Part Time Job Options in Canada for International Students

When you are studying abroad in Canada, you are burdened with high tuition fees or even leisure activities entail high costs. The best way to ease the burden or help you pay off your tuition fees is to get engaged in part time jobs in Canada, be it on-campus or off-campus.

As international students need to pay a fee ranging somewhere between CAD 9,341 and CAD 37,700, part time jobs in Canada become pertinent. It covers a portion of not just tuition fees, but also daily expenses, or simply just for extra allowances. They might help you in finding that financial balance, which helps in having a better experience of studying in Canada as an international student.

Here is a guide about all the available options for part time jobs in Canada for Indian students, the part time job salary in Canada that you may expect while applying for a type of job, the best part time jobs for Indian students in Canada, popular jobs for students in Canada, and much more.

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Part-Time Job Regulations For International Students In Canada

Find out about regulations related to the part time jobs in Canada, and part time job salary in Canada, by the  government for international students in the country:

Working Part-Time On-Campus:

You can apply for on-campus part time jobs in Canada for international students only if your study permit is so mentioned. However, you can work without a work permit, if you:

• are a full-time post-secondary student at a private college in Quebec that is run under the same rules as public schools and is at least 50% sponsored by government grants; a public post-secondary Canadian college or university or CEGEP in Quebec; or a private school that is allowed to award degrees under provincial law

• have a valid study permit

• have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You will not be allowed to work on-campus jobs for students in Canada, if:

•  you are not studying full-time

• your study permit is expired

• you are on authorised leave from studies

• you are transferring to another school and are not currently studying

 Your employer for on-campus part time jobs in Canada for students can be the university you are enrolled at, a faculty member, a student organisation, yourself if you run a business, a private business or a private contractor that has some on-campus business on campus.

Working Part-Time Off-Campus:

You can also opt for off-campus part time jobs in Canada for Indian students, only if:

• You are a student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)

• You are enrolled in a secondary-level vocational training program or a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program

• You are enrolled in a program that is at least 6 months long, and that leads to a diploma, certificate or degree

• You are a holder of a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Students enrolled in part-time courses can also work at off-campus part time jobs in Canada if:

• You satisfy the rest of the requirements, as mentioned above

• You are studying part-time because you are in the last semester and you do not require a full course load or you were a full-time student, up until your last semester

Students who are on authorised leave from their studies are changing schools or not currently studying will not be allowed to work off-campus.

As per the Government of Canada, an international student can work off-campus for a maximum of 20 hours a week during regular school terms. This limit is absolved for vacations or semester breaks.

Top 10 Part-Time Jobs and Salary in Canada for International Students

Doing a part time job and earning a salary is important for international students to financially support themselves. Here are the list of the top 10 part time jobs in Canada for international students, along with their part time job salary in Canada:

Highest Paying Part Time Jobs in Canada for Indian Students

Find below details of the jobs which have the highest part time job salary in Canada for Indian students:

Bookkeeper: A bookkeeper is usually responsible for conducting daily banking activities, recording transactions such as purchases, sales revenue, invoices, payments and expenses, producing various financial reports, processing payments and reconciling reports to third-party records. Bookkeeping is one of the good part time jobs in Canada for students and a student should have a strong sense of time management and organisational skills and mathematical knowledge.

Sales Assistant: A sales assistant provide reliable support to any sales team in any organisation, and is one of the most popular part time jobs in Canada. His/her primary role is to increase the sales volume and maintain regular contact with significant customers. A sales assistant would be responsible for working with the sales team to monitor active purchases and make sure that the orders are delivered on time. Besides good communication skills, a sales assistant should also be computer literate and have good product knowledge. 

Customer Service Assistant: The activities of a customer service assistant include answering customer enquiries, giving information and helping to solve customer problems, selling products and taking orders, arranging services for customers, processing complaints and so on. While anybody can pursue this role, make sure you have extremely good communication skills to be a right fit for the job.

Office Assistant: All in all, the duties of an office assistant are to oversee clerical tasks, maintain the files, welcome visitors to the office, take and deliver messages, keep an inventory of office supplies, answer phones, schedule meetings and more. 

Cook:  The role of a cook is one of the most popular part time jobs for Indian students in Canada. The duties of a cook include preparing food, adhering to the menu, and following food health and safety procedures. If you think you have a way with food, then becoming a cook in a foreign country can be quite rewarding. 

Programme Facilitator: With the primary responsibility to execute programme projects, initiatives, curricula, etc., a programme facilitator directly reports to the programme director or the programme manager. The programme may incorporate workshops and/or training, community service endeavours, outings/ field trip exposures/ tours, projects and presentations and more. It also pays a good part time job salary in Canada.

Uber Driver: This job role comes with dependency on certain factors such as the province of study, your vehicle and your travelling history. Meet the minimum age requirements and you are all set to drive an Uber in Canada as an international student. It is still a popular choice for part time jobs in Canada.

Nanny: One of the easiest jobs to find in Canada as an international student is the job of a nanny. If you like children, then this job is certainly for you. The major responsibilities of a nanny include taking care of the children, planning their daily schedule, taking them to and from school and cleaning and laundry, among other things.

