Two ways that international students can work unlimited hours during academic terms
International students in Canada are typically authorized to work only up to 24 hours per week while classes are in session, but can legally work an unlimited number of hours in any of the following situations:
Working on campus; or
Freelancing for international clients.
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The following table summarizes the typical work allowances provided by a study permit:
Kind of workNumber of hours allowed while classes are in session
Work done off-campus for Canadian employers24 hours per week
Work done on campusUnlimited
Freelancing for foreign clientsUnlimited
*Students can also also work an unlimited number of hours (for any employer on or off campus) during “regularly scheduled breaks”. These breaks must be scheduled by a student’s school and must last at least seven consecutive days. Scheduled breaks are recognized for a maximum of 150 days.
Below, we detail other conditions students must adhere to ensure work authorization under these scenarios.
Working on campus
International students in Canada are authorized to work any number of hours on campus, even while classes are in session.
The following types of on-campus employers can qualify for this exemption:
The school itself;
A faculty member;
A student organization;
The student themselves (being self-employed), if they operate a business that is physically located on campus (for example, owning a coffee shop situated on campus);
A private business on campus; or
A private contractor that provides on-campus services to the school.
What counts as on-campus work?
On-campus work means that international students are permitted to work in any building located on their school campus.
If the school has more than one campus, in most cases, students may only work on the campus at which they are studying.
Students may work at their institutions’ other locations if
They are employed as a teaching or research assistant; and
Their work is directly connected to a research grant.
In such cases, students may work at facilities such as libraries, hospitals, or research centers affiliated with their school, even if these are located outside the campus.
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Freelancing for international clients
International students living in Canada may freelance for foreign clients and may work any number of hours in this capacity, as freelancing for foreign clients is not considered to be entering the Canadian labour market.
To ensure that this work does not enter the Canadian labour market, the foreign nationals should be independent contractors, and the employer should have no financial ties to Canada.*
If the role does enter the Canadian labour market, then any work done requires the work authorization provided by the study permit, and will be subject to the 24h per week limit for off-campus employers when classes are in session.
As international students will in most cases be considered residents of Canada for tax purposes, they must report any and all worldwide income, including freelance income, on their Canadian tax return, and may be required to pay both the employer and employee Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions on their freelance income.
*Foreign employers are generally defined as employers who conduct their main business operations outside of Canada. These companies typically do not have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number or Canadian business addresses. In addition, their place of business and the accrual of profits is principally outside Canada.
General conditions applying to work authorization for international students
Study permits for international students normally provide work authorization subject to certain limits, and this work authorization is conditional on adherence to the conditions of the study permit, along with several other factors.
International students in Canada are only permitted to begin working once their study program has started.
Students are eligible to work in Canada if their study permit includes a condition stating that they are authorized to work on or off campus.
Students may work on their school campus, without a work permit, if they meet all the following criteria:
They are full-time post-secondary students enrolled in one of the following institutions:
A public post-secondary school, such as a college, university, trade or technical school, or a CEGEP in Quebec;
A private post-secondary school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec;
A private or public secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) or an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS); or
A Canadian private school authorized under provincial law to legally grant degrees (for example, an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate), but only if the student is enrolled in a program that leads to a provincially recognized degree.
They hold a valid study permit or have maintained status.
Their initial study permit contains printed conditions authorizing them to work on campus.
They possess a social insurance number (SIN).
Read our dedicated article on how to get a SIN.
To maintain their authorization to work in Canada, students must continue to meet all the conditions of their study permit, including
Being enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), unless exempt;
Demonstrating that they are actively pursuing their studies (unless exempt) by:
Enrolling either full-time or part-time during each academic semester (excluding scheduled breaks);
Making progress toward completing their program’s courses; and
Not taking authorized leaves longer than 150 days from their program.
Applying to extend their study permit if they wish to change post-secondary schools;
Ending their studies if they no longer meet the requirements to be a student; and
Leaving Canada when their permit expires.
Additional study permit conditions
In addition to the above, a study permit holder may also need to meet other conditions that may be listed on their study permit, including
The level of the study program they are pursuing;
Whether the holder is authorized to work on or off campus as a student in Canada;
Whether the holder must report for medical examinations or procedures;
Whether the holder is permitted to travel within Canada; and
The date by which their studies must end.
International students are not authorized to work in Canada in the following situations:
On the day they stop studying full-time, unless they are in their final semester and meet the other requirements (detailed below);
After their study permit expires;
If they are on an authorized leave from their studies; or
If they are in the process of switching schools and are not currently studying.
Students in these situations may return to work only once they have resumed their studies and again meet all the requirements to work on campus.
Part-time students in their last semester of study
Students who have a part-time course load in their final semester remain eligible to work an unlimited number of hours on campus—provided they were enrolled as full-time students in every previous semester of their program and are studying part-time only to complete the final required coursework.
These students also continue to meet the conditions of their study permit and will remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), provided they meet all other requirements.
Freelancing for foreign clients is not subject to the above limitations on study permit work authorization, as freelancing for foreign clients does not require authorization to work in Canada.
What student work experience counts toward permanent residence programs?
Work experience gained as a full-time student does not count for the purposes of qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway to permanent residence, nor does it count for gaining Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Canadian work experience.
That said, work experience gained as a full-time student can count toward the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, for qualifying for category-based draws under Express Entry, and for gaining CRS points for the foreign work experience skill transferability factor.
