The rule. Since November 8, 2024, an international student whose study permit authorizes off-campus work can work up to 24 hours a week during a study session. It is a permanent rule that applies in 2026, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The start of the school year is a good time to revisit it.
Does it apply to you? Yes, if you are a full-time student in an eligible program at a designated institution, and your study permit carries the condition allowing off-campus work. You also need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work. If your older permit still says 20 hours, you are nonetheless allowed 24: the new limit takes precedence.
What you must respect. During study sessions, do not exceed 24 hours of off-campus work per week — all your jobs combined. During scheduled breaks (winter and summer holidays, reading week), you can work full-time with no limit, provided you are enrolled full-time before and after the break. On-campus work is not capped.
The risk if you go over. Working more than the limit breaks the conditions of your study permit. The consequences are not theoretical: you could lose your student status, be found inadmissible, and jeopardize future applications — including the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and permanent residence. No one "checks your hours" every week, but it surfaces when you file your next application.
How to stay compliant. Count your hours yourself, every week, adding up all your jobs. Note the exact dates of your study sessions and breaks — that is what decides when the limit applies. If you are unsure about your eligibility, rely on IRCC's official off-campus work page rather than what is printed on an old permit.
Good to know for newcomers. A student job helps pay the bills, but no paycheque is worth your status in Canada. Treat the 24-hour limit as a line never to cross during study sessions, keep a record of your hours, and read our guide to off-campus work for students for the details.
