To help battle the COVID-19 outbreak, starting immediately, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will remove the restriction to allow international students to work a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, so long as they are working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, workers in certain roles and industries have been under considerable pressure, and the government realizes that international students who are in Canada will help meet the challenges of the pandemic.

Currently, thousands of international students are studying in health- and emergency service-related programs, including many who are nearly fully trained and ready to graduate. This temporary rule change offers health-care facilities with access to well-trained workers at this critical juncture when they are critically needed.