As of Fall this year, international student work hour is expected to raise from 20 to 24 hours during scheduled study period in response to the end of temporary policy on maximum 40 work hours for international students during the pandemic.

The new international student work hour cap for international students is aiming to “strike the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without comprising academic outcomes.” stated by Immigration Minister Marc Miller in April, 2024. However, the exact date of this implementation has not been confirmed by IRCC yet, but it is expected to take effect sometime within this fall. Therefore, current international students must stick with the current 20 work hours cap until IRCC announces further notice.

Students are also allowed to work outside their educational institution and the campus without international student work hour limitation during scheduled breaks, including summer and winter holidays. Self-employed jobs, such as Uber driver or food delivery, are counted as off-campus work that students could choose.

* While the new international student work hour update has not been launched, students must still follow IRCC current limitation on off-campus international student work hour policy, who do not comply with the policy could result in study permit cancellation and even having to leave the country.

Table of Contents

Quick recap of the change of international student work hour

	Old Policy(Current)	New Policy(Fall 2024)
Off-campus work hours	20	24
On-campus work hours	Unlimited	Unlimited
School break work hours	Unlimited	Unlimited
Self-employed work hours	Unlimited	Unlimited
Remote job from outside Canada	Unlimited	Unlimited

Who is allowed to work as an international student in Canada?

International student work hour policy is only apply to students with a valid study permit and they are allowed to work legally both on or off-campus. International students must also following all criteria below to secure an off-campus job without work permit:

You’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)

You’re enrolled in either of the following:

a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
Your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
You’ve started studying
You have a social insurance number (SIN)

If you’re a part-time student at a DLI, you can work off campus only if:

You meet all of the requirements above, except the requirement to be a full-time student, and you’re only studying part-time, instead of full-time, because:

You’re in the last semester of your study program and you don’t need a full course load to complete your program
You were a full-time student in your program in Canada, up until your last semester

Who cannot work off-campus?

International students cannot work off campus without a work permit if any of these situations apply to you:

Study permit stated that students aren’t authorized to work off campus during study
International students Only enrolled in an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program
International students Only taking general interest courses
International students Only taking courses required to be accepted into a full-time program
International students’ situation changes and you no longer meet all of the requirements to work off campus

If any of these situations apply to you, and you want to work while studying in Canada, you need to apply for a work permit.

How to calculate work hour for international student

International students have the obligation to ensure themselves fulfilling both requirements as the following:

Keeping track of work hours during off campus are defined as any time you spend earning wages or collecting a commission(even if you’re on call during these hours and not actually working)
Ensuring that you’re complying with the conditions of your study permit

International students must also show that:

Actively pursuing your studies
Not working exceed 20 hours per week
Fulfilling any other conditions listed on your study permit

Self-employed students

International students who are self-employed, their hours are calculated as any time you spend doing any of the following:

Any job or work tasks that earning wages
Get paid for performing a service or selling a product
Commission-based job for performing a service or selling a product

Conclusion

IRCC’s update on international student work hours is responding to the end of the temporary policy, allowing students to work up to a maximum of 40 hours, during the pandemic period. As Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated, “First and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student program.” The new policy is considering both economic and educational factors to let international students enjoy their study life in Canada. For more updates and information about international students’ work hours, please follow CCC information and social media pages, or contact our student advisors directly for professional advice on your study plan.

FAQ

What is IRCC new update on international student work hour policy?

Starting from fall 2024, international students with valid study permit will be allowed to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus, an increase from the current 20 hours. However, this new limit has not yet been implemented, and students must adhere to the 20-hour limit until further notice from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Does international student work hour apply during scheduled break?

NO, international students are allowed to work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays. This applies to both on-campus and off-campus jobs, including self-employment such as Uber driving or food delivery.

What will happen if students exceed international student work hour?

If international students exceed the current 20-hour weekly limit, student might violate their study permit conditions. IRCC has the right to cancel students’ study permit, and reject study and work permit applications in the future. Therefore, students are suggested not to work exceed the international student work hour limit.

Who is eligible to work off-campus as an international student?

International students can work off-campus if they have already enrolled in Designated Learning Institution(DLI) as a full-time students with valid study permit. Meanwhile, their enrolled program must at least six months, and except English or French as a secondary Language(ESL/FSL) program.

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