Last Updated: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:45:41 PM ET
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Working On Campus
Am I allowed to work on campus?
Students are permitted to work on campus and be paid if:
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they are registered as a full-time student,
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they hold a valid study permit and,
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they have a valid Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.)
Visiting scholars who hold a work permit identifying Queen's as their employer are also permitted to work on campus.
What is Queen's "Work Study" program?
Queen's Work-Study Program increases access to part-time jobs on campus for students who demonstrate financial need. It does not guarantee you a job. Any Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student who is registered in a minimum 60% course load (or “full-time” for graduate students) may apply. See the Work Study page of the Student Awards website for application deadlines and other information.
How can I find a job?
Finding a job can be difficult. Luckily, Queen's Career Services Office works with students who are looking for part-time jobs during their studies and careers for after they graduate. Their staff can help you develop skills that will help you find a job.
They have also developed a guide to some possible on campus employers.
How do I get a Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.)?
A Social Insurance Number card is required to be paid for work in Canada. See below for details.
How can I work at Queen's as a visiting scholar/researcher?
Queen's provides information for international academic visitors and their hosts at: http://www.queensu.ca/internationalvisitors
I am a visiting scholar/researcher or post-doctoral fellowship holder, can I extend my permission to work at Queen's?
The immigration rules that relate to visiting scholars/researchers and post-doctoral fellowship holders differ. A post-doctoral fellowship holder can extend their work permit up to a total of 3 years (with a job contract extension). Visiting scholars/researchers are generally eligible to extend their existing status but may have difficulty changing immigration status (ie. Visitor record to work permit).
The application can be submitted on paper (by mail/post) or online. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) try to give detailed instructions throught the online application process. A few useful additional notes include:
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Working Off Campus
You must have a work permit to be allowed to work off-campus. Students may qualify for a work permit if a work placement is a required part of their academic program OR they qualify for the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.
Spouses or partners of international students also qualify for work permits.
The Co-op/Internship Work Permit
If a work placement is a required part of your academic program then you may qualify for a work permit at no charge.
There are few programs at Queen's that qualify their students for a work permit through this program. They include (but may not be limited to):
The application for this work permit is free and must be made on paper. Information and the application form are available from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. More information about getting a work permit for any of these programs is available from the International Student Advisors at the Queen's University International Centre (QUIC).
The Off-Campus Work Permit
The Off-Campus Work Permit program gives eligible students the opportunity to work off-campus during their studies at Queen's. It allows for a maximum of 20 hours work per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (e.g., winter or summer holidays and reading week). You do not need to have a job offer before applying for the work permit.
A work permit gives you permission to work off campus but it does not guarantee that you will find a job. It is your responsibility to find a job.
Even if you work off-campus, your studies must remain your primary purpose for being in Canada.
Note: The university is required to verify your eligibility for the program to the provincial and federal governments.
| Those who request an Eligibility Verification Number (EVN) and do not maintain eligibility (see below) will have their names reported to the government. |
This will be done whether you complete the process to apply for a Work Permit or not. If you get an Eligibility Verification Number, then decide not to apply for the Work Permit, there is a process to withdraw your consent.
Am I eligible to get an Off-Campus Work Permit?
You are eligible for an off-campus work permit if you:
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have a valid study permit;
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are studying at a participating institution (Queen’s University included);
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have been a full-time student for at least six of the twelve months preceding your application for a work permit (verified by the Office of the University Registrar);
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are in satisfactory academic standing (as determined by the Office of the University Registrar)
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have an Eligibility Verification Number (EVN) based on Queen's University verifying your eligibility as noted above (a new EVN is required even if you are applying to renew an existing off-campus work permit);
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pay the application fee of $150 (payments at a Canadian bank require a special receipt, available from QUIC)
You are not eligible to apply for an off-campus work permit if you are:
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participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT);
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participating in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT);
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receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); or
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attending a participating institution and registered in an English-as-a-second-language or French-as-a-second-language program. (This includes the Queen’s School of English);
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at Queen's as part of a formal exchange agreement.
How do I apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) try to give detailed instructions throught the online application process. A few useful additional notes include:
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The "Apply Online" link is the fifth in the main listing of options. Clicking it presents you with a drop-down menu where you can choose the Off-Campus Work Permit.
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Whether you use their GCKey or the Sign-in Partner login, keep a record of your username and password somewhere safe.
