Working in Canada

You must have the following conditions or remarks on your study permit:

1. May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies.
2. May accept employment on campus or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w).

Each of these options has further rules and regulations which you need to understand before you start work. See: Work-related conditions or remarks on your study permit

If your study permit does not have one of these conditions but you meet the criteria, speak with an international student specialist at MacEwan International.

You cannot begin work in Canada until you have started your program of study. Do not start work before the first day of classes.

You must stop working the moment you receive your graduation approval.

Full-time study is defined as a minimum of nine credits per regular term. If Spring/Summer is a mandatory term in your program, you must remain a full-time student while working.

Exception: If you are not required to be a full-time student in the last regular term of your program, you can still work on/off campus as long as you have been a full-time student in all regular terms of your program prior to your last term.

All international students who work in Canada must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). It is a nine-digit number that you need to work and be paid in Canada. To apply for a SIN to work on or off campus, visit the Government of Canada website.

• To avoid waiting in line at Service Canada Centre, you can apply for your SIN online. A completed online application with all the required documents will be processed within 5 business days. You will then be able to view your SIN in your My Service Canada Account.

Government of Canada // Social Insurance Number

If you are enrolled in full-time studies at MacEwan University and have a condition or remark on your study permit which authorizes you to work on campus R186 (f), you are permitted to work unlimited hours on-campus.

To determine if you are eligible for on-campus work, refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

IRCC // STUDY IN CANADA: WORK ON CAMPUS

As of November 8, 2024, students are allowed to work off campus up to 24 hours per week without a work permit. Make sure you meet the other requirements for working while you study.

If you are enrolled in full-time studies in a degree, diploma or certificate program and have a condition or remark on your study permit which authorizes you to work on or off campus R186 (f) (v), you are permitted to work unlimited hours on campus and 24 hours per week off campus during your regular terms.

Students in preparatory programs, such as University Preparation, English as an Additional Language (EAL/ESL), Foundation Program International or Open Studies, do not qualify to work off campus.

To determine if you are eligible for off-campus work, refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

IRCC // STUDY IN CANADA: WORK OFF CAMPUS

If the following remark is printed on your study permit: “This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada,” and you have become eligible to work off campus without a work permit (for example, you have transferred to a certificate, diploma or degree program of study), you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit and pay the applicable fee. You cannot work until you receive your new study permit with authorization to work.

IRCC // APPLICATION TO CHANGE CONDITIONS

A co-op work permit is an open work permit which can be issued with MacEwan listed as the employer for work related to your studies. In cases where several work periods are required throughout your program, the work permit will be issued for the validity of your study permit. A co-op work permit does not authorize you to work off campus unless the placement was arranged by MacEwan University.

A co-op work permit is required for any work-integrated learning (WIL) regardless of whether it is paid or unpaid.

• You must have a valid study permit.
• You must be accepted into a program with a work-integrated learning component.

The following programs have a work-integrated learning component at MacEwan University.

• Acupuncture Diploma
• Arts and Cultural Management Diploma Exit
• Bachelor of Child and Youth Care
• Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op majors)
• Bachelor of Communication Studies
• Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Arts and Cultural Management Major
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music Theatre Performance Major
• Bachelor of Physical Education Transfer
• Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bridge to Canadian Nursing Certificate
• Child and Youth Care Diploma Exit
• Correctional Services Diploma
• Emergency Communications and Response Certificate
• Library and Information Technology Diploma
• Massage Therapy Diploma
• Office Assistant Certificate Program
• Paralegal Studies Diploma
• Police and Investigations Diploma
• Psychiatric Nursing Diploma
• Public Relations Diploma
• Social Work Diploma
• Educational Assistant Certificate
• Speech Language Pathologist Assistant Diploma
• Therapist Assistant Diploma
• Travel & Tourism Diploma

If you are a new student accepted into a program with a work-integrated learning component, you will receive an email in your myMacEwan student Gmail account with the “Evidence of the Work Requirement in Study” document attached. Include this document with your application.

Apply for a co-op work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Apply at the same time you apply for a study permit or at the same time you apply to extend your study permit. If you do not need to extend your study permit, apply at least six months before your field placement/practicum/co-op begins.

Step by step guide: Co-op Application or Extension

To be eligible to work during scheduled breaks, you must meet certain requirements set by the IRCC. You must:

1. Possess a valid study permit that authorizes you to work on or off campus while studying as per (R186 (v) (iii))
2. Enrol as a full-time student before and after the scheduled break
3. Obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

If you were not a full-time student during fall AND winter terms and are planning to work during the summer break, please contact MacEwan International regarding your eligibility.

