5 Little Known Ways for International Students to Work in Canada

Hey there! Planning to apply to a Canadian university? Need to know more about the visa procedures and the Canadian work permit? This blog is a guide for international students who wish to work while they study in Canada. Tag along and learn all it takes to work and earn in the world's most educated country. Eh? You wonder.

Did you know that ninety-five universities in Canada offer courses across fifteen thousand study programs?

In fact, over fifty percent of the Canadian population holds a college degree. Nearly five to six hundred thousand students apply to Canadian universities every year. The competition is tough, but you must know all the requirements and prepare early to apply. Read forth to know how international students can get an entry visa to Canada.

How to Work While You Study in Canada?

Working while you study is the goal for many international students. Yet, always remember that education is your priority. Although Canada offers affordable university education, the living expenses may take a toll on you. So here's how you can earn while you learn:

On-campus Jobs

The best work-study combo you can get is working on campus and earning up to fifteen dollars an hour. The standard work hours on a student permit are twenty hours a week. "Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)" does not limit the on-campus working hours. Still, always heed the university guidelines.

Off-campus Jobs

Only twenty working hours a week is standard for off-campus international student employment. Before you start working, ensure that your employer does not make you work more than twenty hours. Doing so is a breach of student visa laws that may also result in deportation. Also, you must have a student work permit for off-campus jobs.

Trivia: More than half of the world's lakes are in Canada. It has over three million lakes.

Working as a student intern

Next, you learn, work, and network through co-op programs at the university. It is yet another golden opportunity that you must seek. You can work up to forty hours a week and gain experience in your field of study. You can apply for a co-op permit only if your internship makes fifty percent or less of your degree.

Work after graduation

To work after you graduate, you must possess a "post-graduation work permit (PGWP)." It is different from the entry visa you get for enrolling at a university. A PGWP is valid till your passport's expiry. You can earn thirty to fifty thousand Canadian dollars per year after graduation, but this is temporary employment.

Live and work in Canada after you graduate

Lastly, getting a work permit makes you eligible to apply for permanent residency. Three years after your work and stay in the country, you can apply for Canadian citizenship. Ensure you get employed after graduation so that you can upgrade your PGWP. So, this is your visa guide for international students.

What Do I Need to Work as an International Student in Canada?

Furthermore, you are aware of what's? Let's answer the how? How to be employed as an international student? You ask. Here's a list of must-haves that you need to apply for student employment:

1. Entry Visa

The student visa you get before entering the country is the work permit international students need to work and learn.

2. A Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A SIN is equivalent to a social security number in the U.S. It is the most important thing you need to live - even temporarily - in Canada. Also, it makes you eligible to open a bank account and get insurance.

3. Open a Bank Account

Moreover, as an international student, you need to manage your finances. Be it part-time or full-time employment, you need to manage your money, and for that, a bank account is a must. You need your passport, study permit, traveller's cheque and university acceptance letter to open a bank account.

4. Prepare Your Resume

Lastly, a resume is the last thing you need. Create a resume; although you may not have any work experience, still it is primary to have one. Send your CV to different employers to you can get work opportunities.

Canada ranks first among the countries that offer good quality of life. So, your student work-life plans extending to permanent residency aren't so bad after all.

So, these are the things you need to work on and learn in Canada. You may not find the pay satisfactory but do not exceed the twenty hours a week limit. After you have a SIN, all your actions in the country are trackable. Hence, it is important to abide by the rules to complete your education.

How Can You Apply for an Entry Visa?

You must possess a study permit or a student visa before entering Canada. Besides, there are options for applying for one on arrival. But, check the requirements for crossing international borders with your country's law. Just follow these steps to apply for a student visa online:

Step1: Get the tools ready

First, you need to prepare a scanned copy of the documents. Get a scanner and a web camera ready for the process to add required documents (if missed any) and a photo. Get a valid credit or debit card to pay the application fee.

Step2: Go through the instruction guide

Second, before starting the application process, you must go through the application guide. It informs you about the list of documents you need for the application. Also, all the steps are already written in detail; don't forget the FAQs to rid of any additional queries.

Step3: Prepare to answer some questions

Next, you must answer all the questions in the application correctly per your documents to have your application accepted in one go. The questionnaire is just to check all your details and to clarify your purpose for applying for a visa.

Step4: Pay the application fee

Last, similar to all application forms, you must pay a fee. A permit for international students is a hundred to two hundred Canadian dollars.

"Canada welcomed four hundred fifty thousand new international students in 2021, an all-time record" Read the CIC News headlines in March 2021

Follow the instructions carefully while filling out the form. You must check and double-check all the details. Also, it is advisable to save a copy of the payment receipt and the form for future access in case of further queries. Do you believe it is easy to get an entry permit in Canada? Let's find out in the next section.

Is It Easy to Get a Work Permit in Canada for International Students?

Getting a visa for any country is tricky, especially for international students. But, you may get it easier than many with professional help. Get advice from a lawyer or paralegal about international migration laws. However, for the five hundred thousand international students enrolled in Canada in 2020. So, it is not as tough.

Still, having in-demand skills gives you an advantage over the other applicants. You may even score a scholarship. Also, seek the international affairs your country has with Canada. Such things do matter. It is another competitive advantage you may possess when applying for a student's permit.

In short, an entry visa is easy to get, but a work visa is a hustle. Nevertheless, you must focus on your goal, which is and must always be your education. Complete your academia with flying colours, and the world your playground. Hopefully, this visa guide for international students will help you.