Working as an International Student

Working On-campus

  • International students registered for full-time study at Trent University are permitted to work on campus without a work permit.
  • "On-campus" is defined as employment in facilities owned, leased or rented by Trent University. In the past, international students at Trent University have found jobs at the library, colleges (such as summer maintenance), athletic complex, alumni office, development office, TI office, food catering company, The Arthur (school newspaper), liaison office (campus tours) and research assistant positions with faculty.
  • Students must possess a valid study permit to work on campus in Canada, and if they have not undergone a medical examination, students may be subject to specific terms and conditions.
  • Please visit the Trent Job Board for information on current job opportunities.

Working Off-campus

As an international student, you may qualify to work off-campus without a work permit. If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to work up to 20-hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or reading week. 

You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

  • you’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
  • you’re enrolled in
    • a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or
    • a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
  • your study program
    • is at least 6 months long and
    • leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
  • you’ve started studying
  • you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Read more on the IRCC website.

IRCC Update Regarding Off-Campus Working Conditions

  • On Friday October 7, 2022 The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the temporary lifting of the 20-hour-per-week cap on the number of hours that eligible post-secondary students are allowed to work off-campus while class is in session. 
  • From November 15, 2022, until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and who have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will not be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule.
  • Foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application, as of October 7, 2022, will also be able to benefit from this temporary change, provided their application is eventually approved. Source

Post Graduate Work Permit

  • The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. 
  • A work permit under the PGWPP may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. 
  • See Canada Citizenship and Immigration website for further information.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. To obtain your SIN, please visit a Service Canada Center with your proof-of-identity documents.

Income Tax Resources

We at Trent International cannot legally provide advice relating to income tax. Please consult a Canadian Income Tax expert.

Are you an international student studying in Canada? You can find out about Canada's income tax system on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Tax Preparation Businesses 

There are a number of businesses in Ontario that provide tax preparation services. You will want to have a business with experience in filing income tax for international students. Using your favourite online search engine, search "local tax preparation services" to find the difference services available at cost.

Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinics 

There are a group of volunteers that will assist with low income tax preparations for free. You can view the listing of upcoming tax clincs on the Government of Canada website.

Glossary of tax terms:

Disclaimer 

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information. 

We at Trent International cannot legally provide advice relating to income tax. Please consult a Canadian Income Tax expert.

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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