Short answer: most international students with a valid study permit can work in Canada without a separate work permit. On campus there is no fixed hour cap, and off campus eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week while classes are in session and full-time during scheduled breaks. The rules are specific, though, and breaking them can put your study permit and future applications at risk, so it pays to know exactly where you stand. This guide explains on-campus work, off-campus work and the 24-hour weekly limit, co-op and internship work permits, working between academic sessions, and whether your spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit while you study. It is educational information, not legal advice, and an IRCC officer ultimately decides each case, so confirm the current rules on canada.ca before you act.
On-Campus Work
Under IRPR s.186(f), international students with a valid study permit may work on campus without a separate work permit, provided they are:
- ✓ Currently enrolled as a full-time student at the DLI
- ✓ Working for the institution or for a business physically located on campus
- ✓ Not violating any conditions of their study permit
On-campus work includes jobs at the university library, campus cafeteria, student union, bookstore, or as a teaching or research assistant. There is no specific weekly hour limit for on-campus work, but you must remain primarily enrolled as a full-time student. What this means for you: on-campus hours do not count toward the off-campus 24-hour weekly cap described below, so a campus job can be a flexible way to earn while you study. Your eligibility ends when your study program ends, so you cannot keep working on campus after you graduate using your study permit alone.
Off-Campus Work: The 24 Hours Per Week Limit
International students with a valid study permit who meet the eligibility criteria may generally work off campus without a separate work permit, subject to a weekly hour limit while classes are in session.
How many hours can you work off campus?
As of November 8, 2024, eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes are in session (raised from the earlier 20-hour limit). During scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays or a reading week, eligible students may work unlimited hours, as long as they remain enrolled and plan to return to study. Working more than the permitted hours breaches your study permit conditions and can cost you your student status, so confirm the current limit on canada.ca before exceeding 24 hours in a class week.
To work off campus without a separate permit, students generally must:
- ✓ Be enrolled full-time at a DLI at the post-secondary level (or, in Quebec, in a vocational program at the secondary level)
- ✓ Have a study permit that lists a condition allowing off-campus work (most do, unless your permit says you may not work off campus)
- ✓ Be enrolled in a program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
- ✓ Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) before you start working
Two practical points. First, you generally cannot start working until your study program has actually begun, even if your permit already allows off-campus work. Second, the 24-hour weekly limit applies to all off-campus jobs combined, not per employer, so if you hold two part-time jobs you must add the hours together. If you are only studying part-time, are in an English- or French-as-a-second-language program, or are taking general-interest courses, you are usually not eligible to work off campus, so check your specific permit conditions.
Co-op and Internship Placements
If your program includes a mandatory co-op or internship placement, the rules changed in 2026. As of April 1, 2026, IRCC no longer issues separate co-op work permits to most post-secondary students. Eligible post-secondary students can generally rely on the work authorization on their study permit to complete a required placement, rather than applying for a separate permit. Confirm the current rules on canada.ca before you start a placement.
- ✓ The co-op or work placement must be required to complete your program for all students (not an optional add-on)
- ✓ The placement generally cannot make up more than 50% of the total program of study to be covered by the work authorization on your study permit
- ✓ You generally need a letter from your school confirming the placement is a mandatory part of the program
- ✓ Eligible post-secondary students can generally use the work authorization on their study permit for a required placement, so a separate co-op work permit is no longer required for most of them
- ✓ Rules can differ for some programs and institutions, so check the current requirements on canada.ca for your situation
What this means for you: the work authorization on your study permit generally covers the required placement that is part of your program. It is separate from ordinary off-campus work, so during a term you may still do up to 24 hours per week of regular off-campus work on top of your placement if you remain eligible. Self-employment generally does not qualify as a co-op placement. Because these rules changed recently, confirm the current process on canada.ca.
