Study abroad: Canada raises off-campus work limit for international students to 24 hours a week

NEW DELHI: In a move that may come as a relief to Indian students, Canada has implemented new regulations allowing international students to work up to 24 hours a week off-campus during academic sessions, as against the previous cap of 20 hours.

Announcing the development, immigration minister (refugees and citizenship) Marc Miller said, “By fixing the off-campus work limit to 24 hours per week, we’re striking the right balance between providing work opportunities and helping students stay focused on their education.”

The changes are part of broader reforms that aim to strengthen programme integrity and protect students from financial and systemic vulnerabilities. These measures also place greater accountability on designated learning institutions (DLIs).

“We also expect institutions to support our efforts to preserve the integrity of the international student programme. International students should have a positive, successful experience in Canada, and the important changes made today will help with that,” said Miller.

Study in Canada: Accountability of DLIs

Under the new policy, students can work unlimited hours during official breaks, such as winter or summer holidays. DLIs must submit biannual compliance reports on student enrollment, with institutions falling up to one-year suspension on non-compliance.

This apart, students will need new study permits if they wish to transfer between DLIs.

Measures to combat fraud

The letter of acceptance (LOA) verification process, introduced in late 2023, has identified over 17,000 fraudulent or invalid documents while processing 5,29,000 LOAs. These measures aim to protect the programme's integrity by ensuring that only genuine students are admitted.

For eligibility, students must be enrolled full-time in programmes lasting at least six months and leading to a degree, diploma and certificate. The 24-hour work limit applies strictly during academic sessions.

The reforms balance student employment opportunities with academic commitments while strengthening oversight of educational institutions.