Server/ Bartender: While bartenders have to do everything with mixing and serving alcoholic beverages, servers or waiters have to serve both food and beverages. Bartender jobs are mostly on offer in the Canadian cities of Ontario, Vancouver and Toronto. It is a good option for students, and also pays a good part time job salary in Canada.

Dog Walker: Also known as a pet sitter, dog walkers are indeed in-demand jobs for students in Canada. They walk dogs of their clients, provide them with food and water and are also responsible for taking the pet to a veterinarian whenever required.

Apart from these, international students can also find opportunities or positions as painters, camp counsellors, bakers, reading programme leaders, programme facilitators, festival coordinators and so on, they also pay moderate part time job salary in Canada to international students.

How to Find a Part time Job in Canada?

Now the question is how do you find these part time jobs in Canada for Indian students? Before you start looking for jobs, make sure of the following:

• As mentioned above, be it for on- or off-campus jobs in Canada, you would need a Social Insurance Number. Make sure that you have it ready before you begin your job hunt. Also, not just for work, a SIN will help you access national programmes and other benefits.

• Update your CV or resume, and cover letter and start preparing for interviews.

Moving on, here is how you can find both/ either on-campus and off-campus part time jobs in Canada:

• On-campus: On-campus part time jobs in Canada are advertised, and this propaganda can usually be easily found on campus, on notice boards or on the official website of the Canadian university. For an efficient job search on campus, join a student association or committee, do volunteer work, participate in information sessions, webinars, and more. They are known for better part time job salary in Canada.

• Off-campus:  It is often wondered if it is at all possible to find part time jobs in Canada for international students, off-campus. Well, it is possible provided you have access to the industry you want to join. Try and build your business network and make connections with leaders or people who might be able to help you. They make good part time jobs in Canada for Indian students

Top Cities in Canada to Study and Work

Given below are the top five cities that welcome international students and offer them a pool of innovative part time jobs in Canada, according to the 2022 global ranking by QS:

Popular Universities in Canada for International Students

Here is the list of the top-ranked universities where part time jobs in Canada for international students are available for those enrolled, curated based on THE World University Rankings 2022:

Online Jobs In Canada for International Students

With every business shifting to a digital space, online part time jobs in Canada for Indian students are becoming more popular with each passing day. Not only online jobs are present in abundance, but they also provide a proper work-life balance to students in their Master or Bachelors. Some of the top online jobs for students, and which also have good part time job salary in Canada, and that can be taken up by international students studying for Masters/Bachelors in Canada are as follows:

• Web Designer

• CMS Operator

• Web Developer

• Digital Marketing Executive

• Social Media Manager

• Content Writer

Minimum Wages and Income Taxes for International Students in Canada

The minimum wage is the hourly wage that an employer must pay for jobs for students in Canada. It's the responsibility of the province to determine the part time job salary in Canada. There are varying minimum wages for different work classes, and provinces and territories have different labour standards. The federal minimum wage was set to the general adult minimum wage for the province or territory where the work is done.

If you earn income from various sources such as employment, scholarships, investments, and assistantships, then you should file an income tax return. Clearly, jobs for students in Canada are taxable. There are various tax credits and deductions available to students.

Freelancing as a Part-time Job in Canada

Freelancing is where the service provider or worker is self-employed and offers their services on a project basis. This project may be a single project or a group of projects contracted in a single unit. This work format is gaining a lot of popularity for its comfort level and also the absence of a cap on possible income. Freelancers put their skills on sale and charge fees for the completion of certain work through those skills. There is a standard that is used as a cost driver by the freelancer and also acts as a catalogue for the client. This rate may differ based on market and skill quality basis.

Freelancing is also an option available for part time jobs in Canada for students. The only requirement for the student is to own a valid Study Permit. They can use their skills to earn money, and there is no limit on wage rate as such, only their skills have to justify the charges. Freelancing can prove extremely beneficial as:

• There is an opportunity to earn a lot more money within the same work hour limit as other job options.

• International students can use their innate skill set to earn part time job salary in Canada, and respect for their exotic talent on foreign soil.

• The rate and popularity both increase with time and hence the return multiplies.

• The format is best known to help build perfection in the skill set, entrepreneurial acumen and money management.

• The work hour limit is still applicable but in the case of freelancing, it acts as a blessing, as it helps in drawing a balance between work and study life.

• The absence of an employer-employee relationship allows an equal ground between interacting parties and helps grow confidence while working and studying in a foreign nation.

• Some of the best freelancing part time jobs in Canada for international students are Content Writer, Translator, Copywriter, Graphic designer, Web Designer, Illustrator and Goods Refurbisher.

The part time jobs in Canada not only help to meet the financial ends of the international students but also helps to gain industry-ready experience and skills. They train the students for full time job opportunities in future and contribute to better living standards during the time of education.

Do not let doubts and queries hold you back from achieving your dreams. Our experts can help you in clearing these cobwebs with their expertise, experience and impressive success rate.