International Students to Benefit from Loosening of Work Restrictions

Some great news for international students studying or considering studying abroad in Canada—new regulations have made it the case that international students no longer need to apply for special permits to attain off-campus employment.

While Canada is already a very desirable study abroad destination for many prospective students, this new legislation was introduced as part of a series of regulations designed to double the country’s international student enrollment and make Canada an even more competitive destination for international students deciding where to study abroad.

Previously, as is the case in many countries, international students in Canada were required to complete a complicated (and often time-consuming) number of forms, contact government agencies, and receive special clearance to find work with an employer unrelated to his or her host university.

Effective June 1^st, 2014, when an international student studying abroad in Canada receives their general study permit they will be automatically authorized to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during scheduled breaks without the need to apply for any separate authorization or permit.

Any international student who has had to navigate the maze of governmental forms seeking an off-campus work permit (as well as pay the accompanying fees) knows how much of a headache they are being saved by this move. Moreover, Canada stands to benefit from the presence of a previously untapped workforce with varying global perspectives—an aspect that can be a real contribution to local economies and employers.

• Canada has recently launched a number of efforts to double the country’s international student enrollment and make international student life in Canada easier
• One of these efforts has been streamline the formal application processes required to study abroad in Canada, including those related to obtaining off-campus work permits
• Before, international students needed to invest in a lengthy and complicated process to receive specific governmental authorization (in the form of an off-campus work permit) to work with an employer unrelated to the host university
• Now, when an international student is cleared to study abroad in Canada, they are automatically authorized to obtain employment from non-university (i.e. ‘off-campus’) sources during their stay

Looking for financial aid for Canada? Check out these scholarships, grants, and fellowships especially for students studying in Canada.

Posted in International Financial Aid News, International Scholarships