As a temporary measure, some international students can work more than 20 hours a week starting from Nov 15, 2022 to Dec 31, 2023. If you are eligible for the temporary measure, you might also be exempt from requiring a co-op work permit for co-op placements during this period. Check the FAQ for important eligibility information.
Last updated Mon, May 1, 2023 at 10:20 am PT
The information on this page is based on information available at the time of publishing. Visit this page often as we will continue to update it as the situation evolves.
As the COVID-19 situation continues, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and other government departments are constantly revising their policies. Links for the most current information have been provided for each question; however updates may be published elsewhere
If you're an international student planning to come to UBC, there are important steps to follow before you plan your travels.
immigration applications, New students
Yes. As soon as you are admitted to UBC, you should apply online for an initial study permit so that you are in the queue for processing.
If you have not applied for your study permit yet, we urge you to apply as soon as possible.
Be sure to carefully review our step-by-step initial study permit tutorial to prepare your application. Although processing times are longer than normal, we are confident that Immigration is aware of these delays and will process study permits as quickly as possible.
If you have registered in courses and have paid for tuition, include proof of tuition payment in the ‘proof of means of financial support’ section of your document checklist along with your other financial documents. You can get proof of tuition payment from the Student Service Centre (SSC) by selecting ‘Tuition History’ under Finances. It may take 1 to 5 days for tuition payment to appear on your account.
Applications should be complete at the time you apply. It is our understanding that a ‘complete’ application includes all the required documents in your online application checklist in your MyCIC account, in addition to documents listed in the Visa Office Instructions from the visa office that is responsible for your country/region.
If you submitted an incomplete study permit application, as soon as you receive your outstanding document, you should send it to IRCC through a webform and request that the document be added to your application. If IRCC sends you a request for documents after you apply, see the FAQ topic for more details
If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, or a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon, learn about the option to apply at the border or airport on arrival.
See the latest IRCC updates on study permits.
If you are currently a legal resident of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam, you have two pathways available for a study permit application – the regular stream and the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
If you have all the documents required for SDS at the time of application and provide your biometrics as soon as possible (if required), the SDS stream typically provides faster processing times. Please note that the SDS estimated processing times are not guaranteed. You should apply for your study permit as soon as possible. Read the FAQs on the impact on processing times and what to do if you can’t travel by the start of term for guidance.
One of the eligibility requirements for SDS is proof of upfront tuition payment. As of February 28, 2022, UBC offers pre-payment of tuition for SDS-eligible international students starting in any future term. You will need to submit a Student Direct Stream pre-payment application.
Students studying in the Diploma in Accounting program are not eligible to prepay tuition until you register for classes.
We recommend that you apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your UBC letter of admission. If your registration date has already arrived you can pay your tuition and apply through the SDS stream. If you have already registered for courses, your tuition assessment is available in the Student Service Centre (SSC). You can view your Term 1 and Term 2 tuition amounts in 'Financial Summary' under Finances. After making a payment it may take 1-5 days for tuition payment to appear on your account. You can get proof of payment from your SSC by selecting 'Tuition History' under Finances.
immigration applications, New students
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is continuing to process applications.
The processing times posted on the IRCC website are estimates where some applications may be processed faster, and others may take longer than the published processing time. You can also check your application status. We are confident that Immigration is processing study permits as quickly as possible.
You may be experiencing delays with your study permit or TRV application, including an application through the Student Direct Stream. Unfortunately, there is no option to get rushed processing and International Student Advising is not able to influence processing times or contact IRCC on your behalf.
If your application is past the published processing time, you can send a webform to request an update.
If you might not be able to make it in time for studies, see the “What if I can’t travel to Canada by the start of term” FAQ below.
Check the IRCC processing times for your application.
You may be experiencing delays with your study permit or TRV application (learn how to follow up on your application), or you may have other reasons why you are unable to travel to Canada at this time.
Need to explore your next option(s)?
You should not travel before your study permit has been approved, even if you have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization or Temporary Resident Visa. You may experience difficulties travelling without a study permit, may not be allowed to enter Canada, and you cannot begin studies until you have obtained your study permit (an approval is not sufficient - it is not a study permit).
Before making travel plans, carefully review the Travelling to Canada Guide.
For additional guidance, see Admission’s blogpost on what to do if your study permit hasn’t arrived yet and check back for updates.
immigration applications, New students
Biometrics (your fingerprints and photo) have been required for study permit applications since 2018. If you applied for a study permit before 2018, you may not have provided them in the past and will need to provide them if applying for a study permit or work permit from outside Canada—this is different from providing your fingerprints at the airport kiosk. If you previously provided biometrics, they are valid for 10 years. If you are not sure, you can confirm if you have valid biometrics.
It’s best to pay your biometrics fee at the same time you submit your immigration application. You must provide your biometrics within 30 days of when you have received your Biometrics Instruction Letter and should book an appointment as soon as possible.
If you are outside of Canada
Some Visa Application Centres (VACs) outside of Canada and Application Support Centers (ASCs) in the US might be temporarily closed or an appointment may not be available within 30 days. See the steps to provide biometrics.
If you are not able to provide biometrics in time, write a letter of explanation to request more time and provide proof of the reason you cannot provide biometrics, such as a PDF or screenshot of the VAC page indicating it is closed or a screenshot of your appointment confirmation, then combine these together into one PDF and submit the files in your online IRCC account by the deadline (or send a webform if you do not have a request in your online portal).
