International students in Canada have been allowed to work up to 24 hours per week off campus since a rule change introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in November 2024. The update replaced the earlier 20-hour weekly cap and applied to all eligible students studying at designated learning institutions (DLIs).
The regulation aims to help students manage rising living costs while maintaining focus on their academic programs. It also reflects a return to structured limits following the expiry of the temporary full-time work exemption granted during the post-pandemic labour shortage.
What the rule allows
Under the 2024 guidelines, international students can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions without requiring a separate work permit. They may hold more than one job as long as their total weekly hours do not exceed the limit.
During scheduled academic breaks, such as summer or winter holidays and reading weeks, students can work unlimited hours, provided they were full-time students both before and after the break.
IRCC stated that the change was introduced to “support international students in gaining Canadian work experience and managing their expenses responsibly.”
Who is eligible to work off campus
To qualify for off-campus work without a permit, students must meet several conditions. They must be full-time students at a DLI, enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Students must also have a Social Insurance Number ( SIN) and must have started their study program before beginning work. Those in their final semester are eligible to work part-time if they were previously enrolled full-time and only need a reduced course load to complete their program.
However, students enrolled in English or French language courses, general interest programs, or prerequisite courses for admission into a full-time program cannot work off campus without a valid work permit.
Rule enforcement and compliance
IRCC has cautioned students that working more than 24 hours per week during regular semesters violates study permit conditions. Breaching this limit can lead to the loss of student status, ineligibility for future permits, or even removal from Canada.
Students must keep accurate records of their working hours to show they comply with the conditions of their study permit. Self-employed students are also covered under this rule and must document the hours they spend on income-generating activities.
How to apply for a SIN and update study permits
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required to work legally in Canada. To apply, a student’s study permit must contain authorization text, such as:
“May work 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.”
If the study permit lacks this condition, students can request to have it added at no cost before applying for a SIN through Service Canada.
Students who switch programs or institutions must ensure that their new course continues to meet the eligibility criteria for off-campus work. If their study situation changes, they must apply to amend their permit conditions before resuming work.
After graduation
Graduating students can work full-time while awaiting a decision on their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application, provided they submitted it before their study permit expired. Those enrolling in a new full-time program at a DLI within 150 days of completing their previous program can also work full-time until their next program starts. The 24-hour rule marks a structured shift in Canada’s approach to international student work rights, offering flexibility, yet reinforcing academic discipline. With over one million international students now in Canada, IRCC’s policy signals a return to steady, rule-based management of student employment while continuing to provide limited opportunities for work experience and financial support.
The regulation aims to help students manage rising living costs while maintaining focus on their academic programs. It also reflects a return to structured limits following the expiry of the temporary full-time work exemption granted during the post-pandemic labour shortage.
What the rule allows
Under the 2024 guidelines, international students can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions without requiring a separate work permit. They may hold more than one job as long as their total weekly hours do not exceed the limit.
During scheduled academic breaks, such as summer or winter holidays and reading weeks, students can work unlimited hours, provided they were full-time students both before and after the break.
IRCC stated that the change was introduced to “support international students in gaining Canadian work experience and managing their expenses responsibly.”
Who is eligible to work off campus
To qualify for off-campus work without a permit, students must meet several conditions. They must be full-time students at a DLI, enrolled in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Students must also have a Social Insurance Number ( SIN) and must have started their study program before beginning work. Those in their final semester are eligible to work part-time if they were previously enrolled full-time and only need a reduced course load to complete their program.
However, students enrolled in English or French language courses, general interest programs, or prerequisite courses for admission into a full-time program cannot work off campus without a valid work permit.
Rule enforcement and compliance
IRCC has cautioned students that working more than 24 hours per week during regular semesters violates study permit conditions. Breaching this limit can lead to the loss of student status, ineligibility for future permits, or even removal from Canada.
Students must keep accurate records of their working hours to show they comply with the conditions of their study permit. Self-employed students are also covered under this rule and must document the hours they spend on income-generating activities.
How to apply for a SIN and update study permits
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required to work legally in Canada. To apply, a student’s study permit must contain authorization text, such as:
“May work 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.”
If the study permit lacks this condition, students can request to have it added at no cost before applying for a SIN through Service Canada.
Students who switch programs or institutions must ensure that their new course continues to meet the eligibility criteria for off-campus work. If their study situation changes, they must apply to amend their permit conditions before resuming work.
After graduation
Graduating students can work full-time while awaiting a decision on their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application, provided they submitted it before their study permit expired. Those enrolling in a new full-time program at a DLI within 150 days of completing their previous program can also work full-time until their next program starts. The 24-hour rule marks a structured shift in Canada’s approach to international student work rights, offering flexibility, yet reinforcing academic discipline. With over one million international students now in Canada, IRCC’s policy signals a return to steady, rule-based management of student employment while continuing to provide limited opportunities for work experience and financial support.
You may also like
Micheal Ray Richardson's cause of death: Mystery deepens around NBA star's sudden death after shocking prostate cancer revelation
Rajasthan: CBI arrests conman in high-profile impersonation and bribery case
Legislatures must plan for structural shifts caused by climate change: RS Deputy Chairman Harivansh
Rajasthan: Use of ABHA ID in IHMS made mandatory; health records to be available on mobile
Man Utd prevented themselves from disaster with Alejandro Garnacho transfer trick
