On-Campus vs Off-Campus Jobs in Canada

General information, not immigration advice

This guide compares on-campus and off-campus work for international students in Canada, using official Government of Canada (IRCC) facts. It is general information only and is not immigration advice.

Work rules are set by IRCC and have changed in recent years. Your eligibility depends on the conditions of your specific study permit. Always confirm the current rules on the official Government of Canada source before working.

What "on-campus" means

On-campus work means working at the physical location of the school where you study. This can include jobs with the institution itself, a faculty member, a students' association, a private business operating on campus, or yourself if you run a business located on campus, depending on IRCC's definitions.

Eligible full-time students at a public post-secondary DLI can generally work on-campus without a separate work permit, and on-campus work is generally not counted against the off-campus weekly hour limit. You still need to meet IRCC's conditions and hold a valid study permit — confirm the current definition and eligibility on IRCC.

• Work located on your institution's premises
• Can include the school, faculty, students' association, or on-site employers
• Generally not capped by the off-campus weekly hour limit
• Requires a valid study permit and that you meet IRCC conditions

What "off-campus" means

Off-campus work means working for an employer anywhere outside your campus — for example, in a shop, café, office, or any other workplace in the community. Eligible students can work off-campus under the conditions tied to their study permit.

Unlike on-campus work, off-campus work during academic sessions is subject to a weekly hour limit (see the next section). Both on-campus and off-campus work require that you are an eligible full-time student meeting IRCC's conditions; check the official criteria for each.

• Work for any employer outside your campus
• Subject to a weekly hour limit during academic sessions
• Allowed only when your study permit authorises it

Hour limits: the key difference

The main practical difference is hours. On-campus work is generally not capped by the off-campus weekly hour limit, while off-campus work during academic sessions is. The off-campus limit was updated in 2024, raising it to 24 hours per week during sessions (a change from the long-standing 20-hour figure), so any older number you see may be out of date.

During scheduled breaks, eligible students may generally work full time. Because these figures and definitions can change, verify the current off-campus weekly limit, what counts as an academic session, and the break rules on the official Government of Canada source before you rely on them.

• On-campus: generally not capped by the off-campus weekly limit
• Off-campus during sessions: limit raised to 24 hours/week in 2024 — verify on IRCC
• During scheduled breaks: eligible students may generally work full time

What both have in common

Whichever you choose, the basics are the same. You must hold a valid study permit that authorises work, you generally must be a full-time student in an eligible program at a designated learning institution, and you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to be paid.

Staying within your permitted conditions — including the off-campus hour limit — matters for keeping your status in good standing. If your enrolment or program changes, your work eligibility may change too, so re-check the rules. See our guides on working while studying and on the SIN, and confirm everything on the official IRCC source.