One of the major considerations for students planning to study in Canada is whether they can work while studying. For eligible international students, Canada allows off-campus employment without a separate work permit, but there are important restrictions on when you can start working, the type of programme you are enrolled in, your study status and the number of hours you can work.
As of 2026, eligible international students can generally work up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions and unlimited hours during eligible scheduled breaks. However, you must meet the immigration requirements before you begin working.
This is particularly important for students budgeting for tuition, accommodation and living expenses. Income from part-time employment can help with expenses, but students should not treat Canadian student employment as a substitute for demonstrating sufficient funds for their study permit application.
Can You Work in Canada Before Your Programme Starts?
No.
An international student cannot start working under their student work authorization before their Canadian study programme begins. You can only start working once you have actually started your studies and meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
This means that arriving in Canada several weeks before your programme starts does not give you permission to begin off-campus employment immediately.
Who Can Work Off Campus in Canada?
You may be able to work off campus without obtaining a separate work permit if you meet all the applicable requirements.
Generally, you must:
- Be a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Have started your study programme.
- Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training programme.
- Be studying in a programme that is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
- Have a valid study permit, or have applied to extend your study permit before it expired.
- Have the appropriate work authorization conditions on your study permit.
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
For most international students planning a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, graduate certificate, diploma or other qualifying post-secondary programme, these requirements are particularly important when choosing a programme and planning finances.
How Many Hours Can International Students Work in Canada?
During regular academic sessions, eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus.
You can work for more than one employer, provided your total eligible off-campus working hours do not exceed the permitted limit.
For example, if you work:
- 12 hours per week at a restaurant, and
- 12 hours per week at a retail job,
your total is 24 hours per week.
You cannot simply work 24 hours at each employer. The limit applies to your total off-campus working time.
Can International Students Work Full-Time During Holidays?
Yes, in certain circumstances.
During a scheduled break in the academic year, an eligible international student can work unlimited hours off campus.
Examples can include:
- Summer holidays
- Winter holidays
- Reading week
However, the break must qualify as a scheduled break under the applicable rules. A single public holiday or long weekend does not automatically qualify. IRCC states that a scheduled break must be scheduled by your school and last at least seven consecutive days.
There is also a limit on how long students can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks across a calendar year. IRCC currently states that students can work unlimited hours during regularly scheduled breaks for a maximum total of 180 days per calendar year.
If your programme does not have scheduled breaks, the 24-hour weekly limit continues to apply.
What Happens If You Work More Than 24 Hours a Week?
Working beyond the permitted limit during an academic session can be a violation of your study permit conditions.
This is not simply a matter of exceeding your employer’s approved schedule. You are responsible for ensuring that your total working hours comply with your immigration conditions.
IRCC warns that violating the work-hour conditions can affect your student status and may create problems with future study or work permit applications. In serious circumstances, you may also be required to leave Canada.
For this reason, international students should keep their own records of hours worked, particularly if they have multiple jobs or are self-employed.
Do International Students Need a Social Insurance Number?
Yes.
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required to work in Canada and access certain government services and benefits.
Before applying for a SIN for off-campus employment, your study permit needs to contain the appropriate authorization to work.
Common wording on an eligible study permit includes authorization to work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions and full-time during regular breaks, subject to the applicable requirements.
If you are eligible to work but your study permit does not contain the necessary conditions, you may need to request an amendment to the permit before applying for a SIN.
Can Part-Time International Students Work Off Campus?
There is an important exception for students studying part-time.
A student may be eligible to work off campus while studying part-time if the student is in the final semester of the programme, does not need a full course load to complete the programme, and was studying full-time in Canada until that final semester.
In other words, simply choosing to study part-time does not automatically give an international student the right to work off campus.
Who Cannot Work Off Campus Under the Student Rules?
You generally cannot work off campus under the international-student exemption if your circumstances do not meet the eligibility requirements.
Examples include students who:
- Have a study permit that does not authorize off-campus employment.
- Are enrolled only in an English or French as a second-language programme.
- Are taking only general-interest courses.
- Are taking only prerequisite courses needed to qualify for admission to a full-time programme.
- Have stopped meeting the conditions required for off-campus employment.
If your situation changes, you should check whether you need a different work authorization before accepting employment.
Can You Work While on an Authorized Leave?
Generally, no.
If you are on an authorized leave from your studies, you cannot continue working off campus under your student work authorization during that period.
Similarly, if you are changing schools and are not studying during the transition, you cannot continue working simply because you previously had permission to work.
You can resume working when you resume your studies and once you meet the applicable requirements again.
What If Your Study Permit Says You Cannot Work Off Campus?
If you are otherwise eligible but your study permit does not contain the required work conditions, you may be able to have the conditions changed.
