Should you hire someone with a student study permit?
International students bring exceptional drive, resilience, and global perspective to the Canadian workforce, and hiring them is a direct investment in your community. Because these students pay tuition rates often three to five times higher than domestic learners, they’re highly motivated to take on meaningful work that helps cover the cost of housing, food, books, and fees. When you hire an international student, you’re not only gaining a flexible, reliable employee: you’re also putting money back into the local and national economy. At a time when Canada is strengthening international trade relationships and expanding its global reach, supporting student workers becomes a true win‑win: employers gain committed talent, and Canada benefits from a workforce enriched by knowledge and experience from around the world.
Can you employ people with expired Student Work Permits?
If a student’s study permit expires, they must stop studying and working immediately unless they applied for an extension before the expiry date.
If they did apply before expiry, they are considered to have maintained status, meaning they can continue studying (and working, if eligible) until IRCC makes a decision on their extension application.
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The processing/wait time for this decision is currently listed as between 90 and 242 days.
If they missed the deadline, they must leave Canada or apply to restore their status, and during that restoration period they cannot work.
[canada.ca]
Students Can Often Work Without a Separate Work Permit
Many international students are eligible to work in Canada without a separate work permit. If their study permit includes the proper conditions, they can:
- Work up to 24 hours per week off‑campus while classes are in session.
- Work full‑time during scheduled breaks such as summer or winter holidays.
- Work for any eligible Canadian employer.
These permissions apply only if the student:
- Holds a valid study permit,
- Is a full‑time student, and
- Is enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in a program that is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
[canada.ca]
Some students may have eligibility for on‑campus work only, while others may have a mix of on‑ and off‑campus work authorization depending on the conditions printed on their study permit.
[canada.ca]
Please note:
This information is correct at the time of writing of this blog: it is not intended as legal advice. For your own protection, look up the current parametres for student work permit conditions on official Government of Canada website.