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If you decide to exit at any point, all responses submitted until that point will be saved. The next time you access your MyCIC account page and click on the Work Permit application you have in process, you will be brought to the last unanswered question.
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Your application includes requesting Eligibility Verification (if successful, you will be electronically issued an Eligibility Verification Number [EVN]) AND requesting the Off-Campus Work Permit (OCWP). The OCWP request can only be completed after you receive your EVN.
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The application fee can be paid online (if you have a valid credit card), or through a Canadian bank (using a payment form available from our International Student Advisors). A Work Permit application costs $150 CAN.
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada publishes current processing times for temporary residency document applications (this includes Work Permits) through their processing centre.
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada publish an instruction guide, and copies of the forms on their site.
More information on the GCKey and the application process is available from the International Student Advisors or through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Do not begin to work off campus until you have received your work permit and applied for your Social Insurance Number card.
My spouse/partner is with me in Canada. Can they work?
The spouse or partner of an international student or worker is eligible to work in Canada but they must first get a work permit. The application for the work permit can be submitted through the mail.
The paper application should include, in addition to the documents requested on the document checklist, copies of your (the student's) study permit and passport. This is necessary because the spouse/partner is eligible for the work permit based on the student's immigration status in Canada.
Further information of interest to spouses and partners is available at our Spouses, Partners and Families page.
I am studying at Queen's through an exchange, can I work off-campus?
As noted above, the Off-Campus Work Permit program is not available to exchange students. In general, that means you are limited to on-campus work during your studies. If you hope to work off-campus after your exchange at Queen's, you have few options to get a Work Permit. One possibility is to find out whether your government has an agreement with the Canadian government for youth mobility. International Experience Canada oversees this program.
If your government does not have such an agreement, there may be an option through specially-recognized third-party organizations. Beyond that, it may be very difficult to get a work permit. Please come in to QUIC to meet with our International Student Advisors to discuss any other options.
I came to Queen's with an off-campus work permit from my studies at another Canadian school. Do I need a new work permit?
You do not need a new work permit but you must log in to the MyCIC section of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website and transfer reporting responsibilities from your previous institution to Queen's. If you do not, you will be considered ineligible for the Off-Campus Work Permit and will be unable to apply for a new one after extending your study permit.
How can I find a job?
Finding a job can be difficult. Luckily, Queen's Career Services Office works with students who are looking for part-time jobs during their studies and careers for after they graduate. Their staff can help you develop skills that will help you find a job.
How do I get a Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) card?
A Social Insurance Number card is required to be paid for work in Canada. See below for details.
Can I extend my off-campus or spouse/partner work permit?
Yes. The process to extend your work permit should be the same as when you first applied in Canada.
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Working after Graduation
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
Students who complete an academic degree, diploma or certificate program that is at least 8 months in length may be eligible for a work permit through the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
This program is available after the completion of one degree. It is a "once-in-a-lifetime" program which means that even if you complete three degrees in Canada, you can only participate in the program once.
The work permit that is issued is "open". This means that it will not name an employer (a job offer is not required). This allows for movement between employers.
More information is available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
When can I apply for a work permit through this program?
As the name implies, you can only apply for a work permit through the Post-Graduation Work Permit program when you have graduated. This does not mean convocation. Instead, you must wait only until you have completed all the requirements of your degree. For undergraduate students, this is usually the date marks are released after exams. For graduate students, it is the date when you submit your revised thesis (if you are in a thesis-based program). Check with your Faculty or academic department for details.
You must submit your work permit application within 90 days of completing the requirements of your degree and you must have a valid study permit when you send it. You do not need a job offer to apply.
How long will my work permit be valid?
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows one month of work for every month of study if your academic program was between 8 months and 2 years in length.
If your academic program was 2 years or longer you qualify for a 3-year work permit.
How do I apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit?
Applications can be made online or by mail (post). Online instructions are available below. Paper forms are available through Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC).
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) try to give detailed instructions throught the online application process. A few useful additional notes include:
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The "Apply Online" link is the fifth in the main listing of options. Clicking it presents you with a drop-down menu where you can choose the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
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Whether you use their GCKey or the Sign-in Partner login, keep a record of your username and password somewhere safe.
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If you decide to exit at any point, all responses submitted until that point will be saved. The next time you access your MyCIC account page and click on the Work Permit application you have in process, you will be brought to the last unanswered question.
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The application fee can be paid online (if you have a valid credit card), or through a Canadian bank (using a payment form available from our International Student Advisors). A Work Permit application costs $150 CAN.
