Working in Canada as an International Student: Here's What You Need to Know

International students choose to study in Canada for many great reasons, one of which is the ability to gain valuable work experience while studying here. Students need a Social Insurance Number to be legally paid in Canada, and some types of work require a permit in order to work legally. 

Working in Canada while Studying

What is a Study Permit?

A study permit grants international students the ability to work while studying in Canada. It is essential to understand the rights associated with this permit. 

Students with valid study permits can work on campus, provided they are full-time students and work on the campus where they are registered.  

Off-campus employment is possible too, for those with valid study permits studying full-time in a degree program. Students can also use a co-op work permit if they are enrolled in a co-op program. Finally, they can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) within 180 days of receiving a notification that they have completed their degree requirements. 

It is important to understand the kind of work a study permit allows international students to do, while they are in the country. 

What is a Work Permit? 

A work permit is a written authorization to work in Canada issued by an officer to a person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. It is required, with a few exceptions, if your employment location is in Canada, irrespective of whether the employer is in the country.  

Work permits are usually valid only for an employer-specific job, or length of time. They are based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada, or an Offer of Employment from an LMIA-exempt employer. 

Remember: Always check with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the latest updates related to work permits for international students, co-op work programs, post-graduation work permits, or changes to existing rules and regulations that have a bearing on your program of study in Canada. 

Do International Students Need a Work Permit? 

Students who have a study permit and are enrolled full-time in an eligible institution may work on-campus without a work permit. Students with a study permit who are enrolled full-time in an academic, professional or vocational training program at a designated learning institution may work off-campus without a work permit. There are rules about the number of hours you are permitted to work though, so keeping track of updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is important. 

International students in Canada can work while they study, help their spouse or common-law partner get a work permit while they study, work temporarily, or find a pathway to permanent residency in Canada after graduating, by applying for a post-graduate work permit. These possibilities are all based on individual applications, and whether a student is eligible for a work permit. 

Working on Campus: What International Students Need to Know  

‘On-campus’ work refers to work at any building on your school campus. If your educational institution has more than one campus, you may only work at the campus where you are studying, unless you work as a teaching or research assistant, or your work is related to a research grant. 

An ‘on-campus’ employer can refer to your educational institution, a member of faculty, a student, a private contractor providing on-campus services to your institution, or even yourself if you run a business that is physically located on campus.  

You can work on campus without a work permit if you: 

• have a valid study permit; 

• have printed conditions on your study permit allowing you to work on campus; 

• have a social insurance number (SIN) 

• are a full-time post-secondary student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college, university, trade or technical school, or Collège d'Enseignement General et Professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec. 

Working off Campus: What International Students Need to Know

In April 2024, the IRCC introduced reforms to the International Student Program, ending the temporary policy of allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus. Students may now work off campus for 24 hours per week.    International students can work off campus without a work permit, provided they hold a valid study permit, and meet all of the following requirements:  

• they must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution; 

• they must be enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only); 

• they must be in a study program that is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate; 

• they must have a social insurance number (SIN). 

International students cannot work off campus without a work permit if their study permit says they aren’t authorized to work off campus while studying. There are other conditions too, so students are advised to keep track of what the IRCC says about working off-campus. 

From November 15, 2024, eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus while their classes are in session. Moving forward, international students must apply and be approved for a new study permit before changing learning institutions. To work off campus without a work permit, international students must be studying full-time in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Quebec, that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate. International students who are eligible to work off campus may work full-time during breaks in their academic calendar, such as the summer break between school years or the winter break between semesters. Find out more about these updates from the IRCC.

Co-op and Internship Opportunities 

International students often wonder if co-ops and internships are the same thing. They may seem as if they are, given that they both provide work experience and offer skills needed to build a career, but there are differences.

Co-op, or cooperative education, usually refers to a program where students alternate between academic study and paid periods of relevant work experience. They allow students to apply what is learned in class to real-world jobs, and then bring that experience back into classrooms.

 Internships are less rigorous and usually happen just once during a program. Also, while a co-op is usually paid, an internship may or may not be paid depending on the employer or industry.

