Canadian officials announced new rules for international students who work off campus.

‌Key Points:

• As BAL previously reported, officials announced an increase in the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applications Jan. 1.
• As part of that effort, the government also waived the 20-hour-per-week limit on the number of hours international students are allowed to work off campus, extending the policy to April 30.
• Officials have now announced that the temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will not be extended further.

Additional Information: The Canadian government stated their intention to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours this fall. Officials cited the needs of students and appropriate work-study balance in making the change.

BAL Analysis: These important changes coincide with additional reforms by the Canadian government recently to raise the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applications and establish an intake cap on international student permit applications for a period of two years. Employers should be aware of these policy updates and consider them in their employment strategies and recruitment efforts.