Work while Studying in Canada

Depending on the Study Permit, you may be eligible to work on-campus or off-campus without applying to a Work Permit. There are specific conditions that must be met to be able to do so. This article will summarize the eligibility requirements for a Study Permit holder to be able to have a job while studying, but also if you need a Work Permit for a co-op or internship.

Working On-Campus – Are you eligible?

You can have a job on-campus without applying for a Work Permit if you satisfy to the following conditions:

• You are studying full-time at a :
  • public post-secondary school, such as a college, university, trade or technical school, or CEGEP in Quebec,
  • private post-secondary school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec,
  • private or public secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS), or
  • Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law but only if the student is enrolled in a study program leading to a degree authorized by the province.
• You have begun your program of study.
• Your Study Permit is still valid and lists a condition that says you are allowed to work on-campus.
• You have your SIN (Social Insurance Number).

You have to cease working as soon as your Study Permit is no longer valid or, when you are not considered a full-time student anymore. You can still have a job on-campus if you are no longer studying full-time, but only if:

• you have been studying full-time from the beginning of your program, and
• you are now a part-time student on your last academic session.

There is no limit on the number of hours you are allowed to work on-campus.

Working On-Campus – Where can you work?

You may only work at all the buildings on your school campus. If your school has more than one campus, you may only work at the campus where you are studying. If you are a research or teaching assistant, you can work outside your city campuses, at a hospital, research facility, or library connected with your institution. The work must be associated with a research grant.

Working On-Campus – Who can you work for?

• The institution,
• A professor,
• A student organization,
• Your own business (self-employed),
• A private company, or
• A private third-party on-campus service provider.

Working Off-Campus – Are you eligible?

You may have a job off-campus without a Work Permit if satisfy to all the following conditions:

• Your Study Permit is still valid and lists a condition that says you are allowed to work off-campus..
• Your school is a Designated Learning Institution and you are studying full-time.
• You have begun your program of study.
• The duration of your program of study must be minimum 6 months.
• You program of study must award a certificate, diploma, or degree.
• You have your SIN (Social Insurance Number).
• You are not studying French or English as a second language.
• You are not taking general interest courses or preparatory classes for another study program.
• You are not a visiting or exchange student who will not get a credential from your school in Canada.

You can still have a job off-campus if you are no longer studying full-time, but only if:

• you have been studying full-time from the beginning of your program, and
• you are now a part-time student on your last academic session.

Working Off-Campus – How many hours can you work?

You cannot work more than 24 hours per week off-campus, except during scheduled breaks (summer holidays for example) when you can then work full-time.

Work as Co-op Student or Intern

To be eligible for a student work placement, the work placement must be required to complete your study program.

You can participate in student work placements as a post-secondary student if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You have conditions printed on your initial Study Permit that say you’re allowed to work on campus.
• You have a letter from your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that confirms the work placement is a requirement of your study program.
• You have a valid Study Permit or you applied to extend your Study Permit before it expired.
• You’re a full-time student at a DLI.
• Your study program is at least 6 months long, at a post-secondary level and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
  • Secondary students need a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements.
• The work placement of your study program totals 50% or less of your study program.

If you’re eligible to work on campus, but your Study Permit does not include either of the following 2 conditions, you can ask to have them added:

• “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”
• “This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada. May accept employment only on campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”

There’s no fee to add these conditions to your permit.

You can work for any employer that’s accepted by your school’s student work placement program, even if they’re off campus. You will need to have a medical exam if your student work placement is at a hospital or other place where the protection of public health is important.

There is no weekly hour limit to participate in student work placements. However, your work placement can’t total more than 50% of your study program.