The Off-Campus work program allows eligible International students at a participating institution to work part-time off-campus or full-time during breaks. The program requires a permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and must be obtained through an international centre on campus.
International students wishing to obtain a work permit must:
- Have a valid study permit
- Be registered as a full-time student
- Have been a full-time student for at least 6 of the last 12 months
- Be in satisfactory academic standing
A list of participating institutions can be found at the CIC website.
The University of Alberta International Student Services website has an excellent description of the program: http://www.international.ualberta.ca/incoming_ISS.php?id=432
You can refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Guide for Designated Institutional Representatives for detailed information.
The Government of Alberta has released an announcement regarding foreign students working off-campus.
Role of the Canadian Employer
Step One: Locate a Student
- Locate an international student who is suitable to work in the employer’s business.
- Examine the international student’s study and work permit to ensure that it is valid.
- Ensure that the international student possesses a valid Social Insurance Number.
- Ensure that the student does not work over 20 hours during the school term, which is a regulation of the program.
- Employ the international student until he or she completes their post-secondary program.
- Adhere to all provincial labour laws.
Step Two: Extending Employment
- If an employer wishes to employ the student beyond the expiry date of the work permit, the employer will be subject to the same processes listed under the Foreign Worker Program or, the same processes listed under the section on Employing International Students who have Recently Graduated from a Canadian College or University.
- If the international student does not have an off-campus work permit by the time the current study permit expires, the employer will not be able to continue employing the student.
Role of the International Student
Step One: Meeting Criteria
- Be attending a full-time post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate program.
- Be in possession of a valid study permit that has not reached its expiry date.
Step Two: SIN Number, begin work
- Obtain a Social Insurance Number. If you already hold a Social Insurance Number, ensure that it is up-to date.
- Work for employer until expiry date on student permit.
Step Three: Extending Work
- If the international student wishes to remain employed after the expiry date of his/her study permit, he/she will be subject to either: the same processes listed under the Foreign Worker Program or, the same processes listed under the following section.