Schedule your biometrics appointment as soon as you can. Since applications are typically not processed until biometrics have been provided, the delay in providing biometrics may cause increased processing times.
If you travel after submitting your immigration application and a VAC near you is open, contact them to confirm if you can provide biometrics there.
If you are in Canada
The temporary suspension to provide biometrics from inside Canada due to COVID-19 has ended.
As of Feb 23, 2023, biometrics are required for temporary residence applications submitted from Canada. This applies to:
After you receive your biometrics instruction letter from IRCC, you will need to book an appointment with Service Canada online. Follow the steps to provide biometrics.
If you are eligible to apply for a study or work permit at the airport or border crossing on arrival to Canada and submit your application there, you can provide your biometrics at that time.
Find updates and information on biometrics collection.
immigration applications, New students
Contact your nearest panel physician’s office to confirm they are still performing medical exams. You may not be able to complete an up-front medical exam at this time.
If you submitted an immigration application and received a request for a medical exam, you must provide a medical exam within 30 days of receiving the request. As of April 12, 2021, you will no longer get an automatic extension of the deadline.
If the panel physician’s office near you is closed or you are unable to get an appointment within 30 days, write a letter of explanation to request more time and combine this with proof of the reason you cannot complete the medical exam, such as a copy of your future appointment confirmation, into one PDF and submit them online in your IRCC account by the deadline (or send a webform if you do not have a request in your online portal).
Since applications are typically not processed until medical exams have been completed, the delay in your medical exam appointment may cause an increase in processing times. Please schedule your medical exam appointment when your nearest panel physician returns to normal operations. We are confident that Immigration will account for these delays and will process study permits as quickly as possible.
If you travel after submitting your immigration application, you can complete a medical exam in any country regardless of where you applied. IRCC advises not to travel to another country solely for the purposes of completing a medical exam.
If you completed a medical exam for an application, such as a new study permit from outside of Canada as a new or returning student, or a Temporary Resident Visa or Post-Graduation Work Permit, note that medical exams are only valid for 12 months from the date you took the exam and should be valid at the time you travel to Canada. If you will travel to Canada more than 12 months after you took your medical exam for your application, you should complete a new medical exam before travelling to Canada.
If you are a current student outside of Canada with a valid study permit and have lived in a designated country for more than 6 months in the past year, are a medical student, or will work in jobs which require a medical exam, you must complete a medical exam before travelling to Canada, as well as apply to change conditions to work in jobs which require a medical exam, if required. If IRCC or a CBSA officer specifically requests that you complete a medical exam it is important that you submit a copy of your e-medical by the deadline provided.
If you are applying for a new study or work permit from inside Canada and you have completed a medical exam in the past 5 years, you might be eligible for the temporary medical exam policy in place until October 5, 2024.
Find out more about medical exams for your immigration application.
immigration applications, New students
Under normal circumstances, international students must complete at least 50% of your program inside Canada and at least 50% of your program in-person. IRCC has created a transition period for online studies due to the pandemic for students starting a program between September 2022 and August 2023.
If online options are available in your program, you can begin your program online from outside of Canada, even if your study permit application has not been processed yet, since you are not required to have a study permit for the purposes of studying online outside Canada.
However, if you intend to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after you complete your studies, in order for your online courses completed outside of Canada to count towards the PGWP, you must have one of the following before your courses start:
If you have one of the above, you can complete up to 50% of your program online from outside Canada between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, without impacting your eligibility or the length of your PGWP. Online studies completed outside Canada before August 31, 2023, won’t be deducted from the length of your PGWP as long as it is less than 50% of your program of study.
Online courses completed outside Canada after August 31, 2023, will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
If you began online studies before IRCC received your study permit application, your studies will only count towards the length of your PGWP after your application was received.
If you applied for a study permit before your program started but it was refused, your studies will count towards the PGWP starting from your first study permit application if you reapply for a study permit and IRCC receives your application before your program ends and it is later approved.
You must continue to meet the other PGWP requirements, such as maintaining full-time enrolment, even while outside of Canada.
See the IRCC August 25 notice and IRCC’s PGWP page for more details.
See the latest IRCC updates on the impact of COVID-19 for international students.
immigration applications
IF YOU ARE IN CANADA
You can apply to extend your study permit online as usual. You must submit your study permit extension application before your study permit becomes invalid.
When you apply for a study permit extension in Canada, after you've received your new study permit, you must submit a separate application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), if required, since it is not issued automatically when you apply for a study permit in Canada. In general, if you will be abroad when your current TRV expires, it is best to get your new TRV before leaving Canada so that you can return with your new documents.
If you will leave Canada after you apply for study permit extension
You may use the Canadian mailing address of a trusted friend in your application. It must be a friend who does not live in UBC student housing since your mail will be returned to sender. Once your study permit is received, ask a friend to send you a digital copy and mail the original to you.
If you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and it expires before you plan to return, you can apply for a TRV online from outside of Canada with a digital copy of your study permit. Review our step-by-step TRV tutorial, then review the TRV from outside of Canada guide since your application will be slightly different. Be sure to upload any additional documents required by your visa office in the "Client Information" section. Select your country under the "apply on paper" section, then see the visa office instructions PDF. Make sure to write a letter of explanation and make it clear that you apply for a TRV in order to return to Canada to continue to study. Note that current processing times for a TRV outside of Canada may be very long and could delay your return to Canada.
IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF CANADA
You can apply online for a new study permit from outside of Canada. Review our step-by-step initial study permit tutorial for applications from outside of Canada. If you have not applied yet, it's important to submit a complete study permit application as soon as possible.
For the 'letter of acceptance' document request, you should include a current letter of enrollment—see the ‘letter of enrollment’ section of our study permit extension tutorial for details. In addition, you should include your initial letter of acceptance from when you were first accepted to UBC and combine these in one PDF, with the current letter of enrollment as the first page. Furthermore you should order a PDF transcript and include it in your ‘client information’ section. You will need to provide proof of funds for one year of tuition fees plus a minimum of $10,000 for living expenses (more if you have dependents).
If you have not previously provided biometrics, you will need to provide them when applying from outside of Canada (see question above). If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), it will be issued automatically after your study permit application has been approved.
If you plan to return to Canada, and if you are currently enrolled and meet the requirements to travel, you could return to Canada before your study permit and Temporary Resident Visa expire, then apply for a study permit extension from inside of Canada before your study permit becomes invalid (see the ‘if you are in Canada’ section above).
If you have finished your studies, you could apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit from inside or outside of Canada (see FAQ on options inside or outside Canada).
If you have been in a designated country for more than 6 months, intend to work in certain jobs, or are a medical student, you will require a medical exam for your study permit application, whether you apply from outside or inside of Canada. Be sure to add a section to your letter of explanation to request conditions allowing you to work in these jobs, if applicable.
Check the Travelling to Canada Guide to learn what you need to return to Canada.
immigration applications
IF YOU ARE IN CANADA
You can apply for a PGWP online as usual. See our PGWP page for important information on timing to apply, eligibility to work before and after applying, and more.
After you’ve received your PGWP, you must submit a separate application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), if you are from a visa-required country and your TRV expired or will expire soon, since it is not issued automatically when you apply for a work permit in Canada. However, if your TRV is still valid, you can use it until the expiry date. In general, if you will be abroad when your current TRV expires, it is best to get your new TRV before leaving Canada so that you can return with your new documents.
If you will leave Canada after you apply for PGWP
You may use the Canadian mailing address of a trusted friend in your application. It must be a friend who does not live in UBC student housing since your mail will be returned to sender. Once your work permit is received, ask a friend to send you a digital copy and mail the original to you. If you apply while inside Canada, note that your work permit start date will typically be the same day it is approved and mailed to the address included on the application form. Learn about returning to Canada after applying for the PGWP.
If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada, you can continue to use your TRV you received as a student until it expires. If your TRV expires before you plan to return, you can apply for a TRV online from outside of Canada with a digital copy of your work permit. Review our step-by-step TRV tutorial, then review the TRV from outside of Canada guide since your application will be slightly different. Be sure to upload any additional documents required by your visa office in the ‘Client Information’ section—select your country under the "apply on paper" section then see the visa office instructions PDF. Note that processing times for a TRV outside of Canada may be very long and could delay your return to Canada.
IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF CANADA
You can apply for a PGWP online from outside of Canada within 180 days after your letter of completion first became available, even if:
Review our step-by-step PGWP tutorial, then review the IRCC work permit outside of Canada guide since your application will be slightly different. Be sure to include any additional documents required by your visa office in the ‘Client Information’ section — select your country under the "apply on paper" section then see the visa office instructions PDF. If you have not previously provided biometrics, you will need to provide them when applying from outside of Canada (see question above). If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), it will be issued automatically after your application has been approved.
If you have been in a designated country for more than 6 months, or intend to work in certain jobs, you will require a medical exam for your PGWP application. Be sure to add a section to your letter of explanation to request conditions allowing you to work in these jobs, if applicable.
After you receive your PGWP approval (letter of introduction), your letter will indicate the date by which you need to travel to Canada, which is typically the length of the PGWP for which you are eligible. Once you travel to Canada and present your letter of introduction for your work permit to the officer on arrival in Canada, your work permit should be issued for the full length of PGWP for which you are eligible.
If you are someone who does not require a Temporary Resident Visa and you have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or are a US citizen, you can apply for a work permit at the Canadian border or airport when you return to Canada. You will need to bring all original documents and an outside of Canada application with you to apply upon arrival.
See the latest updates on work permit applications.
New students
If your course or program is normally offered 100% online, you are not eligible for a study permit and can study anywhere in the world. Programs normally offered 100% online are not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
If your course or program is normally offered in-person but has online options or has moved online due to COVID-19, whether or not you can study in Canada without a study permit depends on the total length of your studies.
STUDIES LESS THAN 6 MONTHS
You can study in Canada without a study permit if your entire program of studies will be completed within 6 months and before your original status in Canada expires.
STUDIES LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS
If you are planning to study for longer than 6 months, you must have a study permit before you can begin your program in Canada, even if your first course is less than 6 months. Since study permits are required for studies longer than 6 months in Canada, you must receive your study permit before you can begin studies.
If you were eligible to apply for a study permit inside of Canada and you applied as a visiting or exchange student while studying in Canada or a secondary school student in Canada, you can study after you apply for a study permit. If you applied for the study permit as the dependent of a study or work permit holder or a work permit holder in Canada, you can study after your study permit application has been approved.
If you are in Canada and applied for a study permit at a visa office which is outside of Canada, you cannot start studying with a Letter of Introduction (study permit approval) and must not study until your study permit is issued. Also note that applications submitted through the outside of Canada process do not give you status in Canada, and you must always ensure you have valid status in Canada, such as applying to extend your stay as a visitor before your status ends.
