Work While Studying in Canada 2026: 24-Hour Rule Explained

Key takeaways

Off campus: up to 24 hours a week during classes, if you meet IRCC’s conditions
On campus: no weekly limit, during classes or breaks
Scheduled breaks (summer, winter, reading week): unlimited off-campus hours
Required co-ops and internships: since April 1, 2026, post-secondary students do not need a separate co-op work permit
You cannot start work before your program starts, and you need a SIN
Working more than allowed can cost you your student status and future permits

How many hours can international students work?

Type of work	During classes	During scheduled breaks
Off campus	Up to 24 hours a week	Unlimited
On campus	Unlimited	Unlimited
Required work placement (co-op, internship)	No weekly limit, but placements cannot be more than 50% of your program	No weekly limit

Source: IRCC pages on working off campus (modified April 15, 2026), on campus (modified May 1, 2026) and student work placements (modified May 1, 2026). These are federal rules. They apply in every province, including Quebec.

Does your study permit say you may work only 20 hours a week off campus? IRCC says you can now work up to 24 hours, as long as you still meet the conditions.

Who can work off campus?

IRCC says you can work off campus only if you meet all of these conditions:

You study full time at a designated learning institution (DLI)
Your program is post-secondary (academic, vocational or professional), or secondary-level vocational training in Quebec
Your program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
Your study permit is valid, or you applied to extend it before it expired
Your study permit includes a condition that allows you to work
You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). See how to get a SIN.

Who cannot work off campus

Students whose study permit says they are not authorized to work off campus
Students taking only English or French as a second language (ESL or FSL) courses
Students taking general interest courses, or only courses needed to get into another program
Students on an authorized leave from their studies, or switching schools and not studying

Part-time students usually cannot work off campus. The exception is your last semester: if you were full time until then and do not need a full course load to finish, you can still work.

How are the 24 hours counted?

Per week. The limit is 24 hours in a week during an academic session.
All off-campus jobs together. You can have more than one off-campus job, but the total must stay within the limit.
Self-employment counts. If you are self-employed, for example as a delivery driver or freelancer, you must track your own hours and be able to prove you followed the rules. Earning wages, being paid for a service or product, and earning commission all count as work.
On-campus work is separate. IRCC sets no limit on on-campus hours.
Required placements are separate. A co-op or internship that your program requires has no weekly hour limit. See co-op programs for international students.

Keep your pay stubs and schedules. If IRCC asks, you need to show that you stayed within your limit. IRCC says working more than 24 hours a week off campus “is a violation of your study permit conditions”. You can lose your student status and may not be approved for a study or work permit in the future.

What counts as working on campus?

IRCC says “on campus” means all the buildings on your school’s campus. If your school has more than one campus, you can usually work only on the campus where you study.

You can work for:

Your school
A faculty member
A student organization
Yourself, if you run a business on campus
A private business or contractor that provides services on campus, such as a campus coffee shop

Teaching and research assistants can sometimes work off campus, at a library, hospital or research facility linked to the school, if the work is strictly related to a research grant.

The same basic conditions apply as for off-campus work: full-time study, a valid permit with a work condition, and a SIN.

When can you work full time?

During a scheduled break set by your school, such as the summer break, winter holidays or reading week, you can work unlimited hours off campus. Check your school’s official academic calendar for the dates. A break you choose yourself, such as taking a term off, is not a scheduled break.

When you start and finish

Start: You can only start working when your program starts. You cannot work before your studies begin.
After you finish: You can keep working unlimited hours if you meet all three conditions. You were eligible to work off campus during your studies. You applied for a work permit or PGWP before your study permit expired. You are waiting for a decision.
Between programs: You can also work if you will start a new full-time program at a DLI within 150 calendar days of getting written confirmation that you finished your previous program. You must meet IRCC’s other conditions too.
If refused: If IRCC refuses your work or study permit application, you must stop working and leave Canada.

Plan your PGWP early. See the PGWP eligibility checker.

How much could you earn? A worked example

Example: a student in Ontario works at the general minimum wage of $17.95 an hour (from October 1, 2026).

Scenario	Hours	Gross pay
One week during classes, off campus	24	$430.80
15-week term at 24 hours a week	360	$6,462.00
12-week summer break at 40 hours a week	480	$8,616.00
Total for one term plus summer	840	$15,078.00

This is before income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) deductions. Wages differ by province and job. Ontario’s student minimum wage of $16.90 applies only to students under 18.

Compare this with the proof of funds you must show: at least $23,448 a year for living costs for one person, plus tuition, for applications from September 1, 2026 (outside Quebec). IRCC expects you to be able to pay your way without work income. Try the cost of studying calculator to see how part-time work fits your budget.

Taxes, SIN and your rights at work

SIN first. You need a SIN before you start any job. Your study permit must show the work condition to get one.
File a tax return. If you work, you will usually get a T4 slip from your employer and should file a return. Start with your first Canadian tax return.
Labour rights. Provincial employment standards, such as minimum wage, apply to your job too.
Watch for scams. Be careful with job offers that ask you to pay a fee, receive money for someone else, or work “cash only” beyond your hours. See study in Canada scams.

Common questions

How many hours can international students work in Canada in 2026?

Up to 24 hours a week off campus during classes, if you meet IRCC’s conditions. There is no limit on campus, and no limit off campus during scheduled breaks such as summer.

My study permit says 20 hours. Can I work 24?

Yes. IRCC says that if your permit says 20 hours a week off campus, you can work up to 24 hours as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

Can I work before my classes start?

No. IRCC says you can only start working in Canada when your study program starts.

Do on-campus hours count toward the 24-hour limit?

No. IRCC sets no limit on on-campus work hours. The 24-hour limit applies to off-campus work during academic sessions.

Do I need a co-op work permit?

Not if you are a post-secondary student. Since April 1, 2026, a study permit that allows on-campus work is enough for a required placement that is 50% or less of your program. Secondary school students still need a co-op work permit.

What happens if I work too many hours?

It breaks your study permit conditions. IRCC says you can lose your student status and may not be approved for a study or work permit in the future.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Working while studying in Canada in 2026: 24 hours a week, on-campus jobs and work placements