Canada has some fantastic universities, which attract international students from around the globe. But while it’s a beautiful, friendly and welcoming nation, the cost of living is high in many of the major university cities, so it’s quite common for students to take on some part-time work to support themselves.
At Remitly, we understand that for newcomers it might be a bit confusing trying to understand the rules on exactly how much work you can take on. So we’ve put together this guide to working while you’re in Canada on a student permit. We’ll lay out the current rules, and share some tips on remaining compliant to avoid the penalties for breaking them.
Current work-hour regulations for international students
Once term starts, we’d understand if you wanted to devote yourself completely to your studies. But the fact is that the cost of living in Canada may mean you end up looking for part-time work to support yourself. Or maybe you want to get some early work experience in your field of study.
Fortunately, most full-time international students can do some work while studying. In most cases, study permit work hours are up to 24 hours a week, and unlimited hours outside of the academic term, in the defined breaks. This includes self-employment, and you can even do multiple jobs, as long as you don’t exceed the limit.
In November 2024 the Canadian government increased the number of hours international students can work each week from 20 to the current level, but it’s not automatic. Whether you have the right to work—and any additional conditions you have to stick to—will usually be listed in the Conditions section of your study permit.
What do I need to be eligible to work while studying in Canada?
Generally speaking, you must be:
- Enrolled in a full-time course at a designated learning institute (DLI), working towards a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- Enrolled in a course at least six months long, which must already have started (you can’t work before your course starts).
- You must have a Canadian social insurance number (SIN), which you can apply for as a foreigner.
Part-time students aren’t eligible to work. The only exception is if you were a full-time student, but you’re now in your final semester, and only studying part-time because you don’t need a full course load to complete your program.
What if I drop out?
If you stop your course for any reason, such as changing schools or an authorized leave of absence, you also lose your right to work. So you should consider this very carefully as part of any decision to make a change.
There might be other restrictions on your right to work, too, which will be listed on your study permit. For example, some jobs require you to have a medical exam by an authorized physician as part of your study permit application. If you haven’t had that exam you may well see “not authorized to work in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching, health field occupations” on your permit.
You’ll need to show your permit and provide your SIN when you find a part-time job, firstly so your employer knows they can give you the job legally, and secondly so you’ll get paid.
Exemptions and special circumstances
There are some exceptions to the standard student visa work restrictions that may allow you to work more than 24 hours per week.
On-campus work
The rules about taking on a job on the educational campus where you’re enrolled are more flexible. As long as you meet all the same conditions for work we mentioned earlier, there’s no limit to the number of hours you can work on campus.
What type of work could you find within your uni? Some on-campus roles include:
- Resident assistant—acting as a mentor and building community manager for student residential halls.
- Tutor—providing academic support for other students.
- Research assistant—working with professors or departments on research projects.
- Library assistant—helping to manage libraries and their resources.
- Shop worker—working in the campus book shop or cafeteria.
Individual educational institutions may have their own rules for who can apply for on-campus jobs and how many hours they can work.
Co-op and internship programs
If you have to complete work experience or an internship as part of your studies, you may be allowed to work additional hours. However, you must apply for a separate Co-op or Intern Work Permit. To be eligible, you must:
- Have a valid study permit.
- Have a letter from your school confirming that the work is required to complete your program.
- The work placement must make up less than 50% of your total program of study.
You can apply for this permit online, and the application is free if you already have a valid student permit. If you haven’t applied for your student permit yet, don’t worry—you can apply for the additional work permit as part of the same application.
If you’re a graduate student conducting research, if it isn’t covered by on-campus rules or it’s more than 24 hours per week, you may also need to apply for this work permit. Your academic institution can best advise you on what kind of permit you may need.
What happens if I work over the limit?
Go over the maximum permitted hours and there might be serious consequences. If you’re caught, your visa can be cancelled, and you can be asked to leave the country immediately. The violation will go on your record, which could affect any future visa applications.
