Lori Meadows
International students in Canada have traditionally been allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus during regular school terms or semesters. During the pandemic, the government announced a temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week to ease labour shortages. This policy ended on April 30, 2024, and the limit returned to 20 hours per week. However, starting in the fall of 2024, the government intends to increase the work limit to 24 hours per week, allowing students to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week without a work permit. This change aims to strike a balance between work and academic outcomes for international students in Canada.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maximum working hours for international students in Canada | 20 hours per week |
| Off-campus work limit | 24 hours per week |
| On-campus work limit | No limit |
| Work during scheduled breaks | Unlimited hours |
| Work permit requirement | Needed for more than 24 hours per week |
| Self-employed work | Counts towards the 24-hour limit |
| Working before starting studies | Not allowed |
| Working during an authorized leave from studies | Not allowed |
| Working while switching schools | Not allowed |
| Work permit consequences | Loss of student status, future study/work permit rejection, leaving the country |
| Study permit conditions | May work 24 hours per week off-campus |
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) requirement | Needed for off-campus work |
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What You'll Learn
International students in Canada can work unlimited hours during breaks
International students in Canada are allowed to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week without a work permit. However, they must meet certain other requirements to be eligible to work while studying. International students can only work off-campus without a work permit if they are full-time students at a designated learning institution (DLI) and are in their last semester, needing a reduced course load to complete their program.
International students in Canada can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, such as winter, summer, and spring holidays. To be eligible to work unlimited hours, students must be enrolled as full-time students both before and after the break. This means that students cannot work before they start their first semester.
It is important to note that working more than 24 hours per week during the regular academic semester is a violation of the study permit conditions. This can result in losing student status and may affect the approval of future study or work permits. Students must also ensure they are complying with the conditions of their study permit when working remotely for an employer outside of Canada.
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Students need a work permit to work more than 20 hours
International students in Canada have traditionally been allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during regular school terms or semesters. This limit was temporarily increased to 40 hours during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease labour shortages. However, as of April 30, 2024, the limit has returned to 20 hours per week for off-campus work.
Students need a work permit if they want to work more than 20 hours per week off-campus. To obtain a work permit, international students must meet certain eligibility requirements. Firstly, they must be enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Secondly, they must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is a 9-digit number provided by the Government of Canada. Additionally, students must be full-time students before and after any breaks to be eligible to work full-time during those breaks.
It is important to note that working more than 24 hours per week is a violation of the study permit conditions. Students who exceed this limit may lose their student status, face difficulties in obtaining future study or work permits, and even be required to leave the country.
On-campus work is an exception to the 20-hour limit. International students can work unlimited hours on-campus, which refers to employment within the buildings or grounds of the school's campus, including jobs with the school, faculty members, student organizations, or private businesses operating on campus.
The Canadian government has announced that starting in September 2024, the off-campus work limit will be permanently increased to 24 hours per week. This change aims to strike a balance between allowing students to work and prioritizing their academic outcomes.
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Off-campus work includes self-employment
International students in Canada are typically allowed to work up to 20 hours per week off-campus. However, a temporary policy was implemented during the pandemic to address labour shortages, which allowed students to work more than 20 hours per week. This policy came into effect on November 15, 2022, and was originally set to expire on December 31, 2023, but it was extended until April 30, 2024.
Starting in the fall of 2024, the Canadian government increased the off-campus work limit to 24 hours per week for international students. This change was announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who stated that it "strikes the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without compromising academic outcomes." The new regulations came into effect on November 8, 2024, and apply to all positions, including paid and unpaid work.
Now, regarding self-employment, off-campus work includes areas outside the educational institution and its campus, and self-employment roles like Uber or DoorDash deliveries are part of this category. If you're a self-employed international student in Canada, it's your responsibility to keep track of your working hours and ensure compliance with your study permit conditions. Working more than 24 hours per week violates these conditions and can result in losing your student status and future study or work permit approvals.
To work off-campus as an international student in Canada, you generally need a valid study permit or a work permit. To obtain a study permit, you must be enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program lasting at least six months and leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Additionally, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada, which you can apply for once you have the required conditions printed on your study permit.
It's important to note that there are exceptions to off-campus work eligibility. For instance, students enrolled only in English or French as a second language program are not eligible for off-campus work without a work permit. On the other hand, international students can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, such as summer or winter holidays.
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Students must be enrolled full-time to work
International students in Canada are allowed to work a maximum of 24 hours per week off-campus without a work permit. However, this policy only applies to full-time students at designated learning institutions (DLIs). Part-time students are not authorised to work off-campus.
To be eligible to work off-campus without a work permit, you must be a full-time student enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. You must also have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
If you are enrolled in an English or French as a Second Language (ESL or FSL) program, you are not eligible for off-campus work without a work permit. In this case, you must first complete the prerequisite courses and be accepted into a full-time study program. You can then apply to have the condition removed from your study permit, but there is a fee for this change.
It is important to note that working more than 24 hours per week is a violation of your study permit conditions, and you may lose your student status and face other consequences, such as being asked to leave the country.
During scheduled breaks, such as summer or winter holidays, international students can work full-time without restrictions.
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International students need a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work
International students in Canada have traditionally been allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during regular school terms or semesters. However, the government announced a temporary policy during the pandemic that allowed students to work more than 20 hours per week to ease labour shortages and give students a chance to earn more money. This policy ended on April 30, 2024, and international students are once again limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus.
Starting in the fall of 2024, international students in Canada will be allowed to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus, an increase from the previous limit. It is important to note that working more than 24 hours per week violates the conditions of a student's study permit, which can result in losing student status and facing deportation from the country.
To work in Canada, international students need a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is a unique 9-digit number issued free of charge by Service Canada. A SIN is fundamental to working in Canada and accessing Government services. Students must provide this number to their employer once their employment is confirmed and may need to share it with certain service providers. It is also used for tax purposes and to access government programs and benefits.
International students can apply for a SIN online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada Centre. They will need to provide copies of specific documents, including a study permit that indicates they are authorised to work on and off-campus. If the study permit does not indicate this, a work permit or co-op work permit is required to obtain a SIN. Students can view and print their SIN on their My Service Canada Account (MSCA) without submitting an application. It is important to note that a SIN is only valid until the student's study permit expires, so if a student needs to renew their permit to finish their program, they must also extend their SIN.
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Frequently asked questions
No, international students in Canada can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week during regular school terms or semesters. However, during scheduled breaks, such as summer holidays, there is no limit on the number of hours they can work.
International students in Canada can work off-campus without a work permit if they meet the eligibility requirements. They must be enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. They must also have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
International students in Canada are not allowed to work full-time positions (40 hours or more per week). They are also restricted from working in certain industries, such as the sex industry or any job that requires security clearance.
