Working in Canada

Volunteering is a great way to gain unpaid work experience and contribute to a cause you believe in.

International students are allowed to do volunteer work, but please be aware that not all unpaid work experience is considered volunteer work.

More information is available on the IRCC website.

Please make sure you understand the restrictions associated with volunteer work BEFORE starting any unpaid work experience in Canada, and never work without the proper authorization.

Working in Canada when you are not authorized may result in enforcement action taken by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It could also negatively impact your current temporary resident status and any future applications you make under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.

As an international student, your primary purpose in Canada must be to study, and you must be able to cover all the costs of your studies without relying on employment income.

However, there are some specific options available for gaining paid work experience in Canada as an international student.

Information about these options is available on the IRCC website.

Please make sure you understand the restrictions associated with these options BEFORE starting any paid work experience in Canada, and never work without the proper authorization.

Working in Canada when you are not authorized may result in enforcement action taken by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It could also negatively impact your current temporary resident status and any future applications you make under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.

You may be eligible to work on campus without a work permit if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You hold a valid study permit that does not restrict on-campus work 
• You are a full-time student at UVic*
• You have started your program of study
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

*Exception:
✓  If you were a full-time student in all academic terms of your program, but you are studying part time in your final term only to complete your program of study, you can still work on campus.

The definition of on-campus work is available on the IRCC website.

There is no limit to the number of hours that eligible students can work on campus without a work permit. However, you must not allow on-campus work to jeopardize your studies. As an international student, your primary purpose in Canada must be to study.

You may work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You hold a valid study permit that does not restrict off-campus work
• You are a full-time student at the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic*
• Your program of study is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• You have started your program of study
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

*Exceptions:
✓  If your program includes regularly scheduled breaks, your eligibility to work depends on your enrolment status before and after the break. For details, see “Off-campus work during regularly scheduled breaks” below.
✓  If you were a full-time student in all academic terms of your program, but you are studying part time in your final term only to complete your program of study, you can still work off campus up to 20 hours per week.

Off-campus work during regularly scheduled breaks

There is no limit to the number of hours eligible students can work off campus without a work permit during regularly scheduled breaks. To legally work full time during a regularly scheduled break, you must be a full-time student immediately before and immediately after the break. 

• Winter breaks and summer breaks are examples of regularly scheduled breaks at the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic.
• Non-credit Certificate and Diploma program students: The summer session can be considered a regularly scheduled break, as long as your program allows it, and provided you are a full-time student during the winter session immediately before and fall session immediately after that summer session.
• Students also need to follow the maximum duration requirements for regular scheduled breaks noted below.

Maximum duration of regular scheduled breaks

If the institutions regularly scheduled break is more than 150 consecutive days, students are only eligible to work off-campus during the first 150 consecutive days.  

*You cannot work for the entire break if this is longer than 150 consecutive days.

When considering all regular scheduled breaks in the calendar year, students may only work off-campus full-time during the breaks for a total of up to 180 days during each calendar year.

The non-credit certificate and diploma programs offered at the Division of Continuing Studies do not have a mandatory co-op work component in the programs.  Students who are studying in non-credit Continuing Studies programs are not eligible to apply for a co-op work permit.

Students who are studying in ESL programs with the ELC and who meet the IRCC eligibility requirements to work on-campus may be able to work on-campus only during the dates of the ESL program.    Please see the "I want to work on-campus" section above for eligibility requirements.

If you want to stay in Canada and work after you complete your program of study, consider applying for a post-graduation work permit. To qualify for the post-graduation work permit, you must meet the eligibility requirements.  

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Students who were issued a post-graduation work permit following a previous program of study are NOT eligible to apply again.

Instructions for a post-graduation work permit application are available on the IRCC website. You may be required to give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Refer to the IRCC website to find out if you need to complete this procedure. Keep in mind that estimated application processing times do not include the time needed to complete biometrics. 

You must include in your application a transcript with your final grades and a program completion letter stating that you have successfully completed all the requirements for your program of study at the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic. 

Non-credit Certificate and Diploma students:  After you receive your final grades on your DCS My Account, you may request a transcript and a program completion letter.  Please contact your program area for instructions on requesting the program completion letter.

English Language Centre students are NOT eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Some of the non-credit certificate and diploma programs offered at the Division of Continuing Studies currently meet the requirements set by IRCC for students to apply for the PGWP upon successful completion of the program.  Please note that study programs that are offered 100% online are not eligible for the PGWP immigration program. 

If you are interested in a program at Continuing Studies, please contact the program area that is offering the program for more information.

Immigration policies are subject to change at any time; as such, we cannot guarantee that students will receive a PGWP upon completion of these program. Students should review and continue to monitor the IRCC web page for updates on PGWP eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible to work full-time inside Canada after you submit your PGWP application until a decision is made on your application if a) you had a valid study permit when you submitted your PGWP application b) you have completed your program of study and c) if you were eligible to work off-campus while you were studying without a work permit and you didn't work more hours than permitted.

Please review the eligibility requirements at the IRCC web page for PGWP: After you apply

To find a job, you need a resume and cover letter that will impress Canadian employers.

You also need to be able to communicate your competencies during an interview. Your competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes you can offer an employer.

Continuing Studies Career Services is an amazing resource available to all UVic students and alumni, offering resources such as one-on-one coaching sessions, free career workshops, and self-paced online career programs.

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is confidential and needs to be protected. You should be cautious about providing your SIN to people you do not know, including over the phone to suspicious callers. 