After you get your Letter of Introduction, contact International Student Advising to discuss how to get your study permit.
Some students are study permit exempt.
If you will study for less than six months and your studies will end within the time for which you are authorized to stay in Canada, you do not need a study permit to study in Canada and could study as a visitor.
In February 2022 IRCC confirmed that applicants who are eligible to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit (e.g., those enrolled in short-term courses) are able to travel to Canada provided they meet all other travel requirements.
You must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to travel to Canada as a visitor. Travel may be possible even if you applied for a study permit and a decision is not reached on your application before you travel and you will study for less than 6 months.
If you will study for less than 6 months but you want to work, you may consider applying for a study permit, which allows you to work in Canada if you meet the requirements. Having a study permit also makes it easier to extend your stay if you might extend your studies.
If you will study for 6 months or more, a study permit is required and you should apply as soon as possible. You should not travel until your study permit is approved.
If you are a US citizen or permanent resident you can apply for a study permit at the airport or border when you enter Canada.
If you receive a request from IRCC to provide additional documents after you have submitted your application, it is very important to upload the document by the deadline as well as make sure to follow the steps to successfully submit them to IRCC.
PROOF OF TUITION PAYMENT
If you have registered and paid for tuition, get proof of payment from your Student Services Centre (SSC) by selecting "Tuition History" under Finances.
If you are not able to register yet please contact International Student Advising for support.
UPDATED LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
If you receive a request for an updated letter of acceptance, contact International Student Advising through the online form and send a copy of the request you’ve received.
If you are enrolled in classes, download a current letter of enrollment from your Student Services Centre (SSC) by selecting "Proof of Enrolment Letters" under Grades and Records. Then, combine your updated letter of acceptance and letter of enrollment into one PDF and upload them together.
MEDICAL EXAM
See the FAQ on medical exams.
BIOMETRICS
See the FAQ on biometrics.
Contact International Student Advising through the online form if you receive a different type of request or have any questions.
immigration applications, Work eligibility
If are eligible to work on or off campus and you applied for a co-op work permit and are waiting for it to be processed, you can start your program-required work (co-op, internship, or practicum) with your on- or off-campus work eligibility from your study permit. This was a temporary policy during COVID-19 which is now ongoing. Be sure to check the section on our co-op work permit page for details before starting work.
If you are eligible to work off-campus more than 20 hours a week following the temporary off-campus work policy, you can work without a co-op work permit for program-required work (such as a co-op, internship or practicum) starting November 15, 2022 until whichever comes first:
If your program-required work will continue past this date, you’ll need to apply for a co-op work permit for program-required work beyond this date.
Review the temporary off-campus work policy for different scenarios.
However, if you will work in jobs which require a medical exam, such as working with children or in health-care settings, you must take an immigration medical exam and apply for a co-op work permit, then wait until you’ve received your co-op work permit with the right conditions before starting.
Refer to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) May 27, 2020 (pdf) update on your co-op work eligibility and co-op page for officers. Review the alert on the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit on IRCC’s co-op page.
See the latest IRCC updates on the impact of COVID-19 for international students
work eligibility
Under normal circumstances, to be eligible for the PGWP, students must complete at least 50% of the program in-person and at least 50% of the program must be completed in Canada. Online courses completed outside Canada do not count towards the length of the PGWP.
Due to the pandemic, IRCC created temporary policies allowing students to complete more than 50% of the program online and/or outside Canada and still have courses count towards the length of the PGWP, if meeting eligibility requirements.
Courses delivered online due to COVID-19 from March 2020 to August 31, 2023 will count towards the length of your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if you have been enrolled in a program which is eligible for the PGWP that was in progress in March 2020 or started a program between March 2020 and August 2022 and:
You must continue to meet the other PGWP requirements, such as maintaining full-time enrolment even while outside of Canada.
Online courses completed outside Canada after August 31, 2023, will be deducted from the length of your Post-Graduation Work Permit.
IF YOU ARE INSIDE CANADA
If your classes were moved online due to COVID-19, as a temporary measure, your courses can count towards the length of your PGWP until August 31, 2023, even if you complete more than 50% of your program online. Make sure to keep a valid study permit at all times (see question above). IRCC recommends that you take in-person courses when they are available.
IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF CANADA
You can study online outside of Canada, even if your study permit has expired or your application for a new study permit inside or outside Canada has not yet been approved, since immigration regulations requiring a valid study permit are only for studies undertaken within Canada. As such you are not required to have a valid study permit for the purposes of studying online outside Canada. However, if you intend to apply for a PGWP, you must fall into one of the above bulleted categories in order for those online courses completed outside Canada to count towards the PGWP.
If you began online studies before IRCC received your study permit application, your studies will only count towards the length of your PGWP after your application was received.
If you applied for a study permit before your program started but it was refused, your studies will count towards the PGWP starting from your first study permit application if you reapply for a study permit and IRCC receives your application before your program ends and it is later approved.
If your study permit will expire while you are outside of Canada, consider applying for a new study permit out of an abundance of caution. See what to do in the question above if your study permit will expire soon.
If you are in one of the above bulleted categories, online courses completed outside of Canada until August 31, 2023 will count towards your PGWP. If you complete your program by August 31, 2023, you are no longer required to complete at least 50% of your program in Canada.
If you are in a program which will end before August 31, 2023, you can now complete up to 100% of your program online outside of Canada and be eligible for the PGWP.
