Work & Stay in Canada
Working and Staying in Canada as an International Student
Official IRCC and Service Canada facts on working while you study in Canada, the off-campus hour limit, co-op and post-graduation work permits, and getting a Social Insurance Number — general information to verify on the official Government of Canada source.
Many international students want to work while they study in Canada and gain Canadian experience afterwards. This hub gathers the essentials — working on-campus and off-campus, the off-campus hour limit updated in 2024, the co-op work permit for required placements, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and the Social Insurance Number (SIN) you need to be paid. Everything here is general information drawn from official Government of Canada sources, not immigration advice; work and permit rules change, so always confirm the current rules on the official IRCC or Service Canada source before you act.
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Guides for Canada
10 of 10 guides in this hub are for Canada.
Working While Studying in Canada
How international students can work on-campus and off-campus while studying in Canada — eligibility tied to your study permit, the off-campus hour limit (changed in 2024), and the official IRCC rules to verify before you work.
Read guidePost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Explained
What the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is, who may be eligible, how its length relates to your program, and the field-of-study and language requirements added in 2024 — explained with official IRCC facts to verify before you apply.
Read guideCo-op / Student Work Placement Permit in Canada
How co-op terms, internships, and required work placements work for international students in Canada — including the change that, since April 1, 2026, post-secondary students generally no longer need a separate co-op work permit — explained with official IRCC facts to verify before you apply.
Read guideSocial Insurance Number (SIN) for Students
What a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is, why international students need one to work in Canada, how to apply through Service Canada, and how to keep your SIN safe — explained with official Government of Canada facts.
Read guideStaying in Canada After Graduation: Your Options
The routes international graduates may explore to stay in Canada after studies — work permits and economic-immigration pathways — with links to the official IRCC pages. General information only, not immigration advice.
Read guideExpress Entry for International Graduates: How It Works
Canada's Express Entry system for international graduates — the programs it manages, how the points-based ranking works in concept, and where to verify on IRCC. General information only, not immigration advice.
Read guideProvincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Students
Canada's Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates — how provinces nominate candidates, how streams differ, and where to verify on each province and IRCC. General information only, not immigration advice.
Read guideCanadian Experience Class Explained
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a federal program managed through Express Entry for people with qualifying Canadian work experience. General information only, not immigration advice — verify on IRCC.
Read guideFrom Study Permit to Permanent Residence: An Overview
How a study permit, post-graduation work, and Canada's economic-immigration programs can connect on the way to permanent residence — with no guarantees. General information only, not immigration advice.
Read guideStudying in Canada
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Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for Canada — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
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