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International student work hours in Canada: what to check

Understand the 24-hour off-campus limit, scheduled breaks and the eligibility conditions on IRCC's official international-student work page.

5 minute read

The weekly number is only part of the rule. IRCC's off-campus work page ties permission to work to your studies and permit conditions. This guide explains how to read that page; it does not confirm that you personally qualify.

1. Check eligibility before the hours limit

The IRCC page lists requirements including studying full-time at a designated learning institution, having started the program, the type and length of program, the work conditions on the study permit and a SIN. Exceptions and special situations are also described on that page.

IRCC says you cannot start working before your study program begins. A valid SIN by itself does not change that rule.

  1. Read the full Who can work off campus section, not only the headline.
  2. Check the wording on your study permit.
  3. Read the sections on part-time final semesters, authorized leave or changes in study situation if relevant, rather than assuming the general rule covers them.

2. During regular academic terms

In the official text checked on September 25, 2026, eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic terms. Multiple jobs count toward the same off-campus total; the rule is not 24 hours for each employer.

IRCC also explains how work hours are counted, including self-employed work. Keep your own records and check the current page for details and changes. This summary is not permission to work.

3. During scheduled breaks

IRCC describes when eligible students can work unlimited off-campus hours during a break scheduled by their school. The page includes conditions and explains situations involving enrolment before or after a break. A personal gap in classes or arriving early is not automatically a scheduled break.

  1. Confirm whether the break is officially scheduled by your designated learning institution.
  2. Read the requirements in IRCC's scheduled-break section.
  3. If your situation is unusual, ask your international student office or a licensed professional rather than relying on an AI eligibility decision.

4. Know which rules you are reading

Off-campus work, on-campus work, co-op placements and work after graduation are separate topics. Use the official page for the kind of work you are considering. Do not carry one headline number across all of them.

The assistant can help explain a paragraph from the selected official sources and answer follow-up questions in your language. Always open the cited page to check the wording before acting.

Official pages this guide was written from

Open the page before you act on anything here; it is the authority, and wording changes.

Ask the assistant instead

It answers a question like these from the official pages, in the language you ask it, and links what it read.

  • What does IRCC say about off-campus work during scheduled breaks?
  • Explain how the official page counts off-campus hours across jobs.

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This guide is not advice about your case. It cannot tell you whether you qualify or what to apply for. For personal immigration advice, use an authorized Canadian representative: find one on the official list.

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Next: Canada arrival checklist for international students