Spring/Summer can be a mandatory term for some programs. You should consult an academic advisor in your faculty or school to determine if you need to take courses during this period.

During the Spring/Summer term, which typically runs from May to August, it is possible to complete up to five full courses (15 credits), depending on your program requirements and available course offerings. The term is divided into four segments, and each segment will require you to enrol in a certain number of credits to be considered a full-time student, and therefore, eligible to work.

Determining eligibility to work in Spring/Summer is complex and depends on your program, enrollment or permit. We recommend booking an appointment with an international student specialist at MacEwan International.

If you have been a full-time student for your entire study program and only need to take a part-time course load during your final term to complete your program, you can work full time during the scheduled break before your final term. During your final academic term, you can work on campus unlimited hours or off campus for a maximum of 24 hours per week.

If your last term will be spring/summer, then it is not considered a scheduled break, and you may be limited to work 24 hours off campus. Speak with an international student specialist to determine how many hours you will be permitted to work.

“Work” is defined in IRCC regulations as an activity which

• Pays wages
• Earns commission
• Competes directly with the activities of Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the Canadian labor market

Even if you are not paid, some volunteer opportunities could be considered work. A true volunteer opportunity, under this definition, would be one where no one would ever be paid for this work.

If you are having trouble determining if the opportunity you have is considered work or volunteering, book an appointment with an international student specialist at MacEwan International.

You may need a medical exam because of the type of volunteering you want to do in Canada.

IRCC // Medical exams for visitors, students and workers

MacEwan University may offer financial and social support services to assist destitute students. If you are struggling financially, we recommend you contact a financial aid advisor in the Office of the University Registrar or an international student specialist at MacEwan International for assistance and guidance on available resources.

Contact fees and financial aid

Financial resources for international students (PDF)

Eligibility / Requirements

If you are a destitute student, you may be eligible for support under Section 208 of Canada’s Immigration Regulations. You may consider applying for a work permit to supplement your income, provided you meet the eligibility requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

However, it is important to note that according to Section R220, study permit holders are expected to have adequate financial resources to pay for their tuition, support themselves and support any accompanying family members, without the need to work in Canada. As such, an open work permit will only be issued in exceptional circumstances.

Application

When applying for a work permit as a destitute student, the application process is similar to a regular work permit application. You must complete the necessary forms and provide compelling supporting documents to substantiate your request. However, there is some good news:

• Under subsection 299(1)(d) of the Regulations, you are exempt from paying a processing fee.
• If biometrics are required, paragraph 315.1(2)(h) of the Regulations exempts you from paying the biometrics fee.

The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) allows international students who have completed a program of study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada to work in Canada for up to three years, depending on the length of the program of study.

This program provides an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and may also help international graduates qualify for permanent residency in Canada through various immigration programs.

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Students who have already received a post-graduation work permit after completing a previous program of study do not qualify to reapply for it.

To be eligible for a PGWP, you must:

• Hold a valid study permit and apply for a PGWP within 90 days of your program completion or your study permit expiry date, whichever comes first; or
  • If you are a holder of a valid visitor record and have held a study permit within the last 180 days, you can apply for a PGWP within 180 days of your program completion from within Canada; or
  • If you have left Canada and have held a study permit within the last 180 days, you can apply for a PGWP from outside of Canada within 180 days of your program completion.
• Complete a program that is at least eight months in duration leading to a degree, diploma or certificate. All MacEwan degree programs delivered on campus are eligible for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
  • IRCC is changing the eligibility criteria for the post-graduation work permit for students who submit their study permit application on or after November 1, 2024. To be eligible, you must graduate from a diploma or certificate program in an eligible field of study. Only certain MacEwan certificates and diplomas qualify.
• Maintain full-time student status in Canada during each regular term of the program of study you complete.
  • Exceptions can be made only for an authorized leave or part-time study in your final regular term.
  • If spring/summer is a mandatory term in your program, you must remain a full-time student to be eligible for a PGWP.
• Have approval to graduate from MacEwan University (or a confer date for School of Continuing Education international professional development programs).
• Have final transcripts and post-graduation work permit (PGWP) document from MacEwan University.
• If you are submitting a PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024, you must also prove English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four language areas.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has implemented new eligibility criteria for Post-graduation Work Permits (PGWP). There are several PGWP eligibility criteria that students must meet in addition to program eligibility.

There are no field of study requirements for university graduates with a bachelor’s degree. This means that all of MacEwan’s bachelor degrees are PGWP eligible, regardless of subject or major.