COMBINING PROGRAMS
Furthermore, you could combine your program completed online with another PGWP-eligible program and request a longer work permit, so long as:
Under the current policy, if your program will finish after August 31, 2023, online courses completed outside of Canada after August 31, 2023 will be deducted from the length of your work permit.
For programs starting between March 2020 and August 2022, you are not required to complete at least 50% of your program in Canada.
Programs starting September 2022 or later have different temporary policies for the PGWP where at least 50% must be completed in Canada.
IF YOU WILL COMPLETE YOUR PROGRAM ONLINE FROM OUTSIDE OF CANADA AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PGWP
See the question below for options to apply for a PGWP inside or outside of Canada for details.
See the latest IRCC updates on the impact of COVID-19 for international students.
work eligibility
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is usually only available to you once in a lifetime.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, a temporary policy allowed students to apply for another open work permit until July 27, 2021.
As of August 2022, former international students who have a PGWP expiring between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2022, qualify for an additional open work permit of up to 18 months. You are also eligible to work during an interim work period until May 31, 2023, even if you have left Canada, however you must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization or Temporary Resident Visa to return. Ensure your contact information with IRCC is up to date and renew your passport if it will expire soon.
Review the notice, temporary policy, and instructions for officers for more information and details on how to apply.
work eligibility
As an exception, if you were full-time for immigration purposes during winter term 2, and had to drop to part-time studies or take a break in studies due to COVID-19, you could work in Canada unlimited hours on campus and up to 20 hours per week off campus, if eligible. This applied regardless of whether you had a UBC-approved leave of absence.
You must still have held a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before the old study permit expires.
Normally, as an international student, you must maintain full-time status in each term to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). However, if you were a current student and could not meet this requirement due to COVID-19, Immigration will take this into consideration and this will not affect your PGWP eligibility. At the time you apply for PGWP, if your program was not available online during COVID-19, please contact an Academic Advisor from your faculty or graduate program staff to request a letter, then contact International Student Advising for support with your application.
GRADUATE STUDENTS, DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND LAW STUDENTS
If you have a UBC-approved leave of absence, you can remain in Canada for 150 days after:
Before the 150 day period is over, you will probably need to:
See the latest IRCC updates on international students' eligibility to work on- and off-campus.
work eligibility
You could remain in Canada so long as you held a valid study permit or had applied to extend it before the old study permit expired.
Normally, as an international student, you must maintain full-time status in each term to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP); however, if you were a current student and could not meet this requirement due to COVID-19, Canadian Immigration will take this into consideration and this will not affect your PGWP eligibility. At the time you apply for PGWP, if your program was not available online due to Covid-19, please contact an Academic Advisor from your faculty or graduate program staff to request a letter, then contact International Student Advising for support with your application.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
You could work full-time during summer if:
GRADUATE STUDENTS, DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING, AND LAW STUDENTS
Summer session is not considered a scheduled break for you. As an exception, if you had to take a break in studies due to COVID-19 in the summer session, you could work the same amount as during a full time semester, which is unlimited hours on campus and up to 20 hours per week off campus. This applied regardless of whether your leave was formally authorized by UBC.
If you have a UBC-approved leave of absence, you can remain in Canada for 150 days after:
Before the 150 day period is over, you will probably need to:
See the latest IRCC updates on the impact of COVID-19 for international students.
work eligibility
Dropping to part-time or taking a break from studies in Winter Session 2020 or Summer 2021 could affect:
This applies to you even if you were studying online, outside of Canada.
Learn about the immigration impacts of withdrawing from courses.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
If you were not enrolled in any courses, you probably needed to:
GRADUATE STUDENTS, DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING, AND LAW STUDENTS
If you had a UBC-approved leave of absence, you could remain in Canada for 150 days after:
Before the 150 day period was over, you probably needed to:
See the latest IRCC updates on the impact of COVID-19 for international students.
Dropping to part-time or taking a break from studies after the 2020 Summer Session could affect:
If you have a UBC-approved leave of absence, you can remain in Canada for 150 days after:
If you are not returning to studies, before the 150 day period is over, you will probably need to:
Part-time studies
If you would like to study part-time for immigration purposes (less than 9 credits in a winter term) this would impact your current work eligibility and future eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. Learn about the immigration impacts of withdrawing from courses.
Taking a break from studies
Beginning in the 2021 Winter Session, UBC offers a procedure to allow continuing UBC international undergraduate students to take time away from studies and still be considered to be actively pursuing studies, maintaining the conditions of your study permit and maintaining eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for leaves up to 150 days. UBC Vancouver’s Academic Leave Policy enables students in good academic standing to take up to a year away from studies without having to reapply for admission. If you want to prove to IRCC that you were on an authorized leave, you must request the leave and receive a letter from UBC confirming that you are authorized to take the leave.
If Winter Term 1 was your first term in your program and you dropped all courses by the last day to drop courses without a W, and you were registered in Term 2, you would be considered to have deferred enrolment for immigration purposes. You would not need and would not be eligible for a leave in Term 1.
If in your first term in your program you withdrew from all courses after the course change dates without a W, you might qualify for the Academic Leave Policy. The leave would start on the day you withdraw.
If it is not your first term in your program and you dropped all courses:
After the last date to withdraw from a course with a W, you will not be able to withdraw from your courses yourself and so will not be eligible for an authorized leave letter for that term. If you are granted an academic concession and are withdrawn from all courses that term(s), you may be eligible for a leave letter. See your academic advising office for more details.
