Are you seeking work opportunities in Canada but do not have a valid work permit yet? What jobs are you allowed to do without having a work permit in Canada? Sometimes this question is one of the most commonly asked questions, if not the most, especially by international students.
Nonetheless, you require a work permit for most jobs. But there are exceptional situations where you can perform various tasks without a work permit. It is important to know these considerations because it is an avenue to obtain a job in Canada and gain experience.
Canada grants the right to people to be able to work without allowing the issuance of a work permit for a certain period of time or in certain fields. Ready or not, here is a comprehensive list of the jobs you can do without a work permit, along with their possible pay and salary ranges.
Jobs That Can Be Completed Without a Work Permit
There are certain jobs in Canada that don’t require work permits, namely those that require low skills or are temporary in nature. Examples of work that don’t need permits in Canada could include:
1. Seasonal Agricultural Worker
The agriculture industry in Canada is usually affected by labor shortages during the peak seasons that could be witnessed as a possible choice for the foreign workers employed in a temporary mode.
As a casual farmworker, you are eligible to work in farms, orchards or greenhouses without permission to work. On the other hand, you might have a job that takes good physical strength but also gives the necessary rewards such as picking fruits, vegetable harvesting, or aiding in planting and weeding operations. The job may be very hard and sometimes you can spend the whole day under the sun, but it is still a great source of knowledge and experience for you.
The wage for these positions is based on the hourly rate in the province and goes from minimum wage to roughly $15. Some provinces provide higher wages for Agricultural workers or in possession of knowledge which others do not have.
2. Off-campus Work up to 20 Hours Per Week
If you are an international student in Canada who is enrolled in a designated learning institution (DLI), you might be in a position to work off-campus of the institution for a span of 20 hours per week during the regular academic sessions. This teaches you that life in Canada does not only consist of studies and when you have finished them, you will be able to support yourself as well.
The tasks you can perform for this service providers can range from jobs like retail, hospitality, and customer relations right through to entry-level admin type jobs for example. It is not surprising that varieties of businesses in Canada look for international students for being part time employees, respecting the diversity and original contribution they can add to the company.
Pay rates of off-campus work in Canada may vary from the minimum wage level (which is usually between $14 and $16 per hour) to $18-$22 per hour for more specified jobs or those jobs which require skills and experience. This income can play the role of mitigating the expense burden of the fees, housing, and other expenses which you may incur during your time at school.
3. Co-ops and Internship Programs
This is one of the most important advantages that Canada has in terms of labor force. So many Canadian universities and colleges have placements and internship programs where students can obtain in practice work experience that is an inherent part of their curriculum. These demonstration programs foster applications of what was learnt in class and thus contribute to the strengthening of your skills under the higher employability rates upon graduation.
In most cases, co-op and internship positions are wage-bearing but often do not require a separate work permit as they are considered an essential part of the academic program.
Employers realize the importance of these initiatives. They work with the educational institutions normally to ensure that the students are not denied the kind of educational experience they require.
4. Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is an effective way for acquiring experience, forming connections, and giving back to your community in situations where a work permit is not required.
Though the work of volunteers is normally uncompensated, organizations may now and then provide either small honoraria or rebates covering the expenses as a result of their volunteer work. These new options can be discovered in a lot of fields, like public and non-governmental organizations, charities and church facilities.
5. Self-Employment
International students and foreign inhabitants of Canada who wish to be self-employed are exempt from having to have work permits. This also involves opportunities such as freelancing, starting a business, as well as entrepreneurial activities.
The amount of income you can make from self-employment ranges very much from the specific work type, the level of demand for your products and the ways you can promote yourself effectively.
That’s it! We wish you all the best for your job search in Canada as a student without work permit.
