Work Off-Campus up to 24 Hours & New Requirements for Changing College

Who can Work Off-Campus Without a Work Permit?

You can work off-campus if you meet these conditions:

1. Full-Time Student

   • You’re enrolled full-time at a designated learning institution (DLI).

   • You’re in a program that:

     • Is post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training, OR a secondary-level vocational program in Quebec.

     • Lasts at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

   • You’ve started your studies.

   • You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

2. Part-Time Students
   You can work off-campus if:

   • You meet all the requirements above, except being a full-time student.

   • You’re studying part-time because:

     • It’s your last semester, and you don’t need a full course load to graduate.

     • You were previously a full-time student in the same program in Canada.

3. If You’re on Authorized Leave or Switching Schools

   • You cannot work off-campus while on authorized leave or between schools when not actively studying.

   • You can resume working once you’re back to studying.

How Many Hours Can You Work Off-Campus?

1. During Regular School Terms

   • You can work up to 24 hours per week.

   • You can work more than one job, as long as you follow your study permit conditions.

2. During Scheduled Breaks

   • You can work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, such as winter or summer holidays or reading weeks.

   • You can:

     • Take part-time or full-time courses during the break.

     • Work overtime or hold multiple part-time jobs without any limit on hours.

   Important: You must be a full-time student before and after the break to work full-time during the break. For example, you can’t work full-time before your first semester starts.

3. What Counts as Full-Time Work?

   • There’s no fixed number of hours for “full-time” work.

   • Your employer(s) must follow provincial rules on overtime pay and breaks between shifts.

Working After You Complete Your Study Program

After completing your study program, you may be able to work full-time in Canada under these conditions:

1. If You Applied for a Work Permit

You can work full-time while waiting for a decision on your work permit if you meet all these requirements:

• You were allowed to work off-campus during your studies.

• You applied for a work permit or a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) before your study permit expired.

• Your application is still under review.

Note: If your work or study permit application is refused, you must stop working and leave Canada.

2. If You’re Starting a New Study Program

You can work full-time if you meet all these requirements:

• You were eligible to work off-campus during your previous studies.

• You have a valid study permit or applied to extend your study permit before it expired.

• You received written confirmation from your school that you completed your previous program.

• You have a letter of acceptance for a new full-time study program at a designated learning institution (DLI).

• Your new program starts within 150 days of completing your previous program.

Source: IRCC