Working While Studying in Canada

General information, not immigration advice

This guide explains, in plain language, how working while studying generally works for international students in Canada, using official Government of Canada (IRCC) facts. It is general information only and is not immigration advice.

Work rules for study-permit holders are set by IRCC and have changed in recent years. Whether you can work, how many hours, and on what conditions depend on your specific study permit and your situation. Always confirm the current rules on the official Government of Canada source before you start any job.

Your right to work comes from your study permit

For most international students, the ability to work is attached to the study permit itself rather than to a separate work permit. A study permit issued to an eligible student typically carries a condition stating whether — and under what limits — the holder may work on-campus or off-campus.

Because the permission is tied to the permit, you generally must be a full-time student in an eligible program at a designated learning institution (DLI), and you must meet the conditions printed on your permit. If your permit does not authorise work, you cannot work until you meet the requirements. Read the conditions on your own permit and verify eligibility on IRCC.

• Work authorisation is usually a condition on the study permit, not a separate document
• You typically need to be a full-time student in an eligible program at a DLI
• The exact conditions appear printed on your study permit
• Confirm your eligibility on the official IRCC website

On-campus vs off-campus work

On-campus work means working on the premises of the institution where you study (for example, for the school, a faculty member, a students' association, or certain on-site employers). Eligible full-time students at a public post-secondary DLI can usually work on-campus without a separate work permit, and on-campus work generally is not capped by the off-campus weekly hour limit.

Off-campus work means working for an employer anywhere outside your campus. Eligible students can work off-campus subject to an hours limit during academic sessions (see the next section). Both options require that you meet IRCC's conditions and hold a valid study permit — check the official criteria for each.

The off-campus hour limit changed in 2024

The number of hours an eligible student may work off-campus during an academic session has changed. The Government of Canada updated this limit in 2024, raising it to 24 hours per week during sessions (a change from the long-standing 20-hour figure). Because this number has changed and may change again, treat any figure you read elsewhere as out of date until you confirm it.

During scheduled breaks — such as the winter and summer holidays — eligible students may generally work full time, provided they were full-time students before the break and will be full-time students after it. Verify the current weekly limit, what counts as an academic session, and the break rules on the official Government of Canada source before relying on them.

• Off-campus limit during sessions was raised to 24 hours/week in 2024 — verify current rule on IRCC
• During scheduled breaks, eligible students may work full time
• Working more than your permitted hours can affect your status — never assume; confirm on IRCC

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

To work in Canada and be paid legally, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), a nine-digit number issued by Service Canada. International students who are authorised to work can apply for a SIN once they meet the requirements. You give your SIN to your employer so your pay and taxes are reported correctly.

Apply for your SIN through Service Canada, and never share it except with employers and government bodies that genuinely need it. See our separate guide on the SIN for students, and confirm the application steps on the official Service Canada page.

Stay within the rules

Working within the conditions of your study permit is important for keeping your status in good standing. Staying enrolled full time (where required), respecting the off-campus hour limit, and only working when your permit authorises it are all part of those conditions.

If your study situation changes — for example, you switch schools, change your program, or your enrolment status changes — your work eligibility may change too. When in doubt, do not guess: check the official Government of Canada source or ask the international student office at your institution, and remember this guide is general information, not immigration advice.