Backgrounder - Announcement of online services to facilitate application process for off-campus work permits

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has developed online tools and services to make it faster and easier for international students to apply for an off-campus work permit. These online tools and services include:

Online Application

The Online Application is available to all students eligible for an off-campus work permit. In addition to making it easier for most students to apply, the Online Application will also help ensure applications are accurate. The system calculates the fee for the applicant and will only accept completed applications. With the current paper process, incomplete applications account for significant processing delays.

Electronic Notification System for Educational Institutions

To be eligible for a work permit, students have to meet certain requirements such as satisfactory academic standing and full-time study status.

The Electronic Notification System allows CIC and educational institutions to exchange information regarding the student’s eligibility for a work permit. Creating a direct link between CIC and the institutions, instead of having the applicant collect and transfer the information on paper, reduces the reliance on documents that could be tampered with.

There are 16 educational institutions across Canada participating in this aspect of the online system at this point.

MyCIC

In order to access the Online Application and/or request that their eligibility be confirmed electronically, applicants have to enrol with MyCIC, a personalized applicant portal accessible via the CIC website.

These initiatives to make it easier to apply for an off-campus work permit will complement the proposed Canadian Experience Class (CEC). While work experience gained prior to graduation does not count toward an application for the proposed CEC, working off-campus gives international students the opportunity to gain experience in the Canadian job market. This may help them obtain the one year of skilled work experience they would need after graduating to apply under the proposed Canadian Experience Class.