Studying in Canada comes with more than just academic opportunities – it also provides the chance to gain valuable work experience while completing your program. For many international students, working alongside their studies is a way to earn income, develop professional skills, and integrate into Canadian society.

In most cases, you may be eligible to work both on campus and off campus without needing to apply for a separate work permit. If you meet the requirements, you can work unlimited hours on campus and up to 24 hours per week off campus.

It’s important to remember that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) places strict conditions on student work authorization. These conditions are listed directly on your study permit, and failing to follow them can have serious consequences, including the loss of your student status, rejection of future permit applications, or even removal from Canada.

Before you start working, you’ll also need to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This nine-digit number is required for employment, tax reporting, and accessing government benefits. Keep in mind that you must wait until your program officially begins before you can take on any on-campus, off-campus, or remote work.

This article will explain everything you need to know about working in Canada as an international student, including:

  • Eligibility for on-campus, off-campus, and remote employment
  • Rules surrounding internships and co-op placements
  • How authorized leave impacts your ability to work

So, without further ado, let us begin!

What Counts As On-Campus, Off-Campus, And Remote Work?

In this guide to working in Canada as an international student, the first thing to discuss is what counts as on-campus, off-campus, and remote work. 

  • On Campus: Jobs located within your college or university’s physical grounds, including the library, student centre, cafeteria, or other facilities.
  • Off Campus: Jobs located outside the school campus, such as retail stores, restaurants, cinemas, or local businesses. Off-campus work also includes self-employment such as tutoring, food delivery, or dog walking.
  • Remote: Work for an employer outside Canada, where the business has no presence, operations, or financial ties to Canada.

The table below gives an overview of how many hours international students are allowed to work in each category.

Work conditions Number Of Hours Allowed Per Week Conditions
On campus Unlimited – Work is restricted to your campus of study, unless exemption criteria are met.
Off campus 24 – Can work more than one job to reach the allotted 24 hours.

– Cannot work off campus if you fall into any of the 5 exclusion scenarios.
Off campus, during scheduled breaks Unlimited – Scheduled breaks must last at least 7 consecutive days.

– May work up to 180 days during each calendar year.
Remote for an employer outside Canada Unlimited – Does not count towards the 24-hours per week off-campus work limit.

Working On-Campus

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can take on on-campus jobs without applying for a work permit.

Examples of on-campus employment include:

  • Positions with your school itself
  • Roles offered by faculty members
  • Jobs with student associations or organizations
  • Work with private businesses located on school property
  • Jobs with contractors providing services to your school
  • Running your own business, as long as it is physically based on campus

Unlike off-campus work, there are no hourly limits for on-campus jobs. This makes on-campus roles particularly attractive for students looking to supplement their income without restrictions.

Who Can Work On-Campus?

To qualify, you must:

  • Be a full-time student enrolled in one of the following institutions:
    • A public college, university, or trade/technical school (or a CEGEP in Quebec)
    • A private post-secondary institution in Quebec that follows the same rules as public schools
    • A Quebec school (secondary or post-secondary, public or private) offering 900+ hour DVC or AVS programs
    • A Canadian private institution legally authorized to award degrees
  • Hold a valid study permit or maintained status
  • Have a study permit with a condition stating you are allowed to work

If you’re in your final semester and only studying part-time to complete your program requirements, you may still work unlimited hours on campus, provided you were full-time in all previous terms.

For most students, work must be performed on their school’s campus, even if the school has multiple locations. An exception applies if you are a teaching or research assistant and your work is directly tied to a research grant. In that case, you may also work at affiliated facilities such as libraries, hospitals, or research labs. Note that working in healthcare facilities may require completing a medical exam if not already done.

Who Cannot Work On-Campus?

You must stop working immediately if:

  • You are no longer a full-time student (except during your final term)
  • Your study permit has expired
  • You are on an authorized leave from studies
  • You are transferring schools and are not actively studying

Once you resume classes and meet eligibility again, you can return to work.

Working Off-Campus 

Off-campus jobs give students a chance to gain Canadian work experience beyond the university environment. If eligible, you can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks.

