Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulation R 186 (v) allows international students to work full-time during established academic breaks.
Work done during summer break when not attending classes is considered while not studying full-time. Even if working off-campus under a valid
# Off-campus work rules for international students: May 2026 update. International students in Canada can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus during academic terms, with unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. The biggest change came on April 1, 2026, with the elimination of the separate co-op work permit. This piece is the May 2026 picture: the 24-hour rule, how scheduled breaks work, the major April change to co-op placements, and what happens if you go over. International students eligible to work off campus can work up to 24 hours per week during academic terms, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. The 24-hour cap is the firm legal limit for off-campus work during your study terms. Per the official Canada.ca page on working off-campus as an international student, to work off-campus without a separate work permit, you must meet all of these conditions:.
You can work full-time during scheduled breaks, like over summer holidays and during spring break. You must meet all the requirements for working on-campus
A: Yes. If you applied before your study permit expired and were eligible to work off-campus during your studies, you can continue working full-
It is not illegal if you meet the criteria: “May work 20 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph
# Work off campus as an international student. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. * you’re paid to do, or. * you’re not paid to do but is a job that. + Apply for a social insurance number (SIN) to work in Canada. You and your employer must make sure you can work off campus without a work permit **before you start working**. You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet **all** of these requirements:. * You have conditions printed on your initial study permit that allow you to work off campus. You must request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply to Service Canada for a SIN. If you’re on an authorized leave from your studies, or you’re switching schools and you’re not studying, you **can't** work off campus. To apply for a SIN to work off campus, you must have 1 of these conditions printed on your study permit:.
During scheduled breaks, like the summer or winter holidays and spring break, you're allowed to work more than 20 hours.