Working in Canada as a student
International students in Canada can work while they study.You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin. You have the option of work on or off campus. In order to start working you will need to apply for a social insurance number in the province or territory where you are studying. You are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. During scheduled breaks in the school year, that is winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week. You must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time. You can’t work during a break that comes before you start your very first school semester. Before you start working in Canada, you need take your passport and study permit to Service Canada and apply for social insurance number. You need to get a social insurance number before you can legally work in Canada.
Student tip!
Always look for work related to your studies in Canada. Your work experience gained while studying will be useful after graduation to help you secure full-time work in your profession.
Working in Canada after Graduation
After successfully completing your studies you may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.You have 180 days after you get your final marks to apply for a PGWP. Don’t let the time run out on you as you may not be approved for a work permit or you must apply to restore your status as a student to apply for your PGWP. To restore your status, you must pay additional fees. The post-graduation work you apply for will be valid for depending on the length of your study program. If you studied in Canada for less than 8 months you aren’t eligible for a PGWP. If your program was more than 8 months but less than 2 years you may be eligible for PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program. If your program was 2 years or more you may receive a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.If you completed more than 1 program you may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.Each of the programs you completed must be PGWP-eligible and at least 8 months in length.You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.
Finding the right College or University in Canada
Making the decision to study in Canada can be both exciting and a chance to start a new life in Canada. Canada has one of the highest education system in the world and attracts thousands of international students each year. Canada has numerous colleges and universities in all its ten provinces and three territories. Finding the right college and university can be a bit daunting as students tend to look at the costs to study in the province, the weather, job prospects after graduation and overall adaptability. We have created a quick checklist as a guide to help you choose the best program of study to help you succeed in Canada
1. Visit https://www.educanada.ca or http://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/our-members/member-directory/ to determine where to study in Canada and find the programs that most interest you. It contains close to 15, 000 undergraduate and graduate study programs including certificates, diplomas and degrees ranging from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral degrees.
2. Make sure the college or university you select in Canada is a designated learning institution. A designated learning institution is a school approved by a province or territorial government to host international students. If you apply for a study permit and your letter of acceptance is from an institution that is not designated for international students, your application will be refused.
3.After selecting your college or university of choice ensure the program of study you plan to undertake in Canada is consistent and shows progression with your career and academic goals.
4. Apply to your designated college or university for admissions.
5. After you have been accepted to school in Canada, apply for your study permit and visas
Bring you Spouse/Common Law Partner and dependents with you to Canada
You dependents and spouse or common law partner can accompany you to Canada as a student. Your partner can get an open work permit for the duration of your studies. Which means your partner can work in their profession, which, depending on his or her profession can even increase your chances of getting permanent residence in Canada.Your dependent must apply for a study permit before they enter Canada since your work permit was approved overseas. Since you have a valid study permit you don’t need to provide a letter of acceptance from a school when you apply for a study permit for your dependent. Dependents already in Canada may study without a study permit if they:are in kindergarten, want to go to pre-school, primary or secondary school and have a parent who is allowed to study in Canada. If your dependent does not a valid study permit they need a valid visitor status during their stay in Canada. If you choose to apply for study permit inside Canada for your dependent you will need a letter of acceptance from the school they intend to attend.
