Studying in Canada can be about much more than attending classes. For many international students, part-time work is an important way to gain Canadian experience, meet people, build a professional network and help cover everyday expenses. However, having a Canadian study permit does not automatically mean you can work anywhere or for as many hours as you want. Canadian immigration rules set specific conditions for international students who want to work.

These rules cover on-campus employment, off-campus jobs, SINs, co-op placements and work after graduation. They also determine when you must stop working.The rules have also changed recently. One of the most important changes took effect on April 1, 2026, when eligible post-secondary international students stopped needing a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements such as internships and co-ops.

This guide explains how international students can legally work in Canada while studying and what options may be available after graduation.

Can International Students Work in Canada?

Yes. Eligible international students can work in Canada without applying for a separate work permit for ordinary on-campus or off-campus employment, provided they meet the conditions attached to their study permit and the applicable immigration rules. There are three main types of work to understand:

  • On-campus work,
  • Off-campus work, and
  • Student work placements, such as co-ops, internships and practicums.

There is also the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which may allow eligible graduates to work after completing their studies. The important point is that these categories have different eligibility requirements

A student who is allowed to work part-time off campus, for example, is not automatically authorized to participate in every type of co-op placement or to work after graduation. Before accepting a job, students should check both their study permit and their current eligibility under IRCC rules.

What Is a Work Permit?

A work permit is written authorization from the Canadian government allowing a foreign national to work in Canada under specified conditions. Work permits can restrict the type of employment, employer, location or period during which someone can work. Some are employer-specific, while others are open work permits that allow work for most eligible employers.

International students should understand the difference between a study permit that includes work authorization and a separate work permit. For example, eligible post-secondary students can generally work off campus without obtaining a separate work permit, as long as they satisfy the requirements. Required post-secondary co-op placements also no longer require a separate co-op work permit from April 1, 2026.

Working On Campus as an International Student

On-campus employment is one of the simplest ways for an eligible student to gain work experience. You may generally work on campus without a separate work permit if you:

  • Are a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI),
    • Are enrolled in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or an eligible secondary-level vocational program in Quebec,
  • Have a valid study permit, or have applied to extend it before it expired,
  • Have the appropriate work conditions printed on your study permit; and
  • Have a valid SIN.
    •

There is no hourly limit for on-campus work during regular academic terms or scheduled school breaks. This means an eligible student can work more than 24 hours per week on campus, provided the student continues to meet the applicable requirements. For students with more than one campus, the usual rule is that on-campus work must be at the campus where they study.

There are exceptions for certain teaching or research positions and work at associated libraries, hospitals or research facilities. An on-campus employer can include the school itself, a faculty member, student organization, private business, contractor providing services to the school or, in certain circumstances, the student.

Examples of On-Campus Student Jobs

Depending on the school and available vacancies, students may find work as:

  • Library assistants;
  • Research assistants,
  • Teaching assistants,
  • Administrative assistants,
  • Campus reception staff;
  • Residence assistants,
  • Fitness or recreation centre staff;
  • Student ambassadors,
  • Food-service workers,or
  • Bookstore employees.

These positions can be particularly useful because they may be located close to classes and can provide experience relevant to a student's field.

When Can You No Longer Work On Campus?

Your work authorization can end if you stop meeting the requirements. For example, you generally must stop working on campus if you:

  • Stop studying full time, unless you are in your final semester and meet the applicable exception,
  • Allow your study permit to expire,
  • Take an authorized leave from your studies, or
  • Change schools and are not currently studying.

You can normally resume working once you return to your studies and once you again meet all applicable requirements.

Working Off Campus: The 24-Hour Rule

Off-campus employment is where international students most often encounter confusion. Eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week while classes are in session. The 24-hour limit applies to the total time worked off campus, not to each individual job. If you have two employers, for example, you cannot work 24 hours for each employer.

Your combined off-campus hours must remain within the permitted limit. This rule applies even if your study permit still contains an older condition referring to 20 hours per week. If you meet the current eligibility requirements, IRCC states that you can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions.

Who Can Work Off Campus?

Generally, you must:

  • Be a full-time student at a DLI,
  • Have started your study program;
  • Be enrolled in an eligible academic, vocational or professional training program, or an eligible secondary-level vocational program in Quebec,
  • Be studying in a program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate;
  • Have a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before it expired;
  • Have work authorization conditions on your study permit; and
  • Have a SIN, and
  • You cannot begin working off campus before your study program actually starts.

What Happens During Scheduled School Breaks?

