Immigration Compliance
Study Permit Work Hour Limit Guide
Navigate the 24-hour off-campus work limits, term exceptions, and hour compliance rules.
⚠️ The 24-Hour Limit is Permanent:
Following temporary policies that allowed students to work full-time off-campus, IRCC implemented a permanent limit of **24 hours per week** during academic semesters. Working even 15 minutes over this limit can compromise your legal status.
Weekly Hour Compliance Logger
Input hours worked each day of the week to verify compliance:
Key Off-Campus Study Permit Work Conditions
Ensure you satisfy these parameters to protect your study permit status and PGWP pathway:
- Academic Term Limit: You can work up to **24 hours per week** off-campus during standard academic semesters.
- Scheduled Breaks Exception: You are permitted to work **full-time** during scheduled breaks. This includes official winter holidays, summer breaks (if your program has a summer break term), and spring reading weeks.
- Definition of a "Week": IRCC defines a week as starting on **Sunday** and ending on **Saturday**. You cannot "average" hours over a month; each single week must be under 24 hours.
- Co-op Work Permits: If your program has a mandatory co-op placement, you must hold a separate **Co-op Work Permit**. Co-op placement hours do not count toward your 24-hour off-campus limit.
Work Hour Limits
Semester Work Limit24 Hours / week
Scheduled Breaks LimitFull-Time (No limit)
On-Campus Work LimitNo limit
C-op placement PermitCo-op Permit Required