Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Work permits for students:
Working off campus—
How to apply
Did you know that you can now apply for your Off-Campus Work Permit online?
If you study in Canada and you want to work off campus, you must apply for a work permit.
There are five steps to apply for a work permit:
- Obtain an application package.
- Read the guide.
- Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
- Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
- Mail the application form and documents.
1. Obtain an application package.
The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible for a work permit before you apply.
Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions and provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed. The Document Checklist in the application kit will tell you what documents to include.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Incomplete applications will not be processed, but will be returned to you.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
You can pay the fee at most banks in Canada. The application processing fee is payable in Canadian funds only.
You can also pay online through Pay My Application Fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Be sure to print your receipt of payment and include it with your application. Note that some credit cards issued outside North America are not compatible with the online payment system.
When you pay the fee at a bank, you must first get an original receipt (IMM 5401) and send it with your application. To get the receipt, go to Order a fees receipt under the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
5. Mail the application form and documents.
The application kit contains the mailing address where you must send your application.
