Working as an international student

1. Study permit - In some cases, your study permit also act as your work permit. Your study permit must say one of the following:

• May work 24 hrs per week off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of IRPR, or
• May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.

2. Social Insurance Number (SIN) - A Social Insurance Number is required in order to work in Canada. To apply for your SIN, bring your valid study permit and passport and to the nearest Service Canada Office. 

If you study permit does not specify working conditions, you may request to amend your study permit with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at no cost. If you are an ELLA student moving into an academic program, you may also apply for a Change of Conditions. 

You may work on-campus without a work permit if you:

• are a full-time student enrolled at Douglas College
• have a valid study permit
• have a valid SIN 

"On-campus" is defined as employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus. Students are only allowed to work on the campus at which they are registered as a FT student. Students cannot work at OTHER campuses affiliated with the College. For example, if you are enrolled full-time at the New West campus, you can only work at the New West campus.

The employer can be the institution, a faculty, a student organization, the students themselves (self-employment taking place on campus), a private business, or a private contractor providing services to the institution on the campus. IRCC does not regulate the amount of hours you can work on-campus. 

International students can work off-campus if:

• You are a full-time student enrolled at Douglas College;
• You are in an academic program that is at least 6 months in duration and that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate;
• You have a valid study permit;
• Your study permit has the conditions that allow you to work;
• You have a valid SIN.

To maintain working eligibility off-campus (and eligibility for a Post-Graduate Work Permit), most students must be enrolled full-time (9 credits minimum) for the Winter and Fall semesters unless it is your last semester. PDD and certificate students (excluding Early Childhood Education Certificate students) must also be enrolled full-time during summer semester. See table above. 

For other programs including ELLA, there is NO minimum enrollment requirement for Summer semester. Students may enrol as PT, FT, or take the Summer semester off.

Eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions once you have commenced your program of study. During scheduled breaks eligible students can work full-time regardless of your course load.

Co-op work permit is a work permit that allows a student to work more than the working hours (on or off-campus work) authorized by a study permit.  

Who needs a co-op work permit? 

Group A. Students who are accepted into a Co-op Education Program at Douglas (check Career Centre for more details on application for this program) or students who will register in COBA 4885 to complete their program. 

Group B. Students whose programs require them to finish a practicum/internship/working hours to graduate. 

How do you apply for a co-op work permit? 

For group A (students in Co-op Education Program or COBA 4885 students) 

1. Contact Career Centre to learn details about how you can apply to the co-op program or contact your program coordinator/chair for approval to register in COBA 4885; 
2. Once you are admitted in the co-op program or approved to register in COBA 4885, Career Centre will share the list of participating students with Douglas International for us to issue you the co-op support letters. You DO NOT need to request this letter from us.  

For group B (students whose programs require practicum/internship/working hours to graduate) 

1. You should apply for your co-op work permit along with your initial study permit application. Make sure your LOA has such working requirement mentioned in Box 24 on your Letter of Acceptance (LOA). You should indicate that work is an essential part of your studies in the Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC) questionnaire (see the guide for more instructions) and submit your LOA as a proof for co-op letter in the application. Make sure you receive a co-op work permit along with your initial study permit at the Port of Entry when you land in Canada. 
2. If you did not receive a co-op work permit and you have already commenced your studies at Douglas, you should contact us.  
3. If you changed your program to a program that requires to finish a practicum/internship/working hours to graduate, please make sure you request a LOA for this new program. You should indicate that work is an essential part of your studies in the IRCC questionnaire (see the guide for more instructions) and submit your LOA as a proof for co-op letter in the application.  

Application guides 

Douglas College - Application guide

Douglas College - Questionnaire guide    

Douglas College - IMM 5710 form guide     

Application fee 

Free  

What do you need to know about this co-op work permit? 

1. You need to hold a co-op work permit before you start working on the practicum/internship/working hours required by your program. 
2. The work permit issued to you by IRCC will ONLY authorize you to work for these specific internship hours and no other types of work (i.e. regular on/off Campus work).   
3. To perform the required working by your program, you may work full-time during the semester while holding a co-op work permit. However, it is important that you track your hours regularly. When you reach the required amount of work, you must stop using the co-op work permit.    
4. If you decide to continue for the same employer after completing the required amount, you must follow your off-campus working eligibility hours (i.e. maximum 24 hours per week during an academic semester, see more details under Working Off-Campus) - you still need to meet all Douglas College and IRCC requirements.   
5. As a study permit holder, you are required to be actively pursuing your studies toward successful completion of your program and your focus should be on your studies - not working.   
6. You may also need a medical exam for this co-op work permit application. Please check here for more details or contact us through webform.