Blue Bird Blog

International students in Canada can work 24 hours a week off-campus

International students in Canada can now work up to 24 hours per week off-campus while their classes are in session.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Marc Miller confirmed that the new regulations have taken effect as of November 15.

Prior to this change, the limit was 20 hours per week.

In April 2024, Miller announced that the number of off-campus work hours for international students would be increasing to 24 hours in the fall, but did not say what date the change would take effect.

Uncapped hours for foreign nationals on study permits

This cap and the prior cap only apply to hours that students work off-campus while their classes are in session.

Students could, and still can, work any number of hours

- On campus; and

- Off-campus during breaks between academic terms, when classes are not in session.

Rationale for the change

According to Miller, this 24-hour cap struck “the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without compromising academic outcomes.”

New requirement for study permit prior to changing schools.

Also in today’s announcement, international students can no longer change schools without applying for a new study permit.

Students must apply for, and must in some cases be approved for, a new study permit prior to changing designated learning institutes (DLIs).

Prior to the change, students could change schools on the same study permit so long as they updated their IRCC online account with the new information.

As per IRCC, these changes are in line with the department’s work to “strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program.”

Changes to international students’ working hours cap in recent years

International students in Canada have traditionally been allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in Canada during regular school terms or semesters.

However, during the pandemic, the government announced a temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week, up to a maximum of 40 hours.

This policy was put in place to ease the country’s labour shortage while also giving students the chance to earn more money.

This temporary policy came to an end on April 30, 2024.

Source: cicnews.com

Canada
Study

February 2025: State of the Express Entry pool

After a January that saw Express Entry draws return to some semblance of normalcy, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already held two draws in the month of February.
January saw the issuance of 5,821 Invitations to Apply (ITAs): candidates includes those in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and those in enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Last month was also the first month since June of 2024 that the immigration department did not hold an Express Entry draw for candidates with French-language proficiency.

A ten-year review: How Express Entry shaped immigration in Canada

Jan 31, 2025 marks the ten-year anniversary of Canada’s first Express Entry draw.

Since then, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued over 800,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency (PR) through the Express Entry system.

Canada launches new immigration pathway for French speakers

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) immigration pathway.
This new immigration pathway was first announced in March of 2024, with further details revealed in December of last year.
Under this program, newcomers with an intermediate level of French ability—and who have an offer of employment in priority occupations sought by a community outside of Quebec—can be nominated and receive Canadian permanent residence (PR).

New Brunswick begins reopening immigration programs

New Brunswick will finally begin opening its immigration streams, after a period of adjustment following notice from the federal government that the province would only be given 2,750 immigrant nomination spaces this year.
The 2,750 spaces will be split up between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program NBPNP (1,500) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) (1,250).
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How can my foreign employees legally work in Canada?

To avoid running afoul of Canadian authorities, you should ensure that any foreign employees you require to work in Canada are legally authorized to do so.

You have three main options:

- Work permit exemptions;

- The International Mobility Program (IMP); and

- The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

These industries have the highest retention rates for work permit holders who become permanent residents

The healthcare and social assistance sectors had the highest retention rates of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) who become permanent residents, according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

The study by Stats Can found that the retention rate—the percentage of TFWs who remained working in the same sector after having received permanent residency (PR)—varied dramatically across sectors.