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🇨🇦 IRCC 2026 Student Work Authorization Framework

Canada Off-Campus Work Hours Tracker 2026

Track your international-student work hours against the current IRCC rules: up to 24 hours off campus while classes are in session, unlimited hours during qualifying scheduled breaks, and no hourly cap for eligible on-campus work.

1. Who can work off campus without a separate work permit?

Under the current IRCC rules, an eligible international student can generally work off campus without a separate work permit when the student meets the required study-permit, enrollment, program and SIN conditions.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • The permit wording can state that the holder may work 24 hours per week off campus or full time during regular breaks under paragraph 186(v) of the IRPR.
  • Another valid study-permit condition can authorize employment on or off campus under the applicable IRPR criteria.
  • If the study permit does not contain the required work condition, the student must request the appropriate amendment before applying for a SIN based on that authorization.

Mandatory Action Checklist

✓Be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, subject to the final-semester exception.
✓Have started the study program. You cannot begin eligible student work before your studies start.
✓Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a qualifying secondary-level vocational program in Quebec.
✓Have a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before it expired.
✓Be in a program that is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
✓Have the appropriate work condition printed on the initial study permit.
✓Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
✓Continue satisfying the study-permit conditions while working.

2. The 24-hour off-campus rule during academic terms

While classes are in session, an eligible international student can work up to 24 hours per week off campus. A student can have more than one job, but the student's eligible off-campus hours must remain within the applicable weekly limit.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • IRCC explicitly allows more than one off-campus job as long as the student continues to meet the work conditions.
  • Working 25 hours during a period when the 24-hour ceiling applies is a violation of study-permit conditions.
  • Students are responsible for keeping records of the hours they work off campus and proving compliance if IRCC requests it.
SituationOff-campus work ruleTracker treatment
Classes in sessionUp to 24 hours per weekAdd all eligible off-campus hours from all jobs
Qualifying scheduled breakUnlimited off-campus hours, subject to IRCC break rulesDo not apply the 24-hour ceiling to eligible break days
Program has no scheduled breaksUp to 24 hours per weekContinue applying the 24-hour weekly ceiling
Authorized leave from studiesCannot work off campus under the student work authorization while on the leaveStop counting hours as authorized student off-campus work until eligibility resumes
Switching schools while not studyingCannot work off campus until the student resumes studies and satisfies the requirementsTreat the non-study period as unauthorized for student off-campus work

3. Scheduled breaks: when unlimited off-campus work is allowed

Eligible students can work unlimited hours off campus during a scheduled break in the school year. The break must be scheduled by the DLI and generally must last at least 7 consecutive days. A statutory holiday by itself, including a long weekend created by a statutory holiday, is not a scheduled break.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • The school must schedule the break.
  • A scheduled break must last at least 7 consecutive days for the unlimited-work rule.
  • If a statutory holiday falls inside an already qualifying scheduled break, the unlimited-work rule can continue to apply during the break.
  • If a program has no scheduled breaks, the student remains subject to the 24-hour weekly limit.
PeriodUnlimited off-campus work?Why
DLI summer breakYes, if it is a qualifying scheduled breakIRCC lists summer holidays as an example
DLI winter breakYes, if it is a qualifying scheduled breakIRCC lists winter holidays as an example
Reading weekYes, if it is a qualifying scheduled breakIRCC specifically lists reading week as an example
One statutory holidayNoA statutory holiday alone is not a qualifying scheduled break
Long weekend caused only by a statutory holidayNoThe existence of a long weekend does not itself create a scheduled break
School break shorter than 7 consecutive daysDo not automatically treat as unlimitedIRCC says a qualifying scheduled break must last at least 7 consecutive days

4. Special limits on long scheduled breaks

Unlimited off-campus work during scheduled breaks has additional limits that are important for programs with unusual academic calendars.

RuleCurrent IRCC position
Back-to-back breaks longer than 150 consecutive daysThe student can work unlimited hours off campus only during the first 150 consecutive days.
Total unlimited-work days in a calendar yearAcross regularly scheduled breaks, unlimited off-campus work is limited to 180 days in each calendar year.
Breaks that are not scheduled by the DLIDo not assume they qualify for unlimited off-campus work.

5. On-campus work is separate from the 24-hour off-campus limit

Eligible international students can work on campus without an hourly limit during regular academic terms and scheduled breaks. On-campus work is therefore not entered into the 24-hour off-campus tracker.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • There is no limit to the number of on-campus work hours during regular terms or scheduled breaks while the student remains eligible.
  • The student must continue meeting the conditions for on-campus work.
  • On-campus work generally means work at the campus where the student studies, subject to IRCC's specific location rules.
  • Some work at associated libraries, hospitals or research facilities can qualify when the conditions stated by IRCC are met.
  • The student must stop on-campus work if the study permit expires, the student takes an unauthorized situation/leave covered by the IRCC restrictions, or the other eligibility requirements cease to be met.

