How to Hire a Foreign Student in Quebec Legally?
Not all academic programs offer foreign students the same rights in terms of work during and after their studies. This causes concern for some employers when offering a job to a foreign student, especially when the student presents only a study permit and not a work permit. Here are some rules to clarify the situation.
Possibility of working during studies
Some foreign students can indeed work off-campus without a work permit.
They cannot work more than 24 hours per week during the session and full-time during school holidays. Therefore, it is important to keep track of the weekly hours worked by the foreign student and ensure strict compliance with this limit.
To qualify under this work permit exemption policy, the student, holding a valid study permit, must still meet the following cumulative conditions :
1) Be a full-time student ;
2) Be enrolled in a designated post-secondary educational institution or a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only) ;
3) Be enrolled in a program lasting six months or more that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
These conditions can be consulted here.
In practice, the student will not hold a separate work permit from their study permit, which can cause confusion.
However, if their study permit includes the following mention:
« May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph 186(f), (v) or (w) of the IRPR, and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria. »
…the student can work during their studies.
It is advisable to seek advice from a professional or the authorities if this mention does not appear on the study permit before risking hiring a student who does not have the right to work.
It is also suggested to obtain a certificate from the academic institution attended by the foreign student to attest to their full-time student status.
Case of internships
If the student presents a work permit, check that the right to work is not limited to an internship during studies. If so, the work permit will indicate the name of the academic institution as the employer. This does not allow the student to work full-time for a Canadian employer outside of their internship during studies.
Possibility of working after studies
Advantages
Another advantage offered to some foreign students is the ability to obtain an open post-graduation work permit after their studies. It lasts as long as the duration of the studies, with a maximum possible duration of 3 years.
This advantage is offered only once. That is, the student cannot obtain a post-graduation work permit after a first study program, pursue a new program, and obtain another.
Application
Unlike the previous case, the foreign student must submit a formal work permit application. The work permit application can be made online or sometimes at the border.
The possibility of applying for an open post-graduation work permit is generally offered only to students who have been enrolled full-time in a designated educational institution for any training lasting more than 8 months. They must also justify a sufficient number of hours.
The description of the hour and diploma conditions can be consulted by clicking here.
Another favor from the authorities to foreign students authorized to benefit from a post-graduation work permit: if the student has completed their training and submitted the online post-graduation work permit application, they could even start working full-time before receiving the permit.
In this case, the employer, before hiring the student, should ask for a copy of the receipt of their online permit application and proof of completion of the program.
This article covers recent news and is therefore subject to updates at any time. Its last update was on April 24, 2025.