If you’re an international student in Canada and seeking to work while studying, here are the rules you need to remember about how many hours a student can work in Canada and work restrictions for international students.Before you look up “how many hours can a student work in Canada” or “when can international students work full-time in Canada,” make sure you’re actually eligible to work under your study permit. If you’re not eligible, even working 1 hour can be a violation.
Here are the basic conditions international students generally need to meet to work on-campus or off-campus:
- You have a valid study permit, and it includes work conditions (authorization to work on/off campus)
- You are studying at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- You have started your program (you can’t work before your studies begin)
- You are enrolled as a full-time student during regular academic sessions (unless you qualify for a specific exception, such as a part-time final semester)
- You are actively pursuing your studies and staying compliant with your study permit conditions (e.g., you’re not on an unauthorized break or out of status)
- You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) if you’re working in Canada (your employer will require it)
How many hours can a student work in Canada off-campus during classes?
During regular academic sessions (when classes are in session), eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus.
Two important notes:
- You can only start working after your study program has started. You can’t work before your studies begin.
- If you have multiple off-campus jobs, the hours are combined. So two part-time jobs can still push you over the limit if you’re not tracking properly.
When can international students work full-time in Canada during scheduled breaks?
This is the most common legal “full-time” situation.
IRCC says that during scheduled breaks (for example, summer holidays, winter holidays, or a reading week), eligible students can work unlimited hours.
Key condition: You must be a full-time student before and after the break to work unlimited hours during that break (this is commonly emphasized in IRCC guidance around scheduled breaks).
Very important: The 2 limits many students miss
Even though the rule is “unlimited hours,” IRCC also sets two practical limits related to scheduled breaks:
- If your scheduled break period becomes longer than 150 consecutive days, you may only work off campus during the first 150 days of that break period.
- Across scheduled breaks, students may only work off campus on a full-time basis for a total of 180 days per calendar year.
How many hours can a student work in Canada on campus?
If you meet IRCC’s on-campus eligibility rules, you can work as many hours as you want on campus (this is separate from the 24-hour off-campus cap).
Examples of on-campus employers include:
- The school
- A faculty member
- A student organization
- A private business located on campus
- A contractor providing on-campus services
Many students legally combine:
- On-campus work (unlimited, if eligible), plus
- Off-campus work (up to 24 hours/week during classes).
During Co-op term: How many hours student can work in Canada during co-op work term?
If your program includes a required co-op/internship, you generally need a co-op work permit for that placement.
IRCC states that while waiting for a co-op work permit, how many hours you can work depends on where you’re working, including:
- Unlimited hours on campus
- Up to 24 hours off campus (including co-op hours plus any other off-campus job hours)
- Unlimited hours during regularly scheduled breaks
Remote work: Does it change how many hours a student can work in Canada?
Yes, for some students, remote work is a game-changer.
IRCC states you can work remotely for an employer outside Canada as long as you still meet your study permit conditions, and this work does not count toward your 24 hours/week off-campus limit.
Practical tip: Keep proof the employer is outside Canada (contract, invoices, payment records). If anyone ever questions your hours, documentation helps you explain why those hours don’t count toward the cap.
When can international students work full-time in Canada after they finish their program?
First: when do you have to stop working?
Generally, you must stop working once you receive confirmation that you have completed your program (completion letter, transcript, or an email from your school).
Two situations where you may work full-time after finishing
- A) You applied for a work permit (including PGWP) before your study permit expired
You can work full-time while waiting for a decision if you meet the requirements (including having been eligible to work off campus during studies and not exceeding allowed hours). Your Study Permit must be valid when you applied for your PGWP to be eligible to work full-time while waiting for your application result. - B) You’re starting a new program soon
You can work full-time if you:
- Were eligible to work off campus during your previous studies
- Have a valid study permit (or applied to extend before it expired)
- Have written confirmation you completed the previous program
- Have an LOA to a new full-time program at a DLI
- Will start the new program within 150 calendar days of receiving the completion confirmation
Warning: What happens if you work more than allowed?
IRCC is clear that working beyond allowed limits (especially exceeding the off-campus cap during classes) can be a violation of your study permit conditions, and it can affect your status and future applications.
If you’re ever unsure, pause and verify before accepting extra shifts. It’s not worth risking your status.
In short:
| Off campus (when classes are in session) | Up to 24 hours per week if you meet the conditions |
| Off campus (during a scheduled break) | Unlimited hours if you meet the conditions |
| On campus | Unlimited hours if you meet the conditions |
| Remote work for an employer outside Canada | It does not count toward the 24-hour off-campus limit (if you still meet study permit conditions) |
At the end of the day, the question isn’t just “how many hours can a student work in Canada” – it’s whether you’re working in the right category, at the right time, under the right conditions.
Our advice from Yes Study and RCIC-IRB Andy Luu is simple: protect your status first, chase hours second. Track your weekly hours, keep documentation for anything “special” (remote work, breaks, co-op, program completion), and never assume your friend’s situation applies to you. If you’re unsure, verify before you say yes to extra shifts because one mistake can create problems far bigger than a paycheck.
