International students in Canada who hold a study permit may be eligible to work off campus without a separate work permit, subject to conditions. Eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions (increased from 20 hours per week in November 2024), and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks (summer, winter holidays, reading week). The right to work off campus is a condition of the study permit — students whose study permit does not include a work condition must apply to have their permit amended before working off campus. Violating the off-campus work limit is a breach of the study permit conditions and can affect future permit eligibility. From November 2022 to November 2024, a temporary public policy lifted the 20-hour cap entirely due to post-pandemic labour market conditions — that temporary policy has ended and the regular 24-hour weekly limit now applies. This page explains the eligibility conditions, the 24-hour limit, on-campus work rights, and the consequences of non-compliance.

For current off-campus work eligibility and conditions, refer to the IRCC work off campus page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 186(v) — international students who hold a valid study permit with a work authorisation condition are not required to obtain a work permit to work off campus; the work authorisation is built into the study permit conditions
• IRPR, s 220.1 — sets the conditions under which study permit holders may work off campus, including the full-time enrollment requirement and the weekly hour limit during academic sessions
• November 15, 2024 regulatory change — the off-campus work limit was changed from 20 hours per week to 24 hours per week during academic sessions, replacing the temporary public policy that had lifted the cap entirely from November 2022 to November 2024
• IRCC: Work off campus as an international student — canada.ca/work-off-campus

Eligibility — who can work off campus

To be eligible to work off campus without a separate work permit, a student must meet all of the following conditions:

• Hold a valid study permit that includes a condition authorising off-campus work — most study permits issued after 2014 include this condition automatically; older permits may not include it, and an amendment would be required
• Be enrolled full-time at a designated learning institution (DLI) — a DLI is an educational institution approved by a province or territory to host international students; refer to the DLI page
• Have started their studies — students cannot work off campus before their studies commence, even if they hold a study permit with a work condition
• Be enrolled in a program at least 6 months long that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate — short-term courses and language programs under 6 months do not qualify
• Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) — see the SIN page

The 24-hour weekly limit during academic sessions

During regular academic sessions (when classes are in session), eligible students may work:

• Up to 24 hours per week off campus — this limit is total working hours across all employers; a student working for two different employers must ensure their combined hours do not exceed 24 per week
• Working more than 24 hours per week is a violation of the study permit conditions — it is not authorised by the study permit's work condition, and does not become lawful simply because the student is employed by more than one employer
• The 24-hour limit applies to off-campus work only — on-campus work is subject to separate rules (see below)

Unlimited hours during scheduled breaks

During scheduled breaks in the academic calendar — including summer vacation, winter holidays, spring break/reading week, and other scheduled non-instructional periods — eligible students may work unlimited hours off campus without the 24-hour restriction. Key points:

• The scheduled break must be a formal break in the student's academic program — working additional hours during non-break periods is not permitted
• A student who is between study programs (for example, has completed one program and has not yet started the next) is generally not in a scheduled break period; the off-campus work authorisation depends on the current study permit remaining valid and enrollment continuing

On-campus work rights

In addition to off-campus work rights, eligible students may work on campus without restriction on hours:

• Work performed on the campus of the educational institution where the student is enrolled is considered on-campus work and is not subject to the 24-hour weekly limit
• On-campus work includes work at the institution itself and, in some cases, at affiliated businesses on the institution's premises
• For the current guidance on on-campus work eligibility, refer to the IRCC on-campus work page

The 2022–2024 temporary public policy — and its end

From November 15, 2022 to November 15, 2024, IRCC implemented a temporary public policy that lifted the off-campus work hour limit entirely for eligible international students — students could work unlimited hours off campus during this period in response to Canada's post-pandemic labour market conditions. This temporary policy ended on November 15, 2024. From that date, the regular limit (now 24 hours per week) applies. Students whose study permits were obtained or renewed during the temporary policy period should note that the policy has ended and the 24-hour limit now applies during academic sessions.

Consequences of working more than permitted

Working more than 24 hours per week during an academic session is a violation of the study permit conditions. Consequences can include:

• Loss of student status: a student who violates their study permit conditions (including the work hour limit) may be considered to have lost their student status, which can result in them becoming an implied status holder or, if the permit has expired, an unlawful non-citizen
• Impact on future applications: non-compliance with study permit conditions is a negative factor in future applications for study permits, work permits, or permanent residence
• Restoration requirements: a student who has violated their permit conditions may need to apply to restore their student status before they can continue studying or obtain future permits

The shift from 20 hours to 24 hours per week in November 2024 reflects Canada's ongoing calibration of the international student work policy — the 20-hour limit had been a source of concern for students struggling with the cost of living in major Canadian cities, and the temporary public policy that lifted the cap entirely was a response to acute labour market shortages. The return to a cap (at 24 hours rather than 20) represents a balance between allowing students to work to support themselves and ensuring that study remains the primary purpose of the study permit. For students approaching the hour limit, the key practical point is that the 24-hour limit is a total cap across all employers — part-time roles across multiple employers count together. The unlimited hours during scheduled breaks provides meaningful additional income opportunity in summer and during other vacation periods. For current eligibility conditions, the SIN requirement, and guidance on on-campus work, refer to the IRCC work off campus page.