The 24-hour weekly limit does not normally apply during a scheduled break in the academic year. During an eligible scheduled break, such as a summer holiday, winter holiday or reading week, an eligible student can work unlimited hours off campus. The student must still have valid status and continue to meet the other requirements for off-campus work.

A scheduled break must be one officially scheduled by the school and generally must last at least seven consecutive days. A single statutory holiday, such as Labour Day, does not by itself become a scheduled break. Students should therefore check their DLI's academic calendar rather than assuming every holiday permits unlimited work. If a program does not have scheduled breaks, the student remains subject to the 24-hour weekly limit.

How Should Students Track Their Working Hours?

Students are responsible for keeping track of their off-campus work. This is particularly important for students who have multiple employers, work irregular shifts or are self-employed. IRCC considers working time to include time spent earning wages or collecting a commission. Self-employed students must also track the time they spend performing services or selling products.

A simple weekly record can help. Keep copies of schedules, timesheets, pay records and employment agreements in case you ever need to demonstrate that you complied with your study permit conditions. Working more than 24 hours per week during an academic session can be considered a violation of your study permit conditions and may affect your immigration status and future applications.

What Is a Social Insurance Number?

A SIN is a nine-digit number issued by the Government of Canada. You need a SIN to work in Canada and to access certain government programs and services. Before applying for a SIN, check your study permit for the appropriate work authorization condition. For example, your permit may state that you can accept employment on or off campus if you meet the applicable eligibility criteria.

If you are eligible to work but your study permit does not contain the necessary conditions, you may need to request an amendment before applying for a SIN. There is no fee to add these work conditions to a study permit when the amendment is required because IRCC omitted them.Students can apply for a SIN online, in person at a Service Canada Centre or by mail. Online applications are generally the most convenient option.

What Student Jobs Can You Do?

Eligible international students can work in many ordinary jobs, provided the employment is authorized under their immigration status. Popular student jobs may include:

  • Retail sales associate,
  • Restaurant or café worker,
  • Cashier,
  • Customer service representative,
  • Administrative assistant;
  • Warehouse Worker,
  • Tutor,
  • Receptionist,
  • Research assistant,
  • Teaching assistant,
  • Library assistant,
  • Hospitality worker; and
  • Jobs related to the student's field of study.

The best choice depends on your schedule, qualifications, location and career goals. A student studying computer science, for example, might benefit from a campus technology role or junior development position. Someone studying business may look for administrative, sales or customer-service experience. The key is not simply finding an employer willing to hire you. You must first make sure you are legally authorized to do the work.

Who Cannot Work Off Campus?

Not every international student with a study permit is authorized to work off campus. You generally cannot use the regular student off-campus work authorization if:

  • Your study permit specifically says you are not authorized to work off campus,
  • You are only studying English or French as a second language,
  • You are only taking general-interest courses,
  • You are taking prerequisite courses required for admission to a full-time program, or
  • Your circumstances have changed and you no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

Students on an authorized leave generally cannot work off campus during the leave. Similarly, students who have stopped studying because they are changing schools cannot continue working until they resume studies and meet the requirements again. If your study circumstances change, do not assume that your existing work authorization continues automatically.

Working During a Co-op, Internship or Practicum

Student work placements are different from ordinary part-time employment. A student work placement can include a co-op, internship, practicum or similar work experience that is required as part of the student's academic program and approved by the DLI.

Major Co-op Rule Change in 2026

As of April 1, 2026, eligible international students at the post-secondary level no longer need a separate co-op work permit to participate in required student work placements. This is an important change for current students because older information online may still tell them to apply for a co-op work permit. That information is no longer current for eligible post-secondary students. To participate, a post-secondary student generally must:

  • Be a full-time student at a DLI;
  • Have a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before it expired,
  • Have a letter from the DLI confirming that the placement is required,
  • Be enrolled in an eligible academic, vocational or professional training program; and
  • Have a student work placement that represents no more than 50% of the total study program.

There is no weekly hour limit specifically for an eligible student work placement, but the placement cannot exceed 50% of the overall study program. Secondary-level international students are different. They still need a co-op work permit for qualifying student work placements. Students studying English or French as a second language, general-interest courses or courses at institutions outside Canada cannot use the student work placement rules.

When Must You Stop a Student Work Placement?

Even under the new 2026 rules, a student work placement is not an unrestricted work authorization. A student must stop participating in the placement if they:

  • Stop studying full time, except where the final-semester exception applies,
  • Allow their study permit to expire,
  • Take an authorized leave, or
  • Change schools and are no longer studying.