There are differences related to the amount of income a student can earn as a co-op or intern, the effort required, and duration. While a co-op may alternate every four months and have multiple terms, an internship is longer and usually occurs just once.

The Canadian government allows students in some programs to apply for a co-op or intern work permit if they meet all of these conditions: 

• they have a valid study permit. 

• they are required to work in order to complete a study program in Canada. 

• they have a letter from their school confirming that all students in the program need to complete work placements to get their degrees. 

• their co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of their study program. 

Legal Requirements for Employment

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. You also need a SIN to file taxes in Canada. International students need one of the following documents to apply for a SIN in person at a Service Canada Office:

1. A work permit, such as a co-op or post-graduation permit 

  OR   

2. A study permit that contains one of the following authorization-to-work conditions: 

• may accept employment on the campus of the institution where they are registered full-time (for on-campus only) 

• may work 24 hours per week off-campus, or full-time during regular breaks, if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of IRPR 

• may accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w).

Students must cease working if they no longer meet these criteria.   

Find out more about the Social Insurance Number. 

Work Limitations and Compliance for International Students

According to the IRCC, international students can only start working in Canada when they start their study program. Students cannot work before their studies begin. You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit lists a condition that says you are allowed to work on- or off-campus. 

International students in Canada must stop working on-campus when their study permit expires. Students must also stop working:  

• on the day they stop studying full-time unless they are in their final semester and meet other requirements 

• if they are on authorized leave from their studies 

• if they are switching schools and are not currently studying. 

Students can return to work only once they get back to studying and meet all requirements to work on campus. 

Work Permits for Spouses or Partners 

Many international students have a spouse or common-law partner who would like to work in Canada while they study. Find out if they are eligible for a work permit by checking the latest rules at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 

Preparing for Life After Graduation

Transitioning to a Post-Graduation Work Permit 

Working in Canada after graduation requires a work permit. Graduates of certain designated learning institutions are eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). Students who are not eligible for a PGWP may still be able to work in Canada, although there are new rules in place about applying for a PGWP at a port of entry. 

International students have up to 180 days after they graduate to apply for a PGWP. Your study permit must be valid when you submit your application, for you to be eligible to work in Canada while awaiting a decision. Students are also asked to submit documents that confirm they have attended and completed their programs. 

Eligibility Requirements for a PGWP

International students may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if they graduate from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work. However, graduation from a DLI does not automatically make a student eligible for a PGWP.   

Note: Canada updated the rules related to PGWP in September 2024. 

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) may be valid between 8 months and up to 3 years, depending upon the length of study program completed by a student in Canada. Find out more here. 

Applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit 

International students in Canada who want to apply for a work permit must do so online, using the IRCC application package. The package has an instruction guide on how to fill out your application, as well as links to all the forms students need to fill out. You are encouraged to read the instruction guide completely and carefully before filling out the applicable forms. 

Here are the steps that international students need to follow:  

One: Gather all required documents  
Make sure you have all the supporting documents you need to submit with your application. Incomplete applications may be rejected, which will delay processing.  

Two: Complete your application 
Make sure your forms are filled completely and carefully, and that they are signed and dated. Also remember, giving false or misleading information is a serious offence.

Three: Pay all processing fees 
Fees must be paid and submitted along with your application. The IRCC website has a chart to verify the fees required for the services you are requesting.

Four: Submit your application 
Once you apply online, the Case Processing Centre will review your application and send you the following: 

• a visitor record, a new work permit, a new study permit; or 

• a letter refusing your application; or 

• a notification that your application has been referred to a local IRCC centre for further assessment. 

Balancing Work and Study

International students can balance work and study by taking advantage of the number of hours they are allowed to work on campus or off campus.    

Working on or off campus can have an impact on the academic and personal well-being of international students. It is important to keep in mind that balancing work hours with academic responsibilities may sometimes lead to stress that can affect academic performance. Time management is essential, along with stress reduction to cope with new responsibilities that may emerge when students begin working.

Building Your Career Path in Canada

For international students, education has long been a path to professional success. Studying in Canada can improve your chances of thriving in the current job market, especially if you choose Canada’s most in-demand careers and courses. 

To discuss studying in Canada and how working fits into that journey, book an appointment with an IDP Canada counsellor today.