Costs and jobs

Part-Time Work Rules in Canada for International Students

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

The short answer and the on-campus and off-campus difference

IRCC says eligible international students can work off campus for up to 24 hours a week while classes are in session. During a break scheduled by your school, such as the summer holiday, winter holiday or a reading week, there is no weekly limit off campus. If your program has no scheduled breaks, the 24 hour limit applies all the time.

On campus means the buildings of your own school campus. If your school has several campuses, you can generally work only at the one you attend. IRCC lists some exceptions, such as teaching or research assistant roles, work tied to a research grant, and jobs at a library, hospital or research facility linked to your school. The IRCC page sets no weekly hour limit for on-campus work.

Off campus means any other workplace, such as a shop, restaurant or office. You can start working only when your study program starts.

This is permission to work. It is not a promise of a job or income. Finding a job can take time, so do not plan your fees around wages.

Who can work off campus without a separate work permit

IRCC says you must meet all of these conditions.

• You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI), and your program has started.
• Your program is post-secondary academic, vocational or professional, lasts at least six months, and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
• Your study permit is valid, or you applied to extend it before it ended.
• Your study permit has a condition that allows off campus work.
• You have a social insurance number (SIN).
• A part-time student can also qualify if the only reason is a final semester that does not need a full course load, and they were full-time before.

SIN, permit conditions and who cannot work

A SIN is a nine digit number from the Government of Canada, and you need it to work. Before you can apply, your study permit must show a work condition. If it does not, you can ask for the condition to be added, and IRCC says there is no fee for that request.

You cannot work off campus under these rules if you are only in an English or French as a second language program, only taking general interest courses, or only taking courses needed to enter a full-time program. You also cannot work during an authorized leave, or between schools when you are not studying.

If your situation changes and you no longer meet the rules, you must stop working.

Breaks, co-op placements and what counts as full-time

IRCC describes a break as one scheduled by your school. Work during such a break is not limited weekly, and taking a course during the break does not change this.

From 1 April 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a required placement. Your school must confirm in a letter that the placement is part of your program, the placement must be 50 percent or less of the program, and your study permit must allow on-campus work. Secondary level students still need the permit.

The IRCC pages do not give a number of courses for full-time study. Your school decides this, so ask the international office before you drop a course. IRCC says you must stop working if you leave full-time study, unless you are in an eligible final semester.

How the limit changed and what happens if you break the rules

The off campus limit used to be 20 hours a week. IRCC announced that new rules took effect in November 2024, allowing up to 24 hours. IRCC also says that if your permit still shows 20 hours, you may work up to 24 hours as long as you meet the conditions. Older pages and some agents still quote old numbers, so use the IRCC page.

Working more than 24 hours a week breaks your permit conditions. IRCC says this can lead to loss of student status, refusal of future study or work permits, and having to leave Canada.

If you are self-employed, you must track your own hours. IRCC counts time spent earning wages, being paid for a service or product, or collecting a commission. Keep records of every shift.

Tips to balance study and work

Your first duty is your study. IRCC expects you to keep studying actively while you work, and a heavy work week can hurt your grades. Many students start with fewer hours and add more only when they know their course load.

• Plan your weekly hours before you accept a job, and keep a safety margin below 24.
• Write down your hours every week and keep pay records.
• Check your school calendar for the exact dates of scheduled breaks.
• Prefer a job with a written schedule and a proper pay slip.
• Talk to your international student advisor if exams or courses change your load.
• Avoid cash work with no record. You cannot prove your hours or your pay, and the proof is your protection.

What IGC counsellors check with you

Before you plan to work, IGC counsellors check that tuition and first-year living costs are covered without wages, that your school is a designated learning institution, and that you understand the conditions printed on your study permit. We also explain what the rules mean for your own program and your own permit wording, because the details differ between students. We cannot promise any job or any income. The IRCC page gives the final answer for your case.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work in Canada on a study permit?

Often yes, but only if your study permit has a work condition and you meet IRCC's rules, including full-time study at a designated learning institution. Check the conditions printed on your own permit, and read the IRCC page before you start any job.

How many hours can I work off campus?

IRCC currently says up to 24 hours a week while classes are in session, and no weekly limit during breaks scheduled by your school. Rules can change, so confirm on the IRCC page before you accept shifts.

Do I need a SIN before I start?

Yes. IRCC says you need a social insurance number to work in Canada. Your study permit must show a work condition first. If it does not, you can ask for it to be added at no fee, then apply for the SIN.

What happens if I work more than 24 hours?

IRCC says it breaks your permit conditions and can lead to loss of student status, refusal of future study or work permits, and having to leave Canada. Track your hours each week and keep your pay records.

Do I need a work permit for a co-op?

Since 1 April 2026, IRCC says post-secondary students do not need a separate co-op work permit for a required placement if conditions are met, including a school letter and a placement of 50 percent or less of the program. Check the IRCC page for your case.

If you want help checking your study permit conditions and your funding plan, book a free profile assessment with IGC. A counsellor will explain the rules for your case and tell you honestly what is and is not possible.