If the student resumes studies and continues to meet the requirements, they may be able to return to the placement. Some placements may also require a medical examination. For example, work in a hospital or another setting where public health protection is important may require medical clearance.

Can You Work Remotely for an Employer Outside Canada?

IRCC states that international students may work remotely for an employer outside Canada as long as they continue to meet their study permit conditions. This type of work does not count toward the 24-hour weekly off-campus limit. Students should nevertheless keep records of their work and ensure the arrangement does not create other legal or tax obligations.

Can You Work After Completing Your Studies?

Graduation changes your immigration situation. One common option is the PGWP, which can allow eligible graduates to gain Canadian work experience after completing an eligible program. However, graduating from a DLI does not automatically guarantee PGWP eligibility. The school, program, duration of study, language requirements and, for some programs, field of study can all matter.

Generally, a PGWP applicant must have completed a qualifying program at a PGWP-eligible DLI that was at least eight months long, or 900 hours for certain Quebec programs, and must have maintained the required student status. The application must generally be submitted within 180 days of confirmation that the program was completed. Current PGWP rules also include language requirements, and some graduates who applied for their study permit on or after November 1, 2024 must meet field-of-study requirements depending on their program.

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates do not have a field-of-study requirement, but they do have language requirements. The length of a PGWP depends on factors such as the duration and type of program and passport validity. Some eligible master's graduates can receive a three-year PGWP even when the master's program itself was less than two years, provided they meet the applicable requirements.

Can You Work While Waiting for Your PGWP?

In certain circumstances, yes. If you had a valid study permit when you submitted your PGWP application, completed your program, and were authorized to work off campus during your studies without exceeding the permitted hours, you may be allowed to work full time while IRCC processes your application.

This is an important distinction: not every graduate can simply start working full time after finishing classes. If you do not meet the requirements for working while the PGWP application is being processed, you must wait for authorization before starting employment. If IRCC refuses the PGWP application, you must stop working when notified.

What If Your Study Permit Is Expiring?

Do not wait until the last minute to deal with an expiring study permit. If you need to continue studying, you should apply for an extension before your current permit expires. If you lose your status, restoration rules may apply, but restoration does not give you an automatic right to continue working.

In particular, students who have lost status generally cannot study or work while waiting for a restoration application to be approved. The safest approach is to monitor your study permit expiry date, maintain your student status, and address any changes in your studies or work authorization promptly.

Common Mistakes International Students Should Avoid

Working in Canada as a student can be straightforward when the rules are followed, but several mistakes can create immigration problems as outlined below.

Working More Than 24 Hours Off Campus

During an academic term, eligible students are generally limited to 24 hours per week of off-campus work. Working beyond this limit may violate the conditions of your study permit and could affect your immigration status.

Assuming Every Holiday Allows Unlimited Work

Only qualifying scheduled breaks allow eligible students to work unlimited hours off campus. A single public holiday is not automatically considered a scheduled break, so check your academic calendar before increasing your work hours.

Starting Work Before Classes Begin

Students cannot begin regular off-campus employment before their study program starts. You must meet the eligibility requirements for off-campus work and wait until your program has officially begun before starting employment.

Working Without a SIN

Students need a SIN to work legally in Canada and should ensure they are authorized to work under their study permit. Check that your study permit includes the necessary work conditions before applying for a SIN or starting a job.

Continuing to Work During an Unauthorized Leave

An authorized leave or interruption in your studies can affect your eligibility to work off campus. If you no longer meet the requirements for off-campus work, you should stop working until you are authorized to resume employment.

Relying on Outdated Co-op Information

This is especially relevant in 2026 because the rules for student work placements have changed. As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements.

Assuming Graduation Automatically Gives You a PGWP

Graduating from a Canadian institution does not automatically make you eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Eligibility depends on several factors, so check your school's program eligibility and the current IRCC requirements before relying on a PGWP as your post-study plan.

FAQs

Can International Students Work While Studying in Canada in 2026?

Yes, eligible international students can generally work off campus while studying in Canada. During regular academic sessions, students can work up to 24 hours per week, while eligible students may work unlimited hours during qualifying scheduled breaks.

Do International Students Need a Co-op Work Permit in 2026?

As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements. Students must still meet the applicable requirements, while secondary-level students may have different rules.

Can I Stay and Work in Canada After Graduating?

Some graduates may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), but graduation does not automatically guarantee eligibility. Your program, institution, study history, and other current IRCC requirements can affect whether you qualify.