Avec un permis d'études, vous pouvez souvent travailler — mais à des conditions précises.
1. A study permit is not a work permit
A study permit authorizes you to study first. The right to work off-campus is not automatic — it appears as a condition printed on the permit itself.
Your permit may carry a remark that authorizes off-campus work, or one that forbids it. Until you have read those conditions, you do not know whether you have the right to work.
2. Who is eligible for off-campus work
To work off-campus, several conditions must be met at the same time:
- You are a student full-time at a recognized institution
- Your program leads to a diploma, certificate or degree
- Your courses have started — not just your admission accepted
- Your study permit carries a condition that authorizes off-campus work expressly
These eligibility criteria are set by the federal government and have changed before. Check the conditions in force on the IRCC site before looking for a job.
3. The hour limit: study sessions versus breaks
Off-campus work is governed by an hour limit that depends on the time of year:
- During study sessions — you may work up to 24 hours per week
- During official breaks in the academic calendar — summer holidays, the winter break, reading week — you may work full-time, with no weekly limit
Important: the 24-hour limit is the figure in force today, but it is set by the federal government and has already changed. It was 20 hours in the past. Always check the limit in force on the IRCC site before accepting a job or extra hours.
4. On-campus work versus off-campus work
Two forms of work exist for an international student, and they do not follow the same rules:
- On-campus work takes place inside your institution — library, cafeteria, lab, student services
- Off-campus work is with any employer elsewhere in the city
The weekly hour limit discussed in this guide concerns off-campus work. Hours worked on campus follow their own rules. As always, the conditions printed on your permit prevail — read them to know what you may do.
5. The SIN: essential to work and be paid
To work legally in Canada and be paid correctly, you need a Social Insurance Number — the SIN.
It is a nine-digit number that every employer requires before paying you a salary. Without a SIN, you cannot be declared as an employee or receive your year-end tax slips.
Service Canada issues the SIN, usually on the spot during your visit, with your passport and your study permit. Apply for your SIN as soon as your courses have started and you are ready to look for work.
6. Tracking your hours — and why it matters
The responsibility for respecting the limit is yours, not your employer's. Keep a personal record of all your off-campus hours, week by week.
If you have two jobs, add up the hours from both: the limit applies to the total, not to a single employer. Note which weeks are study sessions and which weeks are official breaks, because the rule changes between them.
Keep your pay stubs and your schedule: they are your proof. If your status is ever verified, you are the one who must show that you respected the limit.
7. Your action list
Follow these steps to work off-campus in compliance. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
- Read the conditions printed on your study permit
- Confirm your eligibility for off-campus work with IRCC
- Wait for the official start of classes before working
- Get a SIN from Service Canada
- Check the hour limit in force on the IRCC site
- Keep a weekly record of your hours worked
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions on off-campus work for international students: how to know if you're allowed, the hour limit, breaks, and the risk of going over.
How do I know if I'm allowed to work off-campus?
Read the conditions printed on your study permit. The permit carries one or more remarks that state whether off-campus work is authorized and under what terms.
If the remark authorizes it, you must also be a full-time student at a recognized institution in a program leading to a diploma, and your courses must have started. If you are unsure how to read the remarks, check the IRCC site or ask your international-student office — never guess.
Is the limit really 24 hours per week?
24 hours per week during study sessions is the figure in force at the time this guide was written. But this limit is a federal IRCC rule and has changed before: it was 20 hours per week in the past.
Never treat this number as permanent. Before accepting a job or extra hours, check the limit currently in force on the IRCC site. A figure you saw on a forum or in an old guide may be out of date.
Can I work full-time during the summer?
During an official break in your academic calendar — summer holidays, the winter break, reading week — you may generally work full-time, with no weekly hour limit, provided you were a full-time student before the break and will return to full-time studies after it.
The break must be a real scheduled break in your program. The week between a job offer and your first class is not a break. When the break ends, the weekly limit applies again immediately.
What happens to my permit if I go over the limit?
Working more hours than permitted is a breach of the conditions of your study permit. The consequences are serious: you can lose your student status, see a future post-graduation work permit refused, and in serious cases be ordered to leave Canada.
The limit applies to the total of all your jobs combined. If you are close to the limit, stop. Track your hours every week so you never have to guess.
9. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information:
- Working off-campus as an international student (Government of Canada)
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number (Government of Canada)
The rules and hour limits change: always consult these pages before taking a job.
10. See also
These related resources may be useful:
- Parcours — International student — all your steps from the study permit to permanent residence.
- The CAQ and study permit in Quebec — the two authorizations to obtain before studying and working.
- The SIN — Social Insurance Number — the number needed to work and be paid.
Author's Note: the freedom to work during your studies is valuable, but it rests on one thing — respecting the hour limit, with no exceptions. Read the conditions on your permit, check the limit in force on the IRCC site, and keep a record of your hours. A compliant job opens doors; one job too many can close them all.
