Immigration & Permits

Students are responsible for maintaining their immigration status and obeying Canadian immigration regulations while studying in Canada.

Check your immigration documents (study permit and/or temporary resident visa/eTA) to make sure they are accurate and up to date. Plan to renew them at least six months before they expire. A valid permit allows you to remain in Canada while you study. 

Learn More About Studying in Canada

Book an appointment with the Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor for assistance with immigration applications for you or your dependent.

Book an Appointment

Post-Graduation Work Permits

For information about changes to the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) recently announced by IRCC, please visit our frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Working in Canada

Find out about working on- and off-campus, as a co-op student or intern, and after graduation.

Work On- Or Off-Campus

Full-time students can work on- or off-campus if their study permit has the conditions to allow them to work, they have started their academic program courses and they have a social insurance number (SIN).

Working on campus

You can work on your school campus, without a work permit, if you:

  • Are a full-time post-secondary student
  • Have a valid study permit or on-maintained status
  • Have a social insurance number (SIN)

“On-campus” means you can work at all the buildings on your school campus.Students are allowed to work on the campus of the educational institution at which they are registered in full-time studies. If an institution has more than one campus, the student can work at different locations on those campuses provided they are within the same municipality. If an institution has campuses in different cities, the student is restricted to working on the campus where they are registered as a full-time student.

You must stop working on-campus:

Working off-campus

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
  • Your study program:
    • Is at least 6 months long and
    • leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
  • You’ve started studying (you can’t work before you start your studies).
  • You have a social insurance number (SIN).

If your study permit doesn’t have work conditions on it:
 

  • You can ask to have these conditions added if you’re eligible to work off campus. There’s no fee to add these conditions to your permit.
  • You’ll need to request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN from Service Canada.

International students cannot work off campus if you are:
 

How many hours can I work?

You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.

During regular school terms, students who are allowed to work off-campus may work off-campus a maximum of 24 hours per week starting from fall 2024.

During scheduled breaks in the school year, such as during winter and summer breaks, students may work unlimited hours off-campus.

How many hours you can I work on campus?

You can work as many hours as you want, in addition to working off-campus, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for working on campus. If you were a full-time student in every term of your program but you’re studying part-time in your final term to finish your required coursework, you can still work an unlimited number of hours on campus, provided you continue to meet the applicable eligibility requirements.

Final academic session & regularly scheduled breaks

Final Academic Session

Students who have maintained full-time status for the duration of their program of study, and who only require a part-time course load in their final academic session in order to complete their program of study, may work on campus in addition work off campus up to 20 hours per week during their final academic session.

Regularly Scheduled Break

Students who are enrolled full-time during the academic sessions before and after a regularly scheduled break and who decide to undertake a full-time or part-time course load during that regularly scheduled break are eligible to work off campus on a full-time basis.

If a program of study does not provide for a regularly scheduled break and a student creates their own break in a program, it is considered a leave from studies, rather than a regularly scheduled break. Students who create their own break in a program are not eligible to work on- or off-campus during that break.

Work after final exam/practicum in your final term

You can continue working off-campus on part-time basis after your final exams/final work term/practicum in your final term. However, you must stop working when you receive the completion letter and/or final transcript.

Find out about distance learning and PGWP eligibility.

Work Term, Practicum & Co-op Education

Why do a work term, practicum or co-op?
  • Maximize job opportunities upon graduation.
  • Advisors prepare students for interviews and job placements.
  • Get career-related work experience while studying at Selkirk College.

Access guidance on a co-op work permit application.

Request Letters

PurposeRequired Selkirk College LettersMaking the Request
Study permit (new)
  • Letter of admission (LOA)
You will be provided your (LOA) on being formally accepted into a program. There is no need to request these documents. If there are any challenges, please contact us.
Study permit (renewal)
  • Verification of enrolment
  • Transcript 
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • Registration receipt
  • You registration receipt is available in your Student Record. It is important that you have a document with your Canadian address.
  • Please take this opportunity to ensure your address and phone number and emergency contact are up to date. 
Invitation for family (general)
  • Verification of enrolment
Invitation for family (graduation)
  • Verification of enrolment
  • General Invitation letter (available mid-January)
  • Request your verification of enrolment.
  • A general letter will be generated by the Registrar’s Office with the date and time of graduation and that we encourage families to attend.
  • Write your own letter of invitation. Access helpful tips! Some Canadian visa offices may require it to be notarized. Check the requirements for the office you are applying to. Find a notary in BC.
Post-graduate work permit
  • Final transcript
  • Completion letter
  • Request final transcript via your Student Record.
  • Request completion letter. 
Amend or correct a study permit
  • Verification of enrolment
  • Transcript 
Authorized leave letter
  • Authorized leave letter

Instruction Guides and Checklist

Travel outside Canada as an international student

An officer will confirm whether you meet all the requirements before allowing you to come back to Canada.You will be able to come back to Canada

•            if you have a valid eTA

•            if you have a multiple-entry temporary resident visa and it has not expired. Please double check your visa expiry date before you leave Canada. You may need to extend it within Canada before you travel.