Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued updated guidance to clarify the rules around off-campus work for international students. The changes address eligibility conditions, weekly hour limits, and what counts as authorized work.

Eligibility and Conditions

To work off campus without a separate work permit, international students must meet all of the following conditions:

  • Hold a valid study permit.
  • Be enrolled full-time at a designated learning institution (DLI).
  • Be in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate and is at least six months in duration.
  • Have started their program of study.
  • Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Students who stop studying full-time or who are on an authorized leave from their program generally lose the right to work off campus, unless they meet an exception specified by IRCC.

Work Hour Limits

During regular academic sessions, eligible students may work up to 20 hours per week off campus. The 20‑hour limit applies to the total time spent working for all off‑campus employers combined.

During scheduled breaks—such as winter or summer holidays—students may work full‑time off campus, provided they were full‑time students before the break and will be full‑time after the break.

It is the student’s responsibility to track their hours and ensure they do not exceed the limit.

What Counts as Work

IRCC considers any activity for which a student receives wages or commission, or that competes in the labour market, to be work. This includes:

  • Paid employment.
  • Unpaid internships that would normally be a paid position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Self‑employment (e.g., freelance work or running a business).

Volunteer activity that is genuinely charitable or community‑based and does not displace a paid worker is not considered work.

Students who work beyond their authorized hours or without meeting the conditions may be found in breach of their study permit conditions. This can affect future immigration applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work more than 20 hours per week if I have more than one job?
No. The 20‑hour limit applies to the total hours worked across all off‑campus jobs during an academic session.

Do I violate the rules if an employer asks me to work extra hours?
Yes. It is the student’s responsibility to refuse shifts that would cause them to exceed the weekly limit.

Can I start working before my classes begin?
Generally no. You must have started your program of study before you are eligible to work off campus.

Does unpaid work count toward the 20‑hour limit?
It may, if the activity is normally a paid position. A volunteer role that does not take a job away from a Canadian worker is not counted.