Working Between Academic Sessions
Students who are eligible to work off campus during the academic year may also work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks between academic sessions (for example winter break, summer break, or a reading week), as long as:
- ✓ They are a full-time student before and after the break (the break is a scheduled part of the program)
- ✓ They were enrolled full-time in the term before the break and are enrolled for the next term
- ✓ Their study permit remains valid and allows off-campus work during the break
- ✗ You cannot work full-time during a break if you have finished or stopped your program, because the off-campus work conditions on your study permit no longer apply once your studies are complete
Spouse or Partner Open Work Permit
In some cases, the spouse or common-law partner of an international student may be eligible for an open work permit (OWP) that lets them work for almost any employer in Canada. Eligibility was significantly narrowed in early 2025. As of January 21, 2025, this stream is generally limited to spouses of students enrolled in a master's program that is 16 months or longer, a doctoral (PhD) program, or certain professional and select pilot programs. Spouses of students in shorter master's programs, undergraduate degrees, and college programs are generally no longer eligible. Always confirm the current criteria on canada.ca before applying.
| Student Program Level | Spouse OWP Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Master's program of 16 months or longer | Generally yes |
| Master's program shorter than 16 months | Generally no (as of Jan 2025) |
| Doctoral (PhD) program | Generally yes |
| Certain professional / select pilot programs | May qualify (verify on canada.ca) |
| Undergraduate (bachelor's) degree | Generally no (as of Jan 2025) |
| College diploma / certificate | Generally no (as of Jan 2025) |
What this means for you: the length and level of your own program now decides whether your spouse or partner can get an open work permit. Open work permits approved under the earlier, broader rules generally stay valid until they expire, and in some cases family members already in Canada can apply to renew. IRCC policy in this area has changed several times and further adjustments are possible, so check the current guidance before relying on it. A spouse or partner who is not eligible for this stream may still qualify for a work permit through another program.
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Check Processing TimesFrequently Asked Questions
How many hours can international students work per week in Canada?+
As of November 8, 2024, eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes are in session (up from the earlier 20-hour limit). During scheduled breaks, such as summer and winter holidays, eligible students may work unlimited hours. On-campus work has no specific weekly hour limit, but you must remain enrolled full-time. Always verify the current rules on canada.ca, as IRCC has adjusted this policy before.
Do I need a separate work permit to work off-campus as an international student?+
In most cases, no. If your study permit lists a condition allowing off-campus work (most do), you can work off campus without a separate work permit, subject to the weekly hour limit, once your program has started. For a co-op or internship placement that is a required part of your program, the rules changed as of April 1, 2026: IRCC no longer issues separate co-op work permits to most post-secondary students, who can generally rely on the work authorization on their study permit for a required placement. Confirm the current rules on canada.ca.
Can I work full-time during the summer as an international student?+
Generally yes. If you are eligible to work off campus during the academic year, your permit allows off-campus work, and you were a full-time student before the break and will be enrolled for the next term, you can usually work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks between sessions, such as summer or winter break.
What happens if I exceed the work hour limit?+
Working more than the permitted hours breaches your study permit conditions and can result in a finding of non-compliance. That can cost you your student status and may affect current and future immigration applications, including study permit extensions, post-graduation work permits, and permanent residence. If you are unsure how many hours you may work, confirm on canada.ca or speak with a licensed immigration professional before working more.
Can my spouse work in Canada while I study?+
Sometimes. As of January 21, 2025, the spousal open work permit stream for students is generally limited to spouses or common-law partners of students in a master's program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, or certain professional and select pilot programs. Spouses of students in shorter master's, undergraduate, or college programs are generally not eligible under this stream, though they may qualify for a work permit through another program. Confirm the current criteria on canada.ca.
Does working on campus count toward the 24-hour off-campus limit?+
No. On-campus work and off-campus work are treated separately. The 24-hour weekly cap applies only to off-campus work while classes are in session, and it counts all off-campus jobs combined. On-campus work has no specific weekly hour limit, although you must stay enrolled as a full-time student.
Can I keep working after I finish my study program?+
Generally no, not on your study permit alone. Your authorization to work on or off campus is tied to being an enrolled student, so it ends when your program ends. Many graduates apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to keep working after they finish, but the PGWP has its own eligibility rules, including field-of-study and language requirements introduced in 2024. Check the current PGWP rules on canada.ca.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.