Canada is always looking for foreign professionals, and it offers multiple opportunities to International students. Every year many students immigrate to Canada for study. The Canadian Government allows international students to work part-time while studying and full-time after completing education.
If you want to work in Canada, you need to obtain a specific work permit. It has an expiry date as well as joining date. You need to be careful about your work permit. If the work permit gets expired, you have to renew it or ask for another permit, if you want to continue working in Canada.
What is a Canada Work Permit?
It is a type of permission to work in Canada legally, and it is issued to a person who is not a Canadian permanent resident. It is valid for a specific type of employment, job or time period. A work permit is issued from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) based on the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). There are various visa categories to select according to requirement and eligibility.
- Work Permit While Studying
- Work Permit After Completing Studies
1. Work Permit While Studying
In Canada, international students are allowed to work off-campus if you have a valid study permit. There is a specific eligibility criteria for Canada Work Visa.
Work Categories For International Students
1. Working Off Campus
If you have a valid study permit, you are allowed to work in Canada while studying. Canada Work Visa is similar to Canada Study Visa in terms of requirements. In the case of a Canada work visa, you need to submit some experience letters from well-known organizations.
Your educational institution must be registered in Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). You are allowed to work for 20 hours per week while studying, and you can work full-time during scheduled breaks such as summer, winter or spring breaks.
2. Working On Campus
In Canada, international students can work even within the boundaries of their respective campus only if they meet the specified criteria. Consequently, a Canada Work Visa allows you to work On Campus. An on-grounds manager incorporates the school, an employee, an understudy association, a private business (situated inside the limits of the campus), a private temporary worker that gives administrations to the school and being self-employed on campus.
Eligibility Criteria For Work Permit While Studying
You need to fulfil the following conditions to obtain a work permit.
- Owning a valid study permit.
- Registered as a full-time student.
- The duration of your study program must be at least 6 months which leads to a degree, diploma and certificate.
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- Must be a satisfactory student.
- Fulfil the specific criteria of the respective institute.
Job Opportunities Within Campus
Jobs are available within your campus in different departments such as in Cafes, Gyms, and you can also work as a lab attendant in campus labs. If you are a graduate and want to work on-campus, then you can visit your concerned departments for employment. You can also work in your department as a Teacher Assistant or a Research Assistant.
2. Work Permit After Completing Studies
If you want to work in a reputed organization, then once you have completed your studies from a recognized postgraduate institute, you need to apply for a work permit. If you are looking for any work opportunities in Canada, you need to obtain a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
It will allow you to work in Canada legally. Under the PGWP program, international students can obtain a three-year open work permit. It allows you to work as a Canadian employer in any industry or organization depending on your choice.
Eligibility Criteria For Work Permit After Completing Studies
There are many important conditions that you need to meet in order to work after graduation. These conditions are as follow:
- Your study program must be of at least eight months.
- If your study program is less than eight months, then you will not be eligible for a work permit.
- Must be a full-time student and must not involve in any criminal activity while staying in Canada as a temporary citizen.
- You need to complete and pass your academic program you are enrolled in and must receive a confirmation from authority indicating that you are eligible to obtain a degree, diploma or certificate.
What will be the validity of a Post-Graduation Work Permit?
Usually, the validity of a post-graduation work permit is equivalent to the length of your study program or for a maximum of three years. But it cannot be longer than the duration of your study program. If you are registered in a degree or diploma program, your work-permit will also be eligible for only eight months.
Similarly, if you choose to study in a three-year or a four-year program in both cases, your work permit will be eligible for only three-years. Your open work permit cannot exceed the limit of three-years.
Types of Open Work Permit
There are basically two types of open work permit.
- Unrestricted ( Allows international students to work in any location or occupation)
- Restricted ( Restricts the location or occupation )
Needs to be a fresh graduate from
- Public post-secondary institutions that include colleges, trade schools or universities.
- The private post-graduate educational institute which is basically similar to a public institute.
- A private-secondary or post-secondary institution offering programs of 900 hours or longer.
Note That: You need to stay in Canada with a valid study permit to attain an open work permit. You must apply for the work permit within 90-days from the date of receiving confirmation from your designated institution.
Read Our Previous Article About Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
