Applying for a Work Permit — Student Guide (IMM 5580)

Overview

This guide provides information on Canada’s three student work programs:

• Off-campus work permit program;
• Co-op work program;
• Post-graduation work permit program.

The guide also provides information on your status as an international student in Canada and the conditions and requirements of work permits. All the necessary information, instructions and application forms for you to complete and submit are included.

Note: If you hold a valid study permit, your studies should remain your primary activities during your stay in Canada.

Determining your eligibility under student work programs

Off-campus work permit program

To be eligible for a work permit under this program you must meet all of the following requirements.

You must:

1. possess a valid study permit;
2. have studied full-time and maintained satisfactory academic standing in your specific program of study at a participating institution for at least six out of the twelve months preceding your application to work off campus (the six months do not have to be consecutive);
3. have applied for the off-campus work permit program at a participating institution;
4. have been, and continue to be, registered as a full-time student in a program other than English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL);
   Note: Full-time status and satisfactory academic standing are determined by your institution.
   You must complete a Request for Initial Eligibility Verification for an Off-Campus Work Permit from your school which will verify your standing and eligibility. This request is only available via MyCIC, your space on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website. Your school’s Designated Institutional Representative will verify your eligibility and inform you via MyCIC.
5. have authorized the disclosure of personal information between the institution, the provincial or territorial government and Citizenship and Immigration Canada;
   Note: In order to participate in this program, you will need to authorize the disclosure of personal information between your institution, the provincial or territorial government and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This disclosure will be part of the Electronic Verification Number (EVN) process completed through MyCIC. Failure to acknowledge disclosure of this information will result in not obtaining an Off-Campus Work Permit.
   and
6. continue to fulfil the terms and conditions of your study permit and work permit, if applicable.

You are not eligible to apply for a work permit under this program if you:

• have previously held an off-campus work permit, failed to maintain your eligibility for the program and failed to comply with the conditions of your work or study permit;
• have a partial or full scholarship or award from:
  • the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT);
  • the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT;
  • the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);
  • the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile;
  • the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program;
  • the Organization of American States Fellowship Program;
• are a visiting student or exchange student at a participating institution; or
• are registered in programs that consist either exclusively, or primarily, of English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL).

Note: An off-campus work permit issued under this program is not interchangeable with a work permit for internships or co-op placements. However, students wishing to participate in both programs may apply for a work permit under each program, as there is no restriction on holding more than one work permit. You must pay the separate fees for each permit.

Important Information

If your status has expired or you did not respect the conditions of your previous permit, and you now require restoration of status, do not submit an application for an off-campus work permit. You are required to restore your status as a student prior to submission of this application. Should your request for restoration be approved, you may then submit this application. Submitting your off-campus work permit application prior to restoration being granted will result in delays in the processing of your work permit.

The following examples can help you determine if you are eligible to apply under this program.

If you…	*Then…
begin full-time studies in September and continue through to the end of February (with the exception of the Christmas break)	you are eligible to apply for a work permit in March because you will have completed 6 months of full-time study.
begin full-time studies in January through April, but are not enrolled in full-time studies during certain summer months	you are not eligible to apply for a work permit until you complete 6 months of full-time studies
begin full-time studies from the beginning of January until the end of June	you are eligible to apply for a work permit in July because you will have completed 6 months of full-time study.
begin full-time studies from January until the end of April, then take a four month summer break but resume full-time studies in September	you are eligible to apply in November because you will have completed 6 months of full-time study in total from January to April, and September to October.
are pursuing full time studies from September to December followed by a co-op work term from January to April.	** If the institution considers students on co-op work terms to have full-time status, and if you continue to comply with the institution’s co-op rules you will be eligible to apply for the work permit as early as March (September to February = 6 months).

* At the time of application, you must still be enrolled in full-time studies and be in satisfactory academic standing.

** Note: Some institutions consider students to have “full-time” status during the “work experience” portion of their co-op program. If an institution considers a student to have “full-time” status during the “work experience” portion of the program and the student continues to comply with the institution’s co-op rules, the student will be eligible for the program. Participation in the work experience portion of the program can be included in the calculation of the six months of full-time studies.

Co-op work program

Work experience is a required component of some programs of study, for example co-op and internship programs.

In these cases, an open work permit can be issued with the institution listed as the employer. In cases where several work periods are necessary throughout the program, the work permit can be issued for the same period as the study permit.

To be eligible for a work permit under a co-op or internship program, the following conditions must be met:

• you must have a valid study permit (unless you are a minor high-school student who does not require a study permit);
• your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada;
• your employment must be certified as part of the academic program by a responsible academic official of the institution;
• your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50 percent of the total program of study; and
• you are not a medical intern or extern, nor a resident physician (except in veterinary medicine).