If you have a letter documenting your undergraduate leave, you can remain in Canada for 150 days after the date on which the letter indicates your leave began.
Leaves longer than 150 days affect your Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility and status in Canada. If you are not returning to studies before the 150 day period is over, you will probably need to:
If you withdraw from courses on time, you can apply for a leave letter at any time.
If you are in Canada, note that you cannot use your study permit or co-op work permit to work in Canada while on leave, and are not eligible to work during the scheduled breaks immediately preceding or following your leave. You will not be eligible to work until you resume full-time studies and meet all requirements to work in Canada. There may also be other non-immigration impacts of taking time away from studies.
To request a leave letter:
If you take a break from studies in the Winter Session 2022 (September 2022 to April 2023) onwards
As of June 2022, authorized leave for undergraduate students is available on an ongoing basis.
Check taking time away from studies for more information since there are some changes from the above policy for students who took a gap in Winter Session 2021.
Under the International Undergraduate Leave Procedure, you can request a leave letter by the following August 31 after your gap. For example, if you took a gap in Winter Term 1 2022, you can request the leave letter until August 31 2023.
work eligibility
Between March 18, 2022 and August 31, 2020, as a temporary measure you could work off-campus more than 20 hours per week if you worked in ‘essential services’, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.
To be eligible, you must have:
If you worked more than 20 hours during this period, please contact International Student Advising for support before submitting your next immigration application.
Under normal circumstances, international students can work off-campus up to 20 hours a week during academic terms, and full-time during scheduled breaks, if eligible. This applies to students in degree, diploma, certificate or exchange programs.
In recognition of international students’ contribution to the labour market, IRCC announced a temporary policy which allows some international students who are eligible to work off-campus to work more than 20 hours a week starting from November 15, 2022, until whichever comes first:
Your eligibility for the temporary policy depends on whether you applied for your initial or extended study permit before or after Oct 7, 2022 and the expiry date of the study permit you applied for or held on Oct 7, 2022—review the scenarios below for details.
If you are eligible for the temporary off-campus work policy above, you are also exempt from needing a co-op work permit for the co-op placements, practicums or internships taking place during this period—review the scenarios below for details.
You can check when IRCC received your study permit application by logging into your online IRCC account and checking the PDF confirmation IRCC automatically sent confirming the date they received your application. Note that application times are based on being received by Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) 11:59pm, not local time zones.
Make sure you are eligible to work off-campus and learn how your enrollment impacts immigration, including work eligibility.
As is the case for all work in Canada, you must make sure you maintain eligibility requirements to work on and off campus. You must stop working immediately if any of the following is true:
Consider carefully before increasing your work hours. As the IRCC news release states, “Study permit holders are still expected to balance their study and work commitments, as those who stop studying or reduce course loads to only study part-time are not eligible to work off-campus.”
Be sure to track your off-campus work hours, such as saving your pay slips and work schedules, in case you are asked to provide proof in the future. In future immigration applications, if you worked more than 20 hours a week during this temporary policy period, include a section in your letter of explanation referring to the policy.
Take advantage of the many resources offered by the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers, such as guidance with resumes and interviews, workshops, and CareersOnline job postings.
You can benefit from the full duration of the temporary off-campus work policy from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023, so long as you maintain eligibility to work off-campus.
Keep in mind you must stop working if you finish your studies and receive your letter of completion, withdraw from courses and are no longer enrolled full-time, or your study permit expired and you did not apply to extend it before it expired.
You can also benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit if your program-required work takes place between November 15, 2022, and December 31, 2023.
If your program-required work ends after December 31, 2023, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit for program-required work taking place from January 2024 onwards. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit (or study permit extension and co-op work permit, if your study permit will expire soon) when you get your co-op letter so that you can receive your co-op work permit before program-required work taking place in January 2024 or later.
For example, if the study permit you held on October 7, 2022, expires on July 31, 2025, you can benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023. You will need a valid co-op work permit for program-required work starting from January 1, 2024, onwards.
You can benefit from the full duration of the temporary off-campus work policy from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023, so long as you maintain eligibility to work off-campus.
Keep in mind you must stop working if you finish your studies and receive your letter of completion, withdraw from courses and are no longer enrolled full-time, or your study permit expired and you did not apply to extend it before it expired.
You can also benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit if your program-required work takes place between November 15, 2022, until December 31, 2023.
If your program-required work ends after December 31, 2023, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit for program-required work taking place from January 2024 onwards. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit (or study permit extension and co-op work permit, if your study permit will expire soon) when you get your co-op letter so that you can receive your co-op work permit before program-required work taking place in January 2024 or later.
For example, if you applied for a study permit extension on September 20, 2022, and that study permit expires on March 31, 2025, you can benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit from November 15, 2022, to December 31, 2023. You will need a valid co-op work permit for program-required work starting from January 1, 2024, onwards.
You can benefit from the temporary off-campus work policy from November 15, 2022, until the study permit you applied for on or before October 7, 2022, expires.
If you need longer to finish your studies and extend your study permit, you won’t be able to benefit from the policy after the study permit you applied for on or before October 7, 2022, expires.
For example, if you applied for a study permit on September 29, 2022, and that study permit expires on August 31, 2023, you can benefit from the temporary policy from November 15, 2022, until August 31, 2023. If you extend your study permit, you won’t be able to benefit from the temporary off-campus work policy between August 31, 2023, until it ends on December 31, 2023.
