Yes, most international students in Canada can work off-campus without a separate work permit, generally subject to a limit of 24 hours per week during academic sessions. This 24-hour limit took effect on November 8, 2024, raising the previous 20-hour cap. During scheduled breaks (such as winter break, summer between academic years, or a reading week), eligible students can usually work unlimited hours. What this means for you: if you are a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution and your study permit allows off-campus work, you can hold a part-time job during the school year and a full-time job over the summer, without applying for anything extra. This guide explains the rules under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), what counts as an "academic session," how student work placements (co-ops and internships) now work after the April 1, 2026 change, what the expired temporary full-time authorization was, and, critically, what exceeding your work limits can mean for your immigration status. An IRCC officer ultimately decides eligibility, so always confirm the current rules on canada.ca.
The Core Rule: 24 Hours Per Week During Academic Sessions
Under IRPR r.186(v), a study permit holder may generally work off-campus without a separate work permit if they meet all of the following conditions:
- ✓ You are enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- ✓ You are studying in a program of at least 6 months leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate
- ✓ Your study permit is valid and does not contain a condition prohibiting off-campus work
- ✓ You work no more than 24 hours per week during an academic session
Important: The 24-hour weekly limit generally applies across ALL jobs combined. If you work 14 hours at a coffee shop and 12 hours tutoring in the same week, you have exceeded your limit (26 hours total), even though neither individual job alone goes over 24 hours. The 24-hour cap replaced the old 20-hour limit on November 8, 2024; some older guides still cite 20 hours, so confirm the current figure on canada.ca.
Unlimited Hours During Scheduled Breaks
During scheduled breaks between academic sessions, eligible study permit holders can generally work unlimited hours (the 24-hour weekly cap does not apply). IRCC indicates this applies to scheduled breaks of at least 7 consecutive days. Common scheduled breaks include:
- ✓ Winter break (typically December to January)
- ✓ Summer break between academic years
- ✓ A fall or spring reading week
- ✓ Any other officially scheduled break recognized by your institution
The key phrase is scheduled break, meaning it must be a break officially recognized in your institution's academic calendar, and you must have been a full-time student before the break and be returning to full-time studies after it. Taking time off because your course load is light, or because you feel like it, is not a "scheduled break" for immigration purposes. Note that IRCC applies an annual cap of 180 days of unlimited work per calendar year during scheduled breaks; beyond that, the standard weekly limit applies. Confirm the current figures on canada.ca.
Final semester note: IRCC has indicated that students in their final academic session who will apply for a PGWP after graduation can generally still work under the off-campus rules in that final semester even though they are not enrolling in a subsequent term. This is an interpretation that can change, so confirm it with your institution's international student office and on canada.ca before relying on it.
The Expired Temporary Full-Time Authorization (2022 to 2024)
⚠️ Status as of June 2026
During the post-pandemic labour shortage, IRCC ran a temporary public policy (in effect from November 15, 2022 to April 30, 2024) that lifted the then-20-hour weekly limit, letting eligible study permit holders work full-time off campus during academic sessions. That temporary policy expired on April 30, 2024 and was not extended. In fall 2024, the weekly off-campus limit was reset and raised to 24 hours per week (effective November 8, 2024). What this means for you: there is no longer any blanket full-time off-campus authorization during academic sessions. The current cap is 24 hours per week, not unlimited. Always verify the current rules on canada.ca.
Student Work Placements (Co-ops and Internships)
If your academic program includes a required co-op, internship, or practicum, you may take part in that work placement. Until recently, post-secondary students needed a separate co-op work permit for this. As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit to do a required work placement; you can work in the placement on your study permit. The 24-hour weekly off-campus cap does not apply to a required placement, so placement hours are counted separately from your off-campus work. Note that secondary-level students still need a co-op work permit. Confirm the current requirement on canada.ca.
Conditions for a Student Work Placement
- ✓ The work placement must be required to complete your study program (not optional)
- ✓ The placement must total 50% or less of your study program
- ✓ You must hold a valid study permit (or have applied to extend it before it expired)
- ✓ You must be a full-time student at a DLI in a program of at least 6 months at the post-secondary level
Students in ESL/FSL, general-interest, or preparatory courses are generally not eligible for a work placement under these rules. Because requirements changed on April 1, 2026, confirm whether a co-op work permit is still needed in your situation on canada.ca before starting a placement.
What Violating Work Limits Means for Your Status
Serious immigration consequences
Working more than the authorized number of hours (currently 24 per week during an academic session) generally violates your study permit conditions under IRPA s.29(2) and IRPR r.186. This can result in IRCC refusing future applications, including a PGWP application, which can effectively end a pathway to permanent residence. An officer assesses each case individually.
