With increased financial requirements and a cap on working hours, money may be getting tight for Canada’s international students.
International students in Canada will no longer be able to work as many hours as they want.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced this week that the temporary COVID policy allowing students to work unlimited hours has now come to an end. Instead, the rules will return to the standing policy limit of 20 hours off-campus work a week.
From September 2024, this limit will increase to 24 hours per week. Additionally, students who have a scheduled academic break will be able to continue working unlimited hours.
The government believe this change will dissuade applications from students who intend to come to Canada just to work, and allow students to focus on their studies.
‘Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses,’ said Minister Miller.
‘As international students arrive in Canada, we want them to be prepared for life here and have the support they need to succeed. However, first and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student program.’
In December, the cost-of-living threshold for international students intending to study in Canada was raised. Applicants must now prove they have CDN$20,635, their first year of tuition, and additional proof of being able to cover other costs. These requirements increase with each additional family member a student brings with them.
