Canada Plans to Increase Work Hours for International Students from 20 to 24 Per Week – Marc Miller

In April 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, shared plans to increase the number of hours international students can work off-campus from 20 to 24 hours per week. This change is expected to take effect in the fall, but many details are still unclear, causing uncertainty among students, schools, and employers.

Timing of the Policy Change

While autumn starts in September in Canada, and that's when many international students begin their classes, the exact date for when this new rule will start has not been confirmed yet. The government only mentioned that it would be “this fall,” with more details coming later.

Important Reminder: Until Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially confirms this policy, students should continue working no more than 20 hours per week as allowed by their current permits.

Current Work Hour Limit for International Students

Right now, international students with a valid permit for off-campus work are still limited to 20 hours per week. Though the policy change is expected soon, it hasn’t started yet. So, students must stick to the existing rule for now.

Unanswered Questions: What We Still Need to Know

There are several important questions about this policy that need to be answered:

1. How Will the Policy Be Rolled Out?
   It’s unclear if the new 24-hour work limit will apply to all international students or just those who start their studies in a specific time frame.

2. When Will the Policy Begin?
   There is no confirmed start date for when students can start working more hours. Many are waiting for an official announcement.

3. What Role Will Schools Play?
   It’s not yet clear whether universities and colleges will need to track how many hours their students are working. If so, how will they monitor this?

4. Impact on Jobs
   With unemployment rates rising, there are concerns about how increasing work hours for international students might affect the job market. How the government will handle this is still unknown.

For this policy to succeed, the Canadian government will need to provide clear guidelines on how it will work. This includes eligibility rules, how work hours will be tracked, and how students will be supported.

The Potential Impact of the New Policy

If implemented well, the increase to 24 hours of off-campus work per week for international students could bring big benefits. It would give students more financial freedom while also helping to address labor shortages in Canada. However, the current lack of clear information is causing worry among students and other stakeholders. As the government prepares to share more details, it’s important to find a balance between the needs of the economy and the well-being of international students. Until then, everyone will be eagerly waiting for more clarity on this major policy change.