On December 7, 2023, the federal government announced the extension of the 20-hour weekly work limit for international students. This extension, valid until April 30, 2024, applies to students already in Canada and those who have submitted a study permit application by December 7, 2023, allowing them to work off-campus beyond the usual 20-hour limit. The government is also exploring the potential to further increase this limit to 30 hours per week during school sessions in the future.
This extension will allow employers to benefit from the available workforce, and adapt their hiring process to accommodate a more flexible student workforce. Employers must ensure that international students have a valid work permit and a social insurance number starting with a 9.