You can only benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit until the study permit you applied for on or before October 7, 2022, expires, so long as you maintain eligibility to work off-campus.
If you need longer to finish your program-required work, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit along with your study permit extension. Starting from the day after the study permit you applied for on or before October 7, 2022, expires, you must have received your co-op work permit or be able to work while you are waiting for your co-op work permit before working in a program-required position. We recommend that you apply for your study permit extension and co-op work permit about 5 months before your study permit expires so that you can hopefully receive your co-op work permit before starting or resuming program-required work taking place after the study permit you applied for on or before October 7 expires, depending on processing times.
For example, if you applied for a study permit extension on September 29, 2022, and that study permit expires on August 31, 2023, you could benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit from November 15, 2022, until August 31, 2023. You will need a valid co-op work permit or to be able to work while you are waiting for your co-op work permit before starting program-required work from September 1, 2023 onwards.
Unfortunately, you are not eligible for the off-campus work temporary policy.
If you meet the requirements to work in Canada, you can work on campus unlimited hours as well as work off-campus up to 20 hours a week during academic terms and full-time during scheduled breaks.
You cannot benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit and will need to apply for a co-op work permit.
If you applied for a co-op work permit and are still waiting for it to be processed, learn about working while you are waiting for your co-op permit. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit (or study permit extension and co-op work permit, if your study permit will expire soon) as soon as you get your co-op letter so that you can receive your co-op work permit before your start date.
Unfortunately, you are not eligible for the off-campus work temporary policy.
If you meet the requirements to work in Canada, you can work on campus unlimited hours as well as work off-campus up to 20 hours a week during academic terms and full-time during scheduled breaks.
You cannot benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit and will need to apply for a co-op work permit.
If you applied for a co-op work permit and are still waiting for it to be processed, learn about working while you are waiting for your co-op permit. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit (or study permit extension and co-op work permit, if your study permit will expire soon) as soon as you get your co-op letter so that you can receive your co-op work permit before your start date.
You can benefit from the off-campus work temporary policy from November 15, 2022, until whichever comes first:
For example, if you applied for a study permit extension on November 1, 2022, and the study permit you held on October 7, 2022 expires on February 1, 2023, you can benefit from the temporary off-campus work policy from November 15, 2022, until February 1, 2023.
You can only benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit from November 15, 2022, until whichever comes first:
If you need longer to finish your program-required work, you will need to apply for a co-op work permit, or a study permit extension and co-op work permit if your study permit expires soon. Starting from the day after the study permit you held on October 7, 2022, expires, you must have received your co-op work permit or be able to work while you are waiting for your co-op work permit to work in a program-required position. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit as soon as you receive your co-op letter, or if your study permit expires soon, apply for your study permit extension and co-op work permit about 5 months before your study permit expires, so that you can hopefully receive your co-op work permit before starting or resuming program-required work taking place after the study permit you held on October 7 expires, depending on processing times.
For example, if you applied for a study permit extension on November 1, 2022, and the study permit you held on October 7 expires on February 1, 2023, you can benefit from the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit from November 15, 2022, to February 1, 2023. You will need a valid co-op work permit or be able to work while you are waiting for your co-op work permit before starting program-required work beginning February 2, 2023, onwards.
Check the October 7 news release and alert on IRCC’s page for details.
Review the latest information on restrictions in BC.
You can pick up a free rapid antigen test kit in BC if you need one.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, check the BC Centre for Disease Control website for guidance.
As of October 1, 2022, travellers are no longer required to be vaccinated to travel to Canada. Review the Travelling to Canada guide before travelling.
All members of the UBC community are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as they are eligible. See COVID-19 and UBC’s response for more information on UBC’s approach and for latest updates.
If you live in UBC student residence, learn about COVID-19 residence rules.
Everyone 5 years and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine in BC free of charge, even if you are not enrolled in the Medical Services Plan and do not have a BC Personal Health Number (PHN). However, you are encouraged to get a PHN to use the online vaccination booking system—you can call 1 833 838 2323 from 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week to get a PHN. Translators are available.
Limited personal information will be collected, such as your name, date of birth and address. You do not need to provide proof of a Social Insurance Number or proof of immigration status.
Visit the BC government website to learn when and how you can get vaccinated.
If you received your first or both COVID-19 vaccination doses outside of BC (inside or outside of Canada) then travel to BC, bring a vaccination record indicating which vaccine you received and when it was administered.
The BC government recommends that you:
See BCCDC guidance on if it is recommended to get an additional COVID-19 vaccination in BC. A doctor will determine the appropriate dose.
If you need a second dose or booster, after completing the above steps, you will receive an invitation to book your second dose or booster once your record has been updated and you are eligible.
In BC, proof of vaccination is no longer required to access events, services and businesses. However, individual businesses and event organizers can choose to require proof of vaccination. Learn how to get proof of vaccination.
health insurance
Ensure you have adequate health insurance wherever you are.
BC MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN (MSP)
If you will be outside Canada for less than six months, you have the option to keep or cancel MSP.
If you will be outside of Canada for more than six months in a calendar year, contact BC MSP to confirm your eligibility. You might need to cancel your MSP coverage, or you might be given the option to keep MSP.
If you're eligible and you decide to keep MSP, you do not have to reapply nor will you have a 3-month waiting period when you return.
If you cancel MSP, you have to reapply when you return to BC. You will need to get temporary private health insurance such as the Global Campus Health Plan before you return to Canada to cover you during the MSP 3-month waiting period.