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada publishes current processing times for temporary residency document applications (this includes Work Permits) through their processing centre.
More information on the GCKey and the application process is available from the International Student Advisors or through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
How can I find a job?
Finding a job can be difficult. Luckily, Queen's Career Services Office works with students who are looking for part-time jobs during their studies and careers for after they graduate. Their staff can help you develop skills that will help you find a job.
When can I begin working?
If you have an Off-Campus Work Permit (see above for details), you can begin working at any time. The Off-Campus Work Permit can be used as a "bridge" between the end of your studies and the date you receive your Post-Graduation Work Permit.
If you do not have an Off-Campus Work Permit, you must wait until you receive your Post-Graduation Work Permit to begin working.
Where can I find more information about what to expect after graduation?
The "After Queen's" page of this site provides information about what comes after you complete your studies.
Can I extend my Post-Graduation Work Permit?
How long a Post-Graduation Work Permit is valid depends on the length of your academic program. If your passport expires before the "normal" expiry date then you can apply to extend your Post-Graduation Work Permit until the end of your eligibility.
If you are near the end of your eligibility and you want to continue to work, your employer must get a "Labour Market Opinion" (LMO) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. With a positive LMO, your employer can offer you the job and you can apply for a new Work Permit. It is important that you and your employer know that getting a LMO for someone already working with a Post-Graduation Work Permit is easier than getting an LMO for a new employee as the employer does not need to advertise the job across Canada. (If the job is a permanent position and not a time-limited contract).
NEW! If you have applied for Permanent Resident status in Canada and find your Post-Graduation Work Permit expiring before that status is granted, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced a Bridging Open Work Permit to ensure uninterrupted work.
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Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.)
A Social Insurance Number card is required to be paid for work in Canada. International students who successfully apply will get a SIN card that starts with a “9” and that has an expiry date (which usually matches their study permit). The Social Insurance Number is also used for credit record purposes. It is very important and should be kept confidential (it does not need to stay in your wallet).
Applications are processed by Service Canada. The office nearest to Queen’s University is at 1300 Bath Road (in the Frontenac Mall). It is open from 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. The application form is available at the office. There is no cost to apply for a Social Insurance Number.
If you have only a study permit (ie. no work permit), you must present your:
If you have a work permit, you must present your:
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passport, and;
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work permit.
Once you submit your application, you will be given a receipt to prove you have applied. The receipt can be shown to your employer to allow you to start work and/or be paid.
What happens if my Social Insurance Number card expires?
International students or workers should be issued a Social Insurance Number card with an expiry date that matches their study or work permit. To continue to work and be paid, it will be necessary to extend your card. This can only be done after extending your study and/or work permit.
By applying to extend your study and/or work permit before their expiry date, you will have "implied status" which allows you to stay in Canada while a decision is made. That "implied status" also applies to your Social Insurance Number card. That means you can legally continue to work and be paid while you wait for your new immigration document. Once it arrives, you can return to the Service Canada office with the proper documents to apply for a new card (the number on the card will be the same).
Do I need a Social Insurance Number to complete Canadian Income Tax forms?
A Social Insurance Number is not required to complete Canadian Income Tax forms. Those without a Social Insurance Number who wish to complete Canadian Income Tax forms can apply for an Individual Tax Number along with their Tax forms. More information about Income Taxes is available below.
What services require me to give my Social Insurance Number?
Many more organizations ask for your Social Insurance Number than are supposed to. Service Canada, the portion of our Federal Government that issues and manages Social Insurance Numbers, provides information about which services can require you to give your Social Insurance Number and which cannot and what to do if an organization that should not require your Social Insurance Number refuses to accept other identity documents.
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Income Taxes
Most students will not earn enough income from Canadian sources to be required to pay income tax. Nonetheless, if you earn income from Canadian sources you are expected to complete Canadian Income Tax forms.
Completing Canadian Income Tax forms can qualify you for hundreds of dollars in immediate tax refunds and thousands of dollars in long-term tax credits if you have future income in Canada.
Visit our "Taxes" page for more information.
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Information for Employers
Information for employers can be found on our "Hiring International Students and Graduates" page. There you will find details of how easy it is to hire international students during or after their academic program.
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Further Questions?
If you have further questions, after reviewing the information above, advising is available (without an appointment) from the International Student Advisors at the Queen's University International Centre from Monday to Friday between 1:00pm and 4:30pm.
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