For example, you may need to request an amendment to your study permit before applying for a SIN.
Do not assume that being enrolled at a Canadian college or university automatically gives you permission to work. Check the conditions printed on your study permit before accepting a job.
Can International Students Work On Campus?
Yes, eligible international students can also work on campus.
The rules for on-campus employment are different from the off-campus rules. IRCC states that eligible students can work on campus without a work permit when they meet the applicable requirements, and there is no hourly limit for on-campus work during regular academic sessions or scheduled breaks.
On-campus employers can include the school, faculty members, student organizations, private businesses operating on campus and certain contractors providing services to the institution.
This can provide another employment option for students who want to gain Canadian work experience while remaining close to their studies.
What About Co-op and Internship Work?
Co-op placements and internships have their own rules.
As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students generally no longer need a separate co-op work permit for student work placements such as eligible co-op placements and internships. The placement must still meet the applicable requirements.
This is particularly relevant when comparing Canadian programmes because some programmes incorporate practical work experience into the curriculum.
Students should therefore distinguish between:
Off-campus employment: regular employment while studying, subject to the 24-hour weekly limit during academic sessions.
On-campus employment: employment on campus, with different rules.
Co-op/internship: work that forms part of an eligible study programme and is subject to its own requirements.
Can You Work Remotely for a Company Outside Canada?
Yes, IRCC states that international students can work remotely for an employer outside Canada while continuing to comply with their study permit conditions.
This type of work does not count toward the 24-hour weekly off-campus work limit.
Students who freelance or operate an online business should nevertheless keep accurate records of their activities and consider their tax and immigration obligations rather than assuming that online work is automatically exempt from all Canadian requirements.
Can You Work After Completing Your Canadian Programme?
Completing your programme can open up additional work-permit options, including the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for graduates who meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
There is also a specific situation in which a student may be able to work unlimited hours after completing one programme while waiting for a work permit decision.
To qualify, among other requirements, the student must have been eligible to work off campus during their studies and must have applied for a work permit, including a PGWP, before their study permit expired.
Students starting a new programme may also be able to work while transitioning between programmes if they meet the specific IRCC requirements, including having completed the previous programme, holding or having applied to extend their study permit, being accepted into a new full-time programme at a DLI and starting the new programme within the required timeframe.
What This Means When Planning to Study in Canada
The ability to work while studying can be useful when planning your Canadian education budget, but it should be treated as supplementary income rather than the primary source of funding for your studies.
Before choosing a Canadian school or programme, check:
- Whether the institution is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Whether the programme meets the requirements for off-campus work eligibility.
- Whether the programme is at least six months long and leads to an eligible credential.
- Whether the study permit will contain the appropriate work conditions.
- How much tuition you will have to pay.
- Your expected accommodation and living costs.
- Whether the programme has scheduled academic breaks.
- Whether the programme may provide eligible co-op or internship opportunities.
- Whether the programme and institution meet the current requirements for your intended post-graduation work options.
Most importantly, do not choose a Canadian programme solely because you expect to earn money from part-time work. Your study permit is issued for study, and you must continue meeting the conditions attached to your status in Canada.
Canada International Student Work Rules at a Glance
| Situation | General rule |
|---|---|
| Before your programme starts | You cannot begin working under your student work authorization |
| Regular academic sessions | Up to 24 hours per week off campus if eligible |
| Scheduled school breaks | Unlimited off-campus hours if the break qualifies |
| Programme with no scheduled breaks | Up to 24 hours per week |
| Multiple off-campus jobs | Permitted, but total hours must remain within the applicable limit |
| On-campus employment | No hourly limit for eligible students |
| SIN | Required to work in Canada |
| Authorized leave | Cannot work off campus under the student exemption |
| ESL/FSL-only programme | Not eligible for off-campus work under the student exemption |
| General-interest courses only | Not eligible under the student exemption |
| Remote work for an employer outside Canada | Does not count toward the 24-hour off-campus limit, provided you continue meeting your study-permit conditions |
| After graduation | A PGWP or another work authorization may be available if you meet the applicable requirements |
Final Advice for Students Planning Canada
Working while studying can help an international student gain Canadian work experience and contribute toward everyday expenses, but immigration rules should be considered before choosing a school, programme or intake.
Your eligibility depends on your study permit, institution, programme, enrolment status and other conditions. Immigration rules can also change, so students should verify their situation with the Government of Canada before starting employment.
For the current rules, use the official Government of Canada guidance on working off campus as an international student.
If you are planning to study in Canada, the practical approach is to calculate your tuition + accommodation + living costs first, then treat permitted student employment as additional income rather than relying on it to finance your entire education.