If an organization asks you for a SIN, and it is not legally required, you can explain that you prefer not to provide it and offer different proof of identity. 

More information about protecting your SIN is available on the Government of Canada website. 

You can apply for a SIN online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada Centre. For instructions on how to apply, visit the Service Canada website.

To limit the spread of the virus, you are encouraged to apply for a SIN online or by mail during the time of COVID.

If you choose to apply for a SIN in person at a Service Canada Centre, please make sure to follow all public health guidelines. Currently, Service Canada requests that you make an appointment by filling out the Service Request Form. If you have the required documents, you will get a SIN during your visit. There is no fee to apply for a SIN.

The Victoria Service Canada Centre is located in the Bay Centre (1150 Douglas Street) on the 4th floor, in Suite 450. 

Your SIN will be issued on a confirmation of SIN letter. Service Canada no longer issues plastic SIN cards.

To qualify for a SIN as an international student, you must have a valid passport and one of the following documents issued by IRCC:

• valid work permit
• valid study permit that clearly states you are authorized to work in Canada
• valid visitor record that clearly states you are authorized to work in Canada

You must provide your original documents when you apply in person. Photocopies are not accepted.

Additional documents may be required if you are applying for your SIN online or by mail. For more information on required documents for a SIN application, visit the Service Canada website.

If you do not have a valid work permit, and your study permit does not clearly state that you "may accept employment" or "may work" in Canada, you must obtain a new study permit with corrected wording.

Consider the following options:

Option 1: Request a correction from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Choose Option 1 only if your study permit was issued recently at a Canadian port of entry, if you were eligible to work in Canada as an international student when your study permit was issued, and if you are in urgent need of a SIN. If your request is not successful, choose a different option.

• Visit the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office at 400 - 1321 Blanshard Street to explain your situation and request a new study permit.

Option 2: Apply to change your study permit conditions

Choose Option 2 if you were not eligible to work in Canada as an international student when your study permit was issued, but you have since changed your program of study so that you are now eligible.

• Submit an application to change the conditions of your study permit.
• Instructions and application requirements are available on the IRCC website.
• You must include in your application a Letter of Acceptance and a verification of enrolment that confirms your registration status at UVic is full-time.
• Request the verification of enrollment document through DCS My Account  > Dashboard > Transcripts and request forms.  Request a copy of your Letter of Acceptance by contacting your Program Registration Team.

Option 3: Apply to amend your study permit

Choose Option 3 if you were eligible to work in Canada as an international student when your study permit was issued.

• Submit an application to amend your study permit.
• Instructions and application requirements are available on the IRCC website.
• You must include in your application a Letter of Acceptance and a verification of enrolment that confirms your registration status at UVic is full-time.
• Request these documents through DCS My Account  > Dashboard > Transcripts and request forms.
• You must also include in your application a copy of the Letter of Acceptance you included in your original application for the study permit you now need to amend.
• If you no longer have this letter, contact your Program Registration Team to request a copy.
• Make a copy or take a photo of your study permit before submitting the application by mail. You must include your original study permit in the package.
• Use a method that allows you to confirm successful delivery. We recommend Xpresspost or Registered Mail.

As an international student, you are a temporary resident of Canada, so your Social Insurance Number (SIN) begins with a “9” and should be valid for the same duration as your Canadian immigration document.

Whenever you extend your temporary resident status in Canada, and receive a new document issued by IRCC, you will need to update your SIN record. The process to update your SIN record is the same as the initial application process, and you will receive a new confirmation of SIN letter.

If you apply to extend your temporary resident status in Canada before your Canadian immigration document expires, and then your current document expires before you receive the new document, you will probably have maintained status (previously known as “implied status”).

If you are in Canada with maintained status, you may be allowed to continue studying or working until you receive your new document from IRCC, provided that you applied to extend your status in Canada before the expiry date and you have not left Canada.

When you receive the new document from IRCC you will need to update your SIN record with Service Canada. The process to update your SIN record is the same as the initial application process, and you will receive a new confirmation of SIN letter with an updated expiry date to match your new immigration document.

If your employer has questions about implied status and SIN, refer them to the Government of Canada website - Employers' responsibilities for information about SIN code of practice. 

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) allows you to be paid for work and to access government programs, but it does NOT give you authorization to work in Canada.

Check out the "Can I work in Canada?" section above to learn about volunteer work and paid work.

Working in Canada when you are not authorized may result in enforcement action taken by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It could also negatively impact your current temporary resident status and any future applications you make under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.

T2202 slips

• You should receive a T2202 slip from each Canadian post-secondary institution you attended during the tax year.
• For studies at the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic, you can print your T2202 slip from your DCS My Account
• If you have not received your T2202 slips for studies at other post-secondary institutions by February 28, contact each institution directly.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has produced a very helpful online video series for international students.

If you still have questions after consulting the CRA website, contact CRA directly.

Income tax issues can be complicated and confusing. We strongly recommend getting help with preparing and filing your first income tax return so you don't miss out on refunds, credits, and benefits.

If you have a modest income and a simple income tax situation, you may be eligible to attend a free tax preparation clinic.

If you are not able or eligible to attend a tax preparation clinic, you may wish to pay a tax professional to prepare your income tax return. Many companies and Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) provide this service:

• H&R Block and Liberty Tax Service are companies with locations across Canada.  
• Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) are recommended for complicated situations (self-employment, world income, foreign property, etc.)

Always identify yourself as an international student to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) staff, tax preparation clinic volunteers, and tax professionals. Make sure the person assisting you is familiar with income tax obligations for international students.