on residency not citizenship. Students receiving income from either employment, scholarship or bursaries must complete an income tax return each year before April 30.

To get money back from paying sales taxes in Canada, you can file a tax return. To be eligible for this rebate you must have been in the country for at least 186 days of a calendar year.

Further information is available by visiting the Canada Revenue Agency website:
www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/