International students in Canada may work without a permit

Canada is considering allowing international students to work without a permit while awaiting document renewals, aiming to address application backlogs that have left applicants waiting nearly 250 days.

Under the latest proposal from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students would be permitted to work immediately while awaiting the renewal of their study permits or post-graduation work permits (PGWP).

For those enrolled in programs with mandatory internships, officials plan to waive the requirement for a co-op work permit. Similarly, foreign nationals pursuing vocational training may also be exempt from needing a study permit if they meet specific conditions.

IRCC stated these changes aim to eliminate overlaps and foster a more efficient administrative system. Removing these barriers is also expected to help universities attract more international students.

This proposal comes amidst continuously evolving policies for international students in Canada, coupled with limited resources, which have led to a severe application backlog. As of 9/4, the average waiting time for a work permit in Canada reached 247 days.

Canada is currently one of the two leading global study destinations, alongside the US. Last year, out of approximately one million international students, 41% were from India and 12% from China.

However, the latest data released by the government on 25/2 revealed that only over 115,000 new international students arrived in the country, a decrease of approximately 177,000 individuals (or 61%) compared to 2024.

According to IRCC, the number of study permit holders has decreased by nearly 30% from late 2023 to 2025, falling from almost one million to 690,000.