Canada has many working programs for students and for their partners staying with them in the country. Working while studying helps a student to meet day-to-day expenses or pay tuition fee. It allows to gain valuable international experience.

The different programs under a student work visa are:

Campus:

As an international student, you can work at Campus if you are registered as-

• A full-time student in a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or a CEGEP in Quebec
• A full-time student in any Canadian private institution runs under the same rules and regulations and receives 50 % of finances from government authorities or their operations.
• As a full-time student in a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
• You must have a valid work visa.

Off-Campus

As an international student, you can work outside the Campus if:

• You have a valid student visa.
• You study at participating institutions as not all institutions allow you to work off Campus.
• You have acquired a satisfactory grade in the current study program.
• Sign a form authorizing the institution, the province, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to share your personal information
• You have studied full time for six months in the last 12 months preceding the work permit application
• You are a full-time student in participating in a publicly funded post-secondary educational institution or an approved program at an eligible privately funded institution.
• You must have applied and received a student work permit
• You work not more than 20 hours per week during the academic session and full time in breaks.

Co-op student or intern

In some Academic programs, the experience is a part of the curriculum. To participate in such programs, you should meet the following conditions:

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

Work in Canada after Graduation

There are many options to stay and gain valuable Canadian experience after completing your course, and later you can even apply for Permanent Residency if you fulfil the criteria.

If you have graduated from

• A public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec), or
• A private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, or
• A private secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP), or
• A Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees but only if you are studying in one of the study programs leading to a degree as approved by the province and not in all study programs offered by the private institution.

You can apply for post-study work visa within 90 days of getting your transcript of passing the course and received notification from the institute that after meeting all the requirements you are now eligible to get the Degree/Diploma/Certificate.