Từ trước đến nay sinh viên quốc tế ở Mỹ và Canada không được phép làm thêm ngoài trường. Nhưng tháng 4/2005, chính phủ Canada đã hợp tác với các tỉnh và đã thông qua điều luật cho phép sinh viên quốc tế được vừa học vừa đi làm ngoài trường để giúp sinh viên quốc tế có thêm kinh nghiệm làm việc ở Canada.

Điều luật này bao gồm 2 khoản:(1) cho phép sinh viên đại học và cao học vừa học vừa làm ngoài trường để có thêm kinh nghiệm về thị trường lao động của Canada và hiểu thêm về xã hội Canada. (2) cho phép sinh viên quốc tế sau khi tốt nghiệp có cơ hội được ở lại Canada làm 2 năm, thay vì 1 năm như trước kia.

Tuy nhiên, tùy theo chính sách của mỗi tỉnh mà sinh viên có thể đi làm ở những vùng nhất định. Đối với điều luật thứ 1 thì hiện nay chỉ áp dụng cho các tỉnh Manitoba, New Brunswich, Quebec (trừ 2 thành phố Montreal và Quebec). Đối với điều luật thứ 2 thì hiện nay đã được áp dụng cho các tỉnh Nova Scotia, Sakatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia.

Trước khi điều luật này ra đời, các sinh viên quốc tế trên khắp Canada ở tất cả các cấp bậc học chỉ có thể làm thêm ở trong trường, ví dụ như làm ở căn-tin, thư viện, trợ giảng, phụ tá cho giáo sư. Thế nhưng các công việc trong trường rất ít và cũng chỉ được làm tối đa 20 giờ/tuần, do đó chỉ có một số sinh viên quốc tế nào may mắn mới xin được việc. Ngoài ra công việc trong trường hầu như không hề giúp được gì sinh viên quốc tế trong việc có được những kinh nghiệm làm việc thực tế ở nghành mà mình đã học. Theo lời của Bộ trưởng Bộ Di trú Canada, sự thay đổi luật này sẽ giúp cho Canada thu hút thêm nhiều sinh viên quốc tế nữa, và cũng giúp rất nhiều cho các sinh viên để họ có thể thành công sau khi học xong.

Chi tiết về các điều luật này có thể xem thêm tại :
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work.asp (trích dẫn tiếng Anh)
Studying in Canada: Work permits for students
It is possible to work in Canada while you are here as a student, and there are opportunities for jobs on and off campus. You will need to apply.
Learn about:
Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Working on campus
You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work permit if:

•  you are a full-time student at:

1. a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
   
2. a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
   
3. a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees and
   

• you have a valid study permit.
  

Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Working off campus
The Off-Campus Work Permit Program allows certain foreign students to work off campus while completing their studies. To qualify, you must be a full-time student enrolled at a participating publicly funded post-secondary educational institution or in an approved program at an eligible privately funded institution.
Participating publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions:

• are public post-secondary institutions, such as a college or university or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec or
• are private post-secondary institutions that operate under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and receive at least 50 percent of their financing for their overall operations from government grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) and
  
• have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial or territorial government.
  
  Eligible privately funded post-secondary institutions:
  
• are located in a province or territory that has signed a memorandum of understanding with CIC
  
• have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial or territorial government and
  
• have approval from their provincial or territorial government to grant specific degrees.
  
• Please note that not all programs offered by private post-secondary educational institutions qualify. For more information on qualifying programs, contact the eligible institution directly.
  

For a list of participating institutions in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program, see the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

To work off campus, you must apply for a work permit. Do not begin to work off campus until you have received your work permit. The work permit authorizes you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays, and spring break).

A work permit does not guarantee that you will find a job. It is your responsibility to look for work. Even if you work off campus, your studies must be the main reason you are in Canada. If you are no longer a full-time student or do not maintain satisfactory academic results, you must return your work permit to a local Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.
For more information about the program and the application process, contact the international student adviser at your educational institution

Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Co-op and internship programs
For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. Foreign students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.

•     Who can apply
•     How to apply
  

Who can apply
To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following conditions:

•     You must have a valid study permit.
•     Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
  
•     Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
  
•     Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50 percent of the total program of study.
  

How to apply
There are four steps to apply for a work permit:

1.      Obtain an application package.
2.     Read the guide.
   
3.     Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
   
4.     Mail the application form and documents.
   
5.     Obtain an application package.
   

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions and be sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed. The Document Checklist in the application kit will tell you what documents to include.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Incomplete applications will not be processed, but will be returned to you. This will delay the application process.
There is no processing fee for this work permit.
4. Mail the application form and documents.
The application kit contains the mailing address where you must send your application.
Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Working after graduation
If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
A work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.

Note: In some circumstances, the work permit may be valid for less time than the length of your studies.
Studying in Canada: Work permits for students—Work available to your spouse or common-law partner
Eligibility
Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit if:

•     you are a full-time student at:

1.       a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
   
2.       a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
   
3.       a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees
   

•     you have a valid study permit or
  
•     you have a valid work permit.
  

Validity
Work permits for your spouse or common-law partner are valid for the same period of time as your study or work permit.
Note: Accompanying spouses or common-law partners of foreign students (including spouses or common-law partners of foreign students with post-graduation work permits) are eligible for an open work permit, which means they do not need a job offer or a labour market opinion from Service Canada.
Find out more about a labour market opinion in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
How to apply
There are five steps to apply for a work permit:
1. Obtain an application kit.
2. Read the guide.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
5. Mail the application form and documents.
1. Obtain an application kit.
The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your application is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible for a work permit before you apply.
Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions and be sure to provide the required documents. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed. The Document Checklist in the application kit will tell you what documents to include.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Incomplete applications will not be processed, but will be returned to you. This will delay the application process.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
You can pay the fee at most banks in Canada. The application processing fee is payable in Canadian funds only.
You can also pay online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Be sure to print your receipt of payment and include it with your application. Note that some credit cards issued outside North America are not compatible with the online payment system.
When you pay the fee at a bank you must obtain the original receipt of payment (IMM 5401) and send it with your application. To get the receipt see Order a fees receipt under the Related Links section at the bottom of the page.
5. Mail the application form and documents.
The application kit contains the mailing address where you must send your application.
Work permits for students
1. How do I find out if I can work while studying in Canada?
2. Can I still work in Canada even if I don’t apply under a student-related work permit program?
3. If I receive an off-campus work permit for how long is it valid?
4. Is there a fee to apply for an off-campus work permit?
5. Once I apply for an off-campus work permit, how long will it take to process my application?
6. If I am eligible and the institution where I study is participating in the program, can I apply for a job off campus right away, or do I have to wait until I receive my off-campus work permit?
7. Are there any restrictions on where I can work or the type of job that I can apply for under the Off-Campus Work Program?
8. Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work once I receive my off-campus work permit?
9. I am considering studying in Canada. Can I apply for an off-campus work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit?
10. What must I do to extend my stay or change my status (for example, from a full-time student to a full-time worker)?
11. Why is the Off-Campus Work Permit Program not available to foreign students when they start their studies?
12. How do I find out if the institution where I study participates in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?