Certificate or Diploma programs:

• If you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024, there are no field of study requirements.
• If you submitted your study permit application for a certificate or diploma program on or after November 1, 2024, you must graduate from a program with a PGWP eligible field of study Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code.

MacEwan’s certificate and diploma program CIPs are listed below. To confirm if the program is PGWP eligible, find your program CIP code and enter it onto the PGWP eligible field of study search tool. If the CIP code appears on the PGWP eligible field of study list, the program is PGWP eligible.

We recommend students take a screen shot of the program CIP code if it appears on the IRCC PGWP list. Ensure the screenshot shows a date and time stamp taken immediately before submitting your study permit application and retain that image for your PGWP application.

If you enter a degree/diploma program and decide to exit with a diploma/certificate, you must check the CIP code on the IRCC PGWP Field of Study list to confirm if the diploma/certificate is PGWP eligible.

*MacEwan University has submitted a request to update the CIP code for these programs with the Ministry of Advanced Education. Please check back regularly for any updates to these CIP codes.

Study permit/visitor record

You must have a valid study permit or visitor record to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from within Canada.

If your study permit is set to expire within one month after the end of your last exams, meet with an international student specialist at the beginning of your final term to make a plan for timing your PGWP application appropriately. The length of the post-graduation work permit can vary depending on the length of your program.

Post-graduation work permit document

You may apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) as soon as you receive your final transcripts and either a verification of credential/post-graduation work permit (PGWP) document or a program completion letter for School of Continuing Education (SCE) international PD certificates.

Request your verification of credential/post-graduation work permit (PGWP) document from MacEwan International. SCE students will receive a program completion letter during the graduation event.

Request documents from MacEwan University

Instructions for a post-graduation work permit application from within Canada can be found in the MacEwan International Post-Graduation Work Permit Step-by-step Guide.

Step-by-step guide: POST-GRADUATION WORK PERMIT

The IRCC website provides guidance on how to apply for a post-graduation work permit from within and outside of Canada.

IRCC // Applying for a Work Permit - Student Guide

Eligibility

You may be eligible to work full time after you have submitted your PGWP application and while you are waiting for a decision from IRCC, only if:

• At the time of your application, you were the holder of a valid study permit with a condition or remark of R186 (w) and applied for your PGWP within 90 days after your graduation approval date or confer date (SCE International PD).
• You did not work at all between your graduation approval date or confer date (SCE International PD) and submitting your PGWP application.
• You were always a full-time student during your studies, except if you were a part-time student during your final term or you were on authorized leave.

To find out if you are eligible to work while waiting for the decision of your PGWP application, book an appointment with an international student specialist at MacEwan International.

Additional considerations

Study permit expiry

If you are in your last term, you must make sure that your study permit is valid for three months after you complete your program. This will allow you to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and start working when you submit your PGWP application. If your current study permit expires before the decision is made on your PGWP application, you can continue working. This period is referred to as “authorization to work without a permit” as per R186(w).

The graduation verification processes at the university can take up to 6 weeks after your last exam. If you are applying for the PGWP you must ensure your study permit remains valid while you wait for the documents you need for your PGWP application. If you don’t apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) before your study permit expires, you must either change your status to Visitor or apply for status restoration.

If your study permit expires and you do not change your status to Visitor, you have a 90-day grace period to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and restore your student status.

To restore your student status, you must apply for study permit restoration and the PGWP simultaneously online and pay the applicable fees within the 90-day grace period. The fees must be paid online, and you must attach a copy of the receipt to the PGWP application due to system limitations. You cannot work until your study permit and work permit have been approved. If you fail to apply within 90 days or the 90-day grace period has already passed, you must leave Canada.

Travel outside of Canada

Although you may be able to leave Canada after applying for your PGWP and return to work, we strongly recommend you remain in Canada while waiting for a decision on your PGWP application.

If there is an urgent situation that requires you to leave Canada while waiting for a PGWP application decision, book an appointment with a MacEwan international student specialist to discuss the travel documents you must have or should carry with you when you travel back to Canada.

Health insurance

You must keep your immigration and health insurance documents up to date. Be sure to extend your Alberta Health Care by calling this number: 780-427-1432. You will need to provide your PGWP application number to be eligible for Alberta Health coverage extension until you receive your PGWP.

• Apply to extend your Social Insurance Number
• Be sure to extend your Alberta Health Care Plan
• Apply for a new Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) to enter Canada (if you are from a visa-required country)

The IRCC website provides guidance on how to apply for a post-graduation work permit from within and outside of Canada.

IRCC // WORK IN CANADA AFTER YOUR PGWP APPLICATION