Navigating International Student Worker Restrictions: Post-Expiry Guidelines For Employers

On April 30, 2024, Canada's temporary waiver allowing international students to exceed 20 hours of work per week expired. This temporary waiver had been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease labour shortages.

In light of the expiry of this temporary waiver, employers should be aware that any international students employed under study permits will need to adjust their work schedules to comply with the old rules, which require that during academic sessions, eligible international students cannot exceed 20-hours of work per week (which is expected to increase to 24 hours per week this September). During regularly scheduled breaks (those breaks that are part of the school's academic calendar), international students are permitted to work full-time hours. Examples of "regularly scheduled breaks" include winter break or summer holidays.