Can International Students Work 24 Hours Per Week in Canada While Studying?

What Changed in November 2024

On November 15, 2024, Canada increased the off-campus work limit for eligible international students from 20 hours per week to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions. This adjustment gives you more flexibility to balance part-time employment with your studies while protecting your academic focus. Use the GIC Cost Tracker to ensure your proof-of-funds still meets IRCC requirements.

Who Can Work Off Campus

You can work off campus without needing a separate work permit if you meet all these conditions:

• You are enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Your study program runs at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• You have a valid study permit or applied to extend it before it expired
• Your course have already started
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You cannot work off campus if you are enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL), French as a Second Language (FSL), general interest programs, or prerequisite courses. To work in these situations, you would need to apply for a separate work permit.

Work Hours Breakdown

You can work different amounts depending on your situation:

The 24-hour limit applies only to work performed on Canadian soil for Canadian employers or organizations. If you freelance for clients outside Canada as an independent contractor, those hours do not count toward your weekly limit.

Track Your Hours Carefully

Your hours include any time you spend earning wages or are on call for work, regardless of whether you are actively working. This means if an employer schedules you on standby, those hours count toward your 24-hour weekly allowance.

You can work multiple jobs to reach the 24 hours, but the combined total cannot exceed the limit. Many students find it useful to track hours in a spreadsheet or calendar to stay within the boundaries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Reducing course load. If you drop courses and become a part-time student, you immediately lose your right to work off campus. You must maintain full-time enrollment status to stay eligible. This is one of the most frequent errors students make.

Mistake 2: Assuming you can work unlimited hours on weekends. Even weekend work counts toward the 24-hour weekly total. The limit applies across all days of the week, not just weekdays.

Mistake 3: Not counting on-call time. If your employer schedules you on standby, those hours count, even if you do not work your full shift.

Mistake 4: Working during unauthorized leave. If you take authorized leave from your studies, you cannot work off campus at all until you return to classes.

Mistake 5: Misunderstanding break periods. Scheduled breaks between academic terms are different from taking leave. During official breaks (between semesters), you can work full-time if you maintained full-time status before and after the break.

What Happens If You Exceed the Limit

Exceeding 24 hours per week off campus is a violation of your study permit conditions. The consequences are serious and include:

• Loss of your student status
• Requirement to leave Canada
• Ineligibility for future study permits or work permits
• Risk of deportation proceedings

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes these violations seriously because the work limits exist to ensure you prioritize your studies and that you obtained your study permit in good faith.

The Financial Reality for International Students

International students in Canada pay substantially higher tuition than domestic students. According to research from the 2023-2024 academic year, international undergraduate students paid 538% more in tuition than domestic undergraduate students, while international graduate students paid 291% more. This financial burden is why many students want to work as much as possible.

The 24-hour limit reflects an attempt by the Canadian government to balance your need to work with the requirement that you remain focused on your academic program. According to IRCC, the goal is to "support international students in gaining work experience and managing their expenses responsibly" while maintaining academic integrity.

However, the limit does create real pressure. One international student in Canada stated: "Irrespective of the economic crisis, with higher rent, higher price for groceries, everything is getting way too expensive." Another shared: "I chose Canada because it's cheaper as compared to other countries, but now my perception has changed, it's no longer easy here to get a PR, it's a lot of struggle as there are no jobs."

Planning Your Weekly Schedule

With a 24-hour weekly limit, you need a realistic schedule that covers both work and classes. Here is how one student might structure their time:

• Monday to Friday: Work 4-5 hours per day after classes (20 hours)
• Saturday or Sunday: Work one 4-hour shift (4 hours)
• Total: 24 hours per week

This leaves evenings for studying and weekends for rest. Your actual schedule will depend on your course timetable and employer availability.

On-Campus Work Offers More Flexibility

If you can find work on campus (at your university library, student services, administration offices, or campus stores), that work does not count toward the 24-hour limit. You can work unlimited hours on campus as long as you remain a full-time student.

