An applicant who inherited a share of a commercial building after her father's death planned to fund her studies with the monthly rent, and had three worries: how to present the income, whether it belongs in the 10-year employment history on IRCC forms, and whether continuing to receive rent while in Canada breaches the 20-hour student work limit.
What the thread answered:
- Rental income is valid proof of funds. Support it with bank statements showing the deposits, plus the rent agreement — together they make the case strong. Tax filings on the income complete the picture.
- It's passive income, not employment. The more careful answers held that simply collecting rent is not a business or a job: it doesn't belong in the employment section as work (one member suggested formalizing it as a business with documents and tax records — the counterview — but the majority treated it as passive income to be explained, not employment to be listed).
- Receiving rent from abroad does not violate the student work limit. 'Getting rent is not working part-time. Managing your property back in your country is not a part-time job' — the 20-hour cap governs work performed in Canada, not passive income from home.
- On future PR: the self-employed category isn't the fit. That stream is for specific cultural/athletic occupations. The realistic route named in the thread: study, then work in Canada, then PR through the Canadian Experience Class.