Work hours limit set for foreign students

OTTAWA • International students will be allowed to work as much as 24 hours per week under new rules coming into force in the fall.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller introduced the new rules during a press conference outside the House of Commons on Monday, one of many measures he has introduced since last fall to change the international student program.

Miller said the primary purpose of the program is education and Canada needs to align its rules with other countries so it remains an academic-focused program and not a loophole for workers.

“Most of them limit the number of working hours for international students. Canada's rules need to be aligned or we will find our programs attracting more and more applicants whose primary intent is to work and not study,” he said.

For many years, the work limit for international students was 20 hours per week, but during the pandemic that was increased, allowing students to work up to 40 hours per week.

In the fall, when Miller announced a cap on the number of international students, he also reduced the number of hours new students could work to 20 hours per week.

Students with an existing study permit were still allowed to work more than 20 hours, but that will come to an end on Tuesday when the temporary rules expire.

Miller said, after study, the government decided 24 hours a week, three eight hour shifts, is the right balance to allow students to offset the costs of their education, but also keep the focus on their studies. The new rules will come into force in the fall.

“We don't want to put them in undue hardship. Students that want to come here have to realize that they can only work 24 hours in order to offset some of their costs,” he said.

International student tuition is not capped as domestic tuition fees often are and students can pay fees that are multiple times what Canadian students pay.

Miller had previously suggested something around 30 hours per week could be the new target, but he said they determined that was too much for students.

“Being able to work 30 hours a week is close to a full time job and it ... does not match with the idea behind the International Student Program.”

The International Student Program grew nearly threefold since the Liberals came to office in 2015, topping out at more than one million students last year. The changes Miller introduced in the fall would reduce the number of visas by 35 per cent in 2024 and 2025, while the government looks at broader changes to the program. Miller also changed the rules to limit post-study work permits and increased the amount of money students must have on hand to cover their living expenses.