Working While Studying in Canada: 2026 Hours and Rules

As an international student in Canada, you can usually work off campus up to 24 hours a week during academic sessions, a rule in place since November 2024, and full time during scheduled breaks if you're eligible. On-campus jobs have their own rules. From 1 April 2026, post-secondary students don't need a separate co-op work permit for required placements.

How many hours can you work off campus?

During academic sessions, the limit is 24 hours a week of off-campus work. That rule has applied since November 2024, and Canada has changed student work rules several times in recent years, so check the current terms on IRCC's study in Canada pages before you take a job.

The right to work off campus comes with conditions. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) expects you to be enrolled full time in an eligible post-secondary programme at a designated learning institution (DLI), and to have started your studies. Your study permit should also carry a condition that allows you to work. If it doesn't and you think it should, contact IRCC to get it corrected before you start.

Your school decides what full-time enrolment means for your programme, so check its definition, especially if you plan to drop a course. Dropping below full time can end your right to work off campus.

Going over the limit breaks the conditions of your study permit. That can cost you your status and count against you in future applications, including a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). Keep a simple log of the hours you work each week.

The limit is per week, so you can't bank unused hours from a quiet week and work extra the next. If you have two off-campus jobs, the hours add together.

Can you work full time during breaks?

Generally, yes. During scheduled breaks in the academic year, such as the winter holidays or the summer break, eligible students can usually work full time. The usual condition is that you're a full-time student before and after the break.

Two cautions. The time before your very first term isn't a break, so you can't start working before your programme begins. And the break has to be a scheduled one in your school's calendar, not time off you've arranged yourself. Check IRCC's current terms if your situation is unusual.

For many students, breaks are the best chance to earn, so plan around them. If your programme has a long summer break, that's when to take on more hours, rather than during exam season.

What are the rules for on-campus jobs?

On-campus work, such as a job with your university, a student association or a business operating on campus, is treated separately from off-campus work. The basic conditions are similar: a valid study permit, full-time enrolment and a Social Insurance Number. Check IRCC's current rules on on-campus hours and eligibility before you sign up for shifts.

If you're offered a teaching or research assistant role, ask your department how it's classified and check IRCC's guidance before you assume it counts as on-campus work.

On-campus jobs are often easier to fit around classes, and they can give you a Canadian reference early on. Apply as soon as postings open.

Do co-op placements need a separate work permit?

Not for required placements. From 1 April 2026, post-secondary students don't need a separate co-op work permit when the work placement is a required part of their programme.

The word required matters. Ask your school to confirm in writing that the placement is a compulsory part of your programme. If a placement or internship is optional, it's generally treated as ordinary work, so the off-campus limit applies during academic sessions.

Co-op terms can also affect how long your programme takes and when you graduate. Check that your study permit covers the full programme, including work terms, and extend it in good time if it doesn't.

How do you get a Social Insurance Number?

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada. You apply through Service Canada, online, in person or by mail, once you have a study permit that shows you're allowed to work.

Employers need your SIN for payroll, so apply soon after you arrive rather than waiting until you've found a job. That way a new job isn't held up by paperwork.

Keep your SIN private and give it only to your employer and official bodies such as the tax authority. If your study permit is extended, check with Service Canada whether your SIN record needs updating.

Can work income pay for your studies?

Not on paper, and not safely in practice. For your study permit, proof of funds is about money you can show before you arrive: CAD 23,448 for living costs for a single applicant outside Quebec, for applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026, plus first-year tuition and travel. Expected part-time earnings don't count toward that. Convert the total at the current rate.

Once you're in Canada, treat work income as a top-up. Finding a job while settling in can take longer than you expect, so plan your first-term budget as if you won't earn anything.

If you can, keep a buffer on top of the proof-of-funds minimum. Rent deposits, winter clothing and the gap before your first pay all arrive early.

If you're comparing countries on this point, Germany allows students 140 full days or 280 half days of work a year, which works differently from Canada's weekly limit.

Next steps

Build a first-year budget that doesn't depend on a job with the study abroad cost calculator, and read our Canada study guide for the rest of the Canada process. If you're comparing destinations, our breakdown of the cost of studying in Germany is a useful reference.

FAQ

Can I work before my classes start?

No. You can start working only once your programme has begun, even if you arrive in Canada weeks earlier.

Does the 24-hour limit apply during the summer break?

Not if it's a scheduled break and you're eligible. Students can generally work full time during scheduled breaks, but check IRCC's current terms.

Do I need a work permit for my co-op placement?

Not if it's a required part of your post-secondary programme. From 1 April 2026, required placements no longer need a separate co-op work permit.

What happens if I go over 24 hours in a term week?

You'd be breaking your study permit conditions during an academic session. That can affect your status and future applications, including a PGWP, so track your hours carefully.

Can part-time earnings count toward proof of funds?

No. Officers assess the money you can show when you apply, not income you expect to earn later.