Canada allows international students to work up to 24 hours per week

Canada has introduced new rules permitting eligible international students to work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic terms. If they are qualified to work off campus, students can now work up to 24 hours a week during their study course.

Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship informed that they have fixed the off-campus work limit to 24 hours per week, to strike the right balance between providing work opportunities and helping students stay focused on their education.

Marc Miller confirmed that new regulations impacting the International Student Program have now taken effect, including the change to the number of hours international students may work off campus that was proposed earlier this year. With this change, eligible students can now work up to 24 hours per week off campus while their classes are in session.

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.

With an increase from the previous 20-hour limit, this new adjustment will be giving students more freedom to manage their time between job and studies.

Designated educational institutions are required to report to the IRCC twice a year on whether all of the study permit holders connected to their institution have continued to be enrolled.

Further, international students will no longer be able to change their DLI without first applying for and receiving approval for a new study permit.

Working rules in Quebec allow students to work off campus without a work permit and for that 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.

According to the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada’s temporary resident population will decrease over the next few years to align with the temporary resident programs.