On-campus positions often provide better flexibility around exam periods and scheduled breaks. Speak with your university's student employment office to see what positions are available.

Remote Work for Foreign Employers

If you work remotely as an independent contractor for clients or companies based outside Canada, that work does not count toward your 24-hour weekly limit. However, you must be a genuine independent contractor, not an employee of a Canadian company working from home. This distinction matters for compliance.

If you are unsure whether your remote work qualifies, consult with an immigration lawyer or your institution's international student office before accepting the position.

Set Up Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

To work off campus, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). You can apply for one at a Service Canada office using your study permit and passport. Processing usually takes a few days.

Students on an Authorized Leave

If you take a leave of absence from your studies, you cannot work off campus during that leave. Work eligibility resumes only when you return to full-time classes. Plan any time away from studies carefully if you depend on your off-campus work income.

Check Your Study Permit Conditions

Before starting any work, review the conditions printed on your study permit. Your permit should state: "May work up to 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)."

If your study permit does not have this condition printed on it, you are not eligible to work off campus without applying for a work permit. Contact your university's international student office to clarify your status.

Transitional Rule for Earlier Study Permits

If you applied for your study permit before December 7, 2023, you may qualify for a temporary measure that allows work beyond 24 hours per week. This exception expires on April 30, 2026. Check the exact conditions on your study permit, or confirm with your international student office whether this applies to you.

Academic Impact of Part-Time Work

Research shows that students who work more than 28 hours per week are more likely to see their grades decline. The 24-hour limit is designed to protect your academic performance while still allowing you to earn money. Browse all universities in Canada.

The balance you strike between work and study affects your long-term outcomes. One student reflected: "Studying in Canada requires a significant sacrifice of health, such as staying up late to study and waking up early for work." Your health and academic success are your priority, not maximizing work hours.

Source List

• CIC News: International Students in Canada Can Work 24 Hours a Week Off-Campus
• Y-Axis: IRCC Announces New 24-Hour Work Limit for International Students in Canada
• Fragomen: Canada: End of Waiver and New Rules for Off-Campus Work Hours for International Students
• University of Toronto: On & Off Campus Work
• The PIE News: Int'l students in Canada struggle with mental health as policy changes bite

Who Is Eligible to Work Off-Campus

You must meet all of these conditions: be enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), be in a study program of at least 6 months leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate, hold a valid study permit with explicit work authorization noted, have obtained a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and have started your program before beginning work. If your study permit does not state you are permitted to work, request an amendment at no cost.

Setting Up Employment: Getting Your SIN

Apply for your SIN within the first weeks after arriving in Canada at a Service Canada office or partner location. Inform your employer of your work hour limits during academic terms. Employers are legally responsible for verifying worker compliance and face serious consequences for violations.

Consequences of Exceeding Work Hours

Working more than 24 hours per week during academic terms violates your study permit conditions. You risk losing student status, becoming subject to removal from Canada, and having future permit applications refused. Track total weekly hours from all employers combined.

On-Campus Work: No Hour Limit

On-campus positions have no hourly restrictions. Common roles include resident assistant, tutor, research assistant, library assistant, and cafeteria worker. On-campus employers understand student schedules and these roles often carry stronger weight on Canadian resumes.

Estimated Monthly Earnings

Working 24 hours per week at Canadian provincial minimum wage (roughly CAD $15.00–$19.75/hour by province in 2026) generates approximately CAD $1,440–$1,896 per month during academic terms. During scheduled breaks with unlimited hours, full-time work at 40 hours generates approximately CAD $2,400–$3,160 monthly. Related: tracking your Canadian study permit and PGWP twinning changes.

Important Deadline: Public-Policy Exemption Expiry

A separate public-policy exemption that previously allowed students who applied before December 7, 2023 to work beyond 20 hours per week expires on April 30, 2026. After that date, all students fall back to the permanent 24-hour weekly limit.