Working while studying in Canada: 24 hours, scheduled breaks and the rules behind them

As an international student in Quebec, you can usually work off campus without a separate work permit, but only if you meet every condition IRCC lists, not just because you hold a study permit and a CAQ. During classes the limit is 24 hours a week; during scheduled breaks it's unlimited, within rules most students have never read. Based on IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

• You can't work before your program starts.
• Off-campus work requires full-time studies at a DLI, a program of at least 6 months leading to a credential, a work condition printed on your study permit, and a SIN.
• 24 hours per week during sessions, all off-campus jobs combined.
• Unlimited hours during a break scheduled by your school that lasts at least 7 consecutive days, up to 180 days of unlimited work per calendar year.
• On-campus work has no hour limit for eligible students.
• Remote work for an employer outside Canada doesn't count toward the 24 hours, as long as you meet your permit conditions.

The checklist before your first shift

IRCC says you can work off campus without a work permit if all of these apply:

1. You're a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI).
2. You've started your program.
3. You're in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec (a DEP, for example).
4. Your study permit is valid, or you applied to extend it before it expired.
5. Your program lasts at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
6. Your initial study permit has conditions printed on it that allow off-campus work.
7. You have a social insurance number (SIN).

If you're eligible but the condition is missing from your permit, you can ask IRCC to add it, at no cost, before applying for a SIN. In Quebec, your CAQ and your study permit are separate documents: the CAQ doesn't decide whether you can work; your study permit does. See our CAQ for studies and study permit pages.

Who can't work off campus

• Students whose permit says off-campus work isn't allowed.
• Students enrolled only in English or French as a second language, only in general interest courses, or only in courses required to get into a full-time program.
• Students on authorized leave or switching schools and not currently studying.

There's one exception for part-time studies: in your final semester, if you studied full time until then and don't need a full course load to finish.

Counting the 24 hours

The limit applies per week, across all your off-campus jobs together. If your permit still says 20 hours, IRCC confirms you can work 24 as long as you remain eligible. You're responsible for tracking your hours and proving you comply: hours are any time spent earning wages or collecting a commission, including self-employment.

Working more than 24 hours a week during classes violates your permit. IRCC warns you can lose your student status, be refused future study or work permits, and have to leave Canada.

What counts as a scheduled break

Situation	Rule
Summer or winter holidays, reading week	Unlimited hours, if the break is scheduled by your school and lasts at least 7 consecutive days
A statutory holiday or long weekend on its own	Not a scheduled break: the 24-hour limit applies
Back-to-back breaks longer than 150 days	Unlimited work only during the first 150 consecutive days
All breaks in a calendar year	Unlimited off-campus work for 180 days at most
Program without scheduled breaks	24 hours a week all year

Taking courses part time or full time during the break doesn't change the unlimited-hours rule. Keep your school's academic calendar with your pay records: it's how you prove which weeks were breaks.

On campus, co-op and remote work

• On campus: no hour limit during terms or breaks if you're eligible (full-time student, valid permit, work condition on the permit, SIN).
• Co-op or internship required by your program: since April 1, 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a co-op work permit. The placement must be required by the program and confirmed by a letter from your DLI, total 50% or less of the program, and your initial study permit must allow on-campus work. Secondary students still need a co-op work permit.
• Remote work for a foreign employer: allowed and not counted in the 24 hours, as long as you meet your study permit conditions.

When you finish your program

You can keep working unlimited hours if you were eligible to work off campus, applied for a work permit or PGWP before your study permit expired, and are waiting for the decision. The same applies if you're starting a new full-time program within 150 days of the confirmation that you completed the previous one, with the conditions IRCC lists. If the application is refused, you must stop working. Our PGWP checklist helps you prepare.

Questions about your own situation? You can describe it here or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Does unpaid volunteer work count?

It can. IRCC defines work as anything you're paid for, or unpaid activity that would normally be paid or would be valuable work experience for a Canadian, such as an unpaid internship.

Can I work before my first semester starts?

No. IRCC is explicit: you can only start working once your study program has started.

I'm on maintained status after applying to extend my study permit. Can I keep working?

Yes, if you applied before your permit expired and still meet all the off-campus conditions. See our guide on maintained status.

What records should I keep?

Pay stubs, schedules, a weekly log of hours per employer, proof of full-time enrolment and your school's calendar showing the breaks.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — Work off campus as an international student
• IRCC Help Centre — Working unlimited hours during scheduled breaks
• IRCC — Work on campus as an international student
• IRCC — Work in a student work placement