If you’re wondering how the government would know, the truth is that there are plenty of ways you could get caught. One of the most common is that someone reports you, and you’re investigated, but this isn’t always necessary.
The Canadian government does run data cross-referencing, in which payroll and tax information is checked against students’ visa statuses. And that’s on top of the standard audit of all companies that the government does—so it’s very much in your own interest to ensure you don’t go over the limit.
How to track and manage your work hours
The best way you can protect yourself from visa violations is to track your hours carefully and keep records as proof if you’re reported. This can also help you in circumstances such as mistakes in your pay, or staying an extra 30 minutes on a busy night and going over the limit.
You should keep track of all working hours, including when self-employed. “Hours” include any time spent “earning wages or commissions,” even if you’re on call rather than actively working.
Keep careful records
If you don’t want to invest in a time-tracking app, a spreadsheet is often the best way to keep track. For each week, you should have columns for different jobs, which can be marked as on campus or off campus.
You’ll also need to indicate whether the week is an academic 24-hour week or an out-of-term, unlimited-hour week. Match the hours worked and tracked with the payslips you receive. Keep all your payslips, too, in case you’re audited.
If you notice any issues, like regularly being asked to stay late or being overscheduled, speak to your employer immediately to remedy the situation. They should be aware of how serious it is, as it’s a serious legal problem for them if they employ an international student for too many hours.
Working after graduation
Once you finish your studies, you no longer have the right to work in Canada. If you want to stay and work for longer, you’ll need to consider other immigration pathways. Most Canadian work permits require that an employer sponsor you for a role that’s passed a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
However, if you graduate from a designated learning institution, you may be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). The standard fee for the permit is $255 CAD.
PGWPs are granted for the same length as your period of full-time study, starting at eight months and running for a maximum of three years. The permit allows you to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada, without any restriction on hours or minimum salary, and without a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Apply promptly
You must apply for the permit within 180 days of completing your course. You can apply from within Canada or overseas, but if you’re in Canada, you have to be there legally to make your application.
Depending on your country of origin or course of study, you may also need to provide proof of English or French proficiency via an approved language test, and your course of study may have had to be in an approved field, which includes healthcare, STEM, trade occupations, transportation occupations, agriculture, or education.
When your PGWP expires, if you’re keen to stay long-term you can apply for another type of work permit, pursue permanent residency or even citizenship.
Stay compliant and focused on your studies
In such an expensive country as Canada, taking on some part-time work can be a way to make the dream of studying there a reality. But as we’ve said, there are limits to how much you can work. Those limits are there partly to help you focus on your studies, but also to prevent people from abusing the student permit system to work in Canada.
You don’t want to be asked to leave the country and put future visa applications at risk of being blocked, so respect the rules and keep detailed records of your work hours. There’s more about working in Canada as an international student on the official Canada immigration website.
FAQs
Can I work more hours during summer break?
While you’re limited to working a maximum of 24 hours a week during the academic term, if you qualify for limited work on your student permit there’s no limit to how many hours you can work in the defined breaks. So you can work more than 40 hours a week during summer break, providing you’re going back to uni in the autumn.
What happens if my employer asks me to work overtime?
You’ll need to show your student permit to your employer when you start work, so they should be aware of your limited working hours. If you’re asked to work more than is allowed by your permit, raise this issue with them immediately. They’re very unlikely to insist because it can lead to serious legal trouble for them, too.
How do volunteer hours count toward the limit?
It depends. If the volunteer role is a job that you’d usually be paid for, then it counts as work. For example, if you volunteer at a soup kitchen, that wouldn’t be considered work. But if you work as a volunteer social media manager at a nonprofit, that would most likely be considered work, as it would usually be a paid position. So you have to be careful.
Can I work for multiple employers as long as I don’t exceed 24 hours total?
Yes, as long as you don’t exceed your hour limit. It’s up to you to keep track of your hours and keep records as proof that you’re not overworking, in case you have to prove it to immigration officials.