The basic rules

If your study permit says you may work off campus, and you’re a full-time student in an eligible post-secondary program, you can:

  • work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session
  • work full-time during scheduled breaks such as winter break, reading week and the summer term
  • work on campus with no weekly hour limit

Your permit’s conditions are printed on the document you receive at the airport. Check them — if the work condition is missing or wrong, ask to have it corrected before you start a job.

What counts as a scheduled break

A break only counts if it is:

  • listed in your school’s official academic calendar
  • at least seven days long
  • between terms where you are enrolled before and after the break

You can’t create a “break” by dropping courses. Working full-time while you are no longer a full-time student is one of the most common ways students lose their status.

Co-op and internships (April 2026 change)

Since April 1, 2026, students in programs with a required co-op or internship no longer need a separate co-op work permit, as long as the work placement is 50% or less of the total program. If your placement is a larger share, or isn’t a program requirement, check IRCC’s current rules before you start.

Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) first

You need a SIN to be paid in Canada. Apply through Service Canada online or in person, with your passport and study permit. Give it only to your employer, bank and the government — never to a landlord or on a job ad that asks for it before an offer.

Keep records

IRCC can check compliance using enrolment reports from your school and tax data. Keep your timesheets and pay stubs, especially if you have more than one job, so you can show you stayed within 24 hours a week during classes.

Will part-time work pay for your studies?

It helps, but it rarely covers tuition. At BC’s general minimum wage, 24 hours a week covers a good part of rent and food in most cities, but international tuition at most schools is well above what a student can earn part-time. Plan your budget with the cost calculator.

After graduation

Working during your studies doesn’t count toward a work permit, but graduating from an eligible program can make you eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.