It’s both your responsibility and your employer’s to make sure you’re legally permitted to work off campus.

Who Is Eligible To Work Off-Campus?

You can work off campus without a work permit if you:

  • Are enrolled full-time at a designated learning institution (DLI)
  • Have already started your studies
  • Are in a program at least six months long that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
  • Are enrolled in one of the following:
    • A post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional program
    • A Quebec vocational program at the secondary level

You may also work off campus in your final semester if studying part-time, as long as you were previously enrolled full-time.

Students may hold more than one job to reach the 24-hour weekly limit.

Working During Scheduled Breaks

International students are allowed to work full-time with no hourly limit during scheduled school breaks, such as:

  • Summer holidays
  • Winter holidays
  • Reading weeks

To qualify for this, you must have been a full-time student both before and after the break. Even if you decide to continue taking part-time or full-time classes during a scheduled break, you are still permitted to work unlimited hours.

A few important rules:

  • You can work unlimited hours for up to 180 days per calendar year.
  • Breaks must last at least seven consecutive days and be officially scheduled by your school.
  • Single statutory holidays (like Canada Day) do not count as breaks unless they fall within a longer scheduled break.
  • If academic breaks extend beyond 150 consecutive days, you can only work off campus for the first 150 days.

If your program has no scheduled breaks, you are limited to 24 hours per week throughout the year.

Situations Where You Cannot Work Off-Campus

IRCC outlines five scenarios where students are not eligible for off-campus work without a work permit:

  • Your study permit states that off-campus work is prohibited
  • You are enrolled only in an English or French language program (ESL/FSL)
  • You are enrolled in general interest courses only
  • You are enrolled in courses solely to qualify for admission to a full-time program

If your situation changes, for example, you switch to a program that allows off-campus work, you may apply to change your study permit conditions.

This requires:

  • A letter explaining why you now qualify
  • A request to remove the restriction from your study permit

How To Track Your Work Hours?

If you are working in Canada as an international student, you must know how you can track your work hours. 

Well, IRCC expects students to carefully track their weekly hours worked off campus. Hours include:

  • Time spent earning wages or commissions
  • Time spent “on call,” even if not actively working
  • Hours spent on self-employment activities, including freelancing, sales, or service-based work

Failing to keep accurate records can put you at risk if IRCC ever reviews your case.

Internships And Co-op Placements

If your program requires you to complete a co-op placement or internship as part of graduation, you’ll need to apply for a co-op work permit.

Eligibility requirements:

  • You must hold a valid study permit
  • You must provide a letter from your DLI confirming the work placement is mandatory

The work placement must account for 50% or less of your total program duration.

Who Is Not Eligible For A Co-op Work Permit?

You cannot apply for this permit if you are:

  • Studying English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL)
  • Enrolled in general interest courses
  • Taking preparatory courses for another program

In such cases, you would need to apply for a regular work permit to participate in the placement.

Remote Work For A Foreign Employer

Another option is remote work. IRCC allows international students to work remotely for an employer outside Canada.

This can include freelance work, contract work, or being employed directly by a foreign company. Importantly, remote work does not count toward your 24-hour weekly limit for off-campus employment.

To qualify:

  • The employer must have no physical presence in Canada
  • The employer cannot run operations or business activities in Canada
  • The employer cannot have financial ties to Canada

You cannot provide services to Canadian clients, work for Canadian companies, or receive payment from Canadian entities.

Authorized Leave From Studies

International students may sometimes need to take an authorized leave from their program. IRCC still recognizes such students as actively pursuing studies, provided the leave is:

  • Authorized by the DLI
  • No longer than 150 days

During this period, you are not allowed to work either on or off campus.

Authorized leave may apply in situations such as:

  • Your school closes permanently or goes on strike
  • You are changing schools
  • Your program start date is deferred by you or the school
  • You are facing personal reasons such as pregnancy, health issues, family emergencies, or the death of a loved one

If your program start date is delayed, you must enroll in the next available semester and provide an updated letter of acceptance.

You don’t need to inform IRCC of your authorized leave, but you must keep documentation from your school in case it is ever requested.

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