Possible consequences of exceeding the weekly limit can include:
- ! PGWP refusal: IRCC may refuse a PGWP application if you worked more than authorized during your studies. This is often the most serious consequence because it can close the student PR pathway.
- ! Loss of student status: An IRCC officer can find that you breached your permit conditions, which may lead to loss of status and removal of off-campus work eligibility.
- ! Future inadmissibility: Misstating your work history on a later application can lead to a misrepresentation finding under IRPA s.40(1)(a), which generally carries a 5-year inadmissibility.
- ! Removal: In serious cases, an officer may refer the matter for an admissibility hearing that could result in a removal order.
IRCC can cross-check your work history against T4 slips, CRA records, and employer information. Do not assume that exceeding your hours will go undetected when you submit future applications. If you are worried about past hours, speak with a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant before filing a PGWP or PR application.
Post-Graduation Work Rights
Once you graduate and receive a PGWP, the 24-hour weekly limit no longer applies. The PGWP is an open work permit, so you can generally work for any eligible employer in Canada, in almost any job, for any number of hours. The PGWP is generally not renewable, and its length is tied to the length of your study program (up to a maximum of 3 years). 2024 changes also added language requirements and, for graduates of many non-degree college programs, a field-of-study requirement linked to long-term labour shortages; verify the current PGWP rules on canada.ca and see our PGWP guide.
For Canadian Experience Class (CEC) purposes, you generally need to demonstrate at least 1 year of full-time-equivalent skilled work experience (TEER 0 to 3) gained in Canada. Full-time is generally understood as at least 30 hours per week, and part-time hours can be combined to reach the equivalent. See the Study Permit to PR Guide for CEC eligibility details, and confirm current criteria on canada.ca.
Quick Reference: Work Rights by Stage
| Stage | Work Authorization | Hours Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Academic session | Off-campus work (no separate permit) | Up to 24 hrs/week (combined across all jobs) |
| Scheduled break (7+ days) | Off-campus work (no separate permit) | Unlimited (up to 180 days/year) |
| Required co-op/internship placement | On study permit (post-secondary, since Apr 1, 2026) | Hours counted separately from off-campus cap |
| On-campus | On-campus work (no permit needed) | No set weekly limit |
| Post-graduation (PGWP) | Open work permit | No hour limit; most employers and jobs |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can an international student work off campus in Canada in 2026?+
Eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes are in session. This 24-hour limit took effect on November 8, 2024, replacing the previous 20-hour cap. During scheduled breaks of at least 7 consecutive days, eligible students can usually work unlimited hours. Confirm the current figures on canada.ca, as an officer assesses eligibility individually.
Is the off-campus limit still 20 hours per week?+
No. The limit is no longer 20 hours. As of November 8, 2024, eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions. Many older articles still cite 20 hours, so always verify the current number on canada.ca.
Does the 24-hour limit apply to on-campus jobs?+
No. On-campus work for your own institution (library, cafeteria, research assistant, and similar roles) is generally permitted without a separate work permit and is not subject to the 24-hour weekly cap, provided you meet the eligibility conditions. Note that "on-campus" generally means employment by your institution, not a third-party business located on campus.
I worked more than 24 hours one week by mistake. Am I in trouble?+
An isolated mistake is generally less likely to cause problems than a sustained pattern of exceeding the limit, but you should not rely on that. The rule is clear, and IRCC can use CRA T4 records to identify hours worked. If you are concerned about past hours, speak with a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant before submitting a PGWP or PR application. An officer decides each case.
Can I work for multiple employers at the same time?+
Yes, you can generally work for more than one employer, but the 24-hour weekly limit applies to your total hours across all employers combined during any given week, not per job.
What if I am enrolled part-time?+
The off-campus work authorization under IRPR r.186(v) generally requires full-time enrolment. If you are enrolled part-time (with limited exceptions, such as the final academic session of a program), you generally cannot work off campus on this authorization. Confirm your situation on canada.ca.
Do I still need a co-op work permit for an internship in 2026?+
As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a required work placement; they can do the placement on their study permit. Secondary-level students still need a co-op work permit. The placement must be required to complete your program and total 50% or less of it. Confirm the current requirement on canada.ca before starting a placement.
My study permit says "May not work off campus." What does this mean?+
Some study permits include a condition prohibiting off-campus work, often where the holder is not in a qualifying program. The general off-campus work authorization applies only if your permit does not specifically prohibit it. Read the conditions printed on your study permit carefully, and contact IRCC or your international student office if you are unsure.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.