Note: International students, scholars, and scientists may also obtain work permits for work related to a research, educational or training program. These work permits are issued under specific programs funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC), Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Post-graduation work permit program

The post-graduation work permit program is designed to provide graduating students with Canadian work experience. Students may work in Canada for up to three years after graduation.

Does the length of study in Canada impact on the length of the work permit?

Yes. The work permit cannot be valid longer than the length of time the student studied. For example, students graduating from a four-year degree program might be eligible for a three year work permit. Students graduating from an eight-month certificate program would only be eligible for a work permit of eight months.

If you studied for…	Then…
less then eight months	you are not eligible for this program
less then two years but more than eight months	you may get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of time you studied (for example, if you studied for nine months, a work permit may be issued for a period of nine months)
two years or more	a work permit may be issued for three years

Who may apply for a work permit?

You may apply for a work permit if you:

• graduated from a specific program of full-time study (of at least eight months) in Canada at:
  • a public post-secondary institution; or
  • a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec fit that description); or
  • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial law to confer degrees, but only if you are enrolled in one of the programs of study leading to a degree as authorized by the province and not in all programs of study offered by the private institution.

Note: You can apply for a work permit while completing your last semester as a part-time student.

• have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit; and
• have not previously been issued a work permit for post-graduation employment following any other course of study.

Note: Distance-learning from either inside or outside of Canada does not qualify for this program.

You are not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program if you:

• study in a program that is less than eight months long;
• participate in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT);
• participate in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT;
• receive funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);
• participate in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile;
• participate in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program;
• participate in the Organization of American States Fellowship Program;
• participate in a distance learning program either from abroad or from within Canada; or
• have previously been issued a Post-Graduation Work Permit following any other program of study.

When do I have to submit my application?

You must submit your application for a work permit within 90 days, starting from the day when your final marks are issued, or when you receive a formal written notification of graduation from the institution, whichever comes first, indicating that you have met the requirements of your program of study. Your study permit must continue to be valid upon submission of your application for a work permit.

Note: If you have other evidence that you have successfully completed your program (such as a final transcript or a letter from the institution), you may apply for your work permit before you receive your formal notification of graduation.

Students who are already working under a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension, however the total duration of the permit including the extension should not exceed the maximum duration allowed by the new program parameters.

How do I submit my application?

There are two available options:

• Download, complete and mail your application, including all required documents to the address provided in the present instruction guide, or
• Complete and send your application electronically (you will be required to create a MyCIC profile and to obtain a Government of Canada epass)

Working on campus

Do students need a work permit to work on campus?

If you are a full-time student attending a university or college, you do not need a work permit when the employment offered is on the campus of the college or university where you are registered full-time, for as long as the study permit is valid.

There are some restrictions on the jobs you can take based on medical factors:

• If you have already passed an immigration medical exam, you may work in any type of job;
• If you intend to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential, you must pass an immigration medical exam. (Examples of these are: workers in health services fields; teachers of primary or secondary schools or other workers coming into contact with small children; domestic workers or live-in caregivers; workers who provide in-home care).
• If you intend to work as an agricultural worker and have lived in or visited a designated country (for a list of designated countries, refer to our website) for more than six months within the last year, you must pass a medical exam.
• To submit to a medical exam, you must make an appointment with a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP). Visit our website for the list of DMPs or contact the Call Centre to find the DMP nearest to you. Note that it may take a few weeks for your results to be available.

It is illegal to remain in Canada beyond the validity of your status in Canada.

It is illegal to work without a required work permit.

It is illegal to study without a required study permit.

After reading this instruction guide, if you believe you are eligible to apply then you should proceed as instructed below:

• Gather all the necessary documents. They are listed on the Document Checklist, Students Applying for a Work Permit (IMM 5583) [PDF]
• Calculate and pay the fees.
• Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep it for your records.
• Fill in the forms carefully and completely.
• Sign and date your forms.
• Mail your application to the address listed in section Mailing Your Application.

Note: you may also submit your application electronically for the following:

• Off-campus work permit
• Post-graduation work permit

Processing times for your application

We will review your application to determine if it is complete. If your application is not signed, or if the required fee is missing, it will be returned to you and you will have to re-apply. If other information is missing, your application may be returned or refused.

You will receive:

• your work permit; or
• a letter refusing your application; or
• notification that your application has been referred to a local Canada Immigration Centre for further assessment.

The Case Processing Centre-Vegreville (CPC-Vegreville) completes most of the applications it receives; however, a small number are referred to a local office for further clarification. If your application is referred to a local office, an officer from that office will contact you to obtain additional information or clarification. It may take up to three months for them to contact you.

Note: The Case Processing Centre receives large volumes of applications in the temporary resident categories each year. It is recommended that you apply at least 30 days before the expiry of your current document. However, you may want to apply in advance of this recommended period since processing delays vary. Contact the Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 or check our current processing times.

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