Before purchasing temporary private health insurance, make sure you will have adequate coverage as some private health insurance companies are no longer covering COVID-19 testing and treatment expenses.
AMS/GSS HEALTH AND DENTAL PLAN
For the 2020/21 and the 2021/22 policy years, AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan benefits were accessible within Canada only. If you are studying online outside Canada during the 2022/23 policy year, please contact Student Care.
If purchasing temporary private health insurance for coverage outside of Canada, make sure you will have adequate coverage as some private health insurance companies are no longer covering COVID-19 testing and treatment expenses.
health insurance, new students
After you arrive in British Columbia (BC), you must apply for the BC government-run Medical Services Plan (MSP). MSP has a 3-month waiting period, so when you register for courses, UBC automatically enrols new-to-UBC international students for the iMED temporary private health insurance to cover you during your first 3 months in Canada, if you have not previously studied at UBC.
Ensure you've been charged for iMED fees by checking your account through the Student Services Centre (SSC) under Finances.
You should have received an email from David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) with information related to your iMED health insurance and a request for you to confirm your arrival date in Canada. You must confirm your arrival date with DCIS by following the instructions provided in the email. This applies to you whether you started your program In Canada or if you started your program online outside of Canada and will travel at a later date.
If you do not know when you will arrive in Canada, this is not a problem. You do not need to take action until you know when you will arrive, and iMED can cover you for an arrival in Canada as late as January 31, 2023.
We recommend that you confirm your arrival date before you travel by submitting an Arrival Date Confirmation / Coverage Dates Change Form and providing your scanned flight tickets to DCIS starting from 3 weeks before your arrival date.
You may also confirm your arrival with DCIS as soon as possible after you’ve arrived in Canada by providing your scanned flight tickets, boarding pass(es), study permit, passport stamp, or landing documents.
Once you confirm your arrival with DCIS, you will receive your iMED card by email. If you don’t receive your iMED card, please email DCIS at imed@david-cummings.com. In your email, write “Missing iMED card” as the subject line, and in the message you must include your name, student number, and date of arrival in BC. Allow for one to four weeks to receive your iMED Card.
Confirm the iMED coverage period on your iMED card is correct. iMED coverage should start from the month you arrive in Canada plus two months to cover the BC MSP waiting period, or cover the full duration of your program of studies if you are a one-term student.
If your arrival plans change, email DCIS immediately to inform them that you will not arrive as originally scheduled so DCIS can deactivate your iMED Card. Then once you know your new arrival date, submit an updated Arrival Date Confirmation / Coverage Dates Change Form through the DCIS website before January 31, 2023. You will receive a new iMED card by email with a new coverage period.
Use the iMED Checklist WS20 SS21 (pdf) to stay on track of your iMED enrolment status.
If you will complete your full program online outside of Canada and will not travel to Canada, you might qualify to opt-out from iMED and have your iMED fees refunded to you. However, the deadline to opt out has now passed. Contact International Student Advising to discuss your situation.
If you deferred your program and withdrew from all courses in which you registered for before the add/drop deadline, your iMED fees were automatically removed. When you register in the future, you will automatically be enrolled in iMED again.
You were automatically enrolled in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, which you can only use in Canada. It was possible to opt-out if you were outside of Canada until July 19, 2021.
See health insurance details for international students.
work eligibility, travel restrictions
Canadian immigration laws only apply to those inside of Canada. However, there may be obstacles to employing or paying you outside of Canada, such as WorkSafe BC requirements, taxation, needing a valid Social Insurance Number, or other complexities.
Please contact your supervisor or employer to learn about potential impacts.
financial assistance
If you’re facing financial hardship or have questions around your finances during the COVID-19 outbreak, see financial emergencies, then contact an Enrolment Services Advisor for confidential advice.
ES Advisors can help you manage your individual situation and explore options for short-term critical financial assistance due to COVID-19. Enrolment Services will consider each request based on your situation and demonstrated financial need.
financial assistance
You might be eligible to opt out of some student fees. Learn about how to opt in or opt out of AMS fees.
AMS/GSS HEALTH AND DENTAL PLAN
If you have questions about coverage outside of Canada or eligibility to opt out of AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, contact Student Care.
iMED HEALTH INSURANCE
If you will not study in Canada for the full duration of your program of studies, contact International Student Advising to see if you are eligible to opt out.
BC MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN (MSP)
You do not apply or pay for the BC government-run Medical Services Plan (MSP) until you arrive in BC.
If you are a current student who has MSP, see the MSP FAQ for information on your options.
travel restrictions
Equity and academic freedom are two fundamental values of our UBC culture. Moreover, UBC is not subject to foreign censorship laws. Every effort is and will be made to ensure that UBC students living abroad are provided access to the same materials and digital learning spaces as domestic students. As long as students use institutionally-provisioned learning tools and applications (such as Canvas, UBC email and other such systems), students can expect to exercise their academic freedom whether they are in Canada or abroad.
work eligibility
If your on-campus job has moved online due to COVID-19, you can continue to work in this position online as a temporary measure. You should request a document from your employer stating that your work moved online due to COVID-19 in case you need to show this to an officer in the future. Make sure you are eligible to work on-campus.
See CBIE’s September 11 2020 (pdf) update and IRCC’s page for officers for details.
Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC's Vancouver campus.
You can also connect with an International Student Advisor for questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada.
Last updated on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 4:25 pm PT