6. Final semester: part-time study can still permit off-campus work

A student who is studying part time in the final semester can still work off campus when the student would otherwise satisfy the off-campus requirements, the student is part time only because fewer courses are required to complete the program, and the student was a full-time student in Canada until the final semester.

Mandatory Action Checklist

✓Confirm that this is the final semester of the program.
✓Confirm that a reduced course load is required only because fewer courses are needed to complete the program.
✓Confirm that the student was full time in Canada until the final semester.
✓Continue meeting the other off-campus eligibility requirements, including the study-permit work condition and SIN requirement.
✓Apply the ordinary 24-hour limit while classes are in session unless a qualifying scheduled break applies.

7. When a student cannot use the ordinary off-campus student authorization

Several situations remove eligibility to work off campus under the student exemption, even when the study permit has not yet expired.

SituationEffect on off-campus student work
Only studying ESL/FSLNot eligible under the ordinary off-campus student authorization
Only taking general-interest coursesNot eligible under the ordinary off-campus student authorization
Only taking prerequisite courses for entry to a full-time programNot eligible under the ordinary off-campus student authorization
Authorized leave from studiesCannot work off campus during the leave under the student authorization
Switching schools and not currently studyingCannot work off campus until studies resume and eligibility is restored
Study permit explicitly says off-campus work is not authorizedCannot use the ordinary off-campus student authorization until the applicable permit condition is changed

8. SIN and study-permit work conditions

A Social Insurance Number is required to work in Canada. For off-campus student work, IRCC identifies specific study-permit wording that permits the student to apply for a SIN and work under the student authorization.

Mandatory Action Checklist

✓Check the physical study permit for the work condition.
✓If the permit contains the paragraph 186(v) 24-hour/full-time-during-breaks wording, confirm the other eligibility conditions.
✓If the permit contains the alternative employment-on/off-campus wording under paragraphs 186(f), (v) or (w), continue meeting the eligibility criteria.
✓If the required work wording is missing but the student is otherwise eligible, request the appropriate permit amendment before applying for the SIN through that authorization.
✓Keep the study permit and SIN records with the student's compliance records.

9. Multiple jobs and self-employment

The 24-hour limit is not 24 hours per employer. IRCC expressly allows students to work more than one off-campus job provided they remain within the applicable conditions. Self-employed students must also track the time spent performing work.

Scenario Examples

Two off-campus jobs
Two off-campus jobs over the limit
Self-employed student

10. Work performed outside Canada

IRCC states that a student can work remotely for an employer outside Canada while still meeting the conditions of the study permit, and that this type of work does not count toward the 24-hour-per-week off-campus work limit. This is distinct from taking a normal Canadian off-campus job and should be documented separately.

11. Co-op and internship work rules changed in 2026

As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a co-op work permit for student work placements such as qualifying co-op placements or internships. Existing co-op work permit holders can continue using their permits for their entire validity period.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • The old rule requiring a co-op work permit for every post-secondary student placement is no longer current from April 1, 2026.
  • Student work placements are governed by the current IRCC eligibility rules for the placement.
  • A qualifying student work placement should not simply be added to the ordinary off-campus 24-hour tracker without first determining whether the placement falls under the current student-work-placement framework.
  • Existing co-op work permits remain usable for their validity period.

12. What happens if you work more than 24 hours?

Working more hours than permitted during a period when the 24-hour limit applies is a violation of study-permit conditions. IRCC says consequences can include loss of student status, problems with future study or work permit applications and potentially having to leave Canada.

IssueCurrent IRCC position
Over 24 hours during classesViolation of study-permit conditions
Status consequencesCan contribute to loss of student status
Future applicationsCan negatively affect future study or work permit applications
Removal riskSerious unauthorized work can contribute to immigration consequences, including having to leave Canada

13. PGWP considerations after graduation

PGWP eligibility is a separate assessment with multiple requirements. Unauthorized work while studying can create immigration-compliance problems, but the page should not reduce PGWP eligibility to a single hours violation rule.

Key Policy Highlights & Benchmarks

  • IRCC's current PGWP eligibility rules include program, DLI, language, field-of-study where applicable, physical-location and other requirements.
  • When a graduate relies on the ability to work full time while a work-permit/PGWP application is pending, IRCC says the student must have been eligible to work off campus during studies and must not have worked more hours than allowed.
  • A past work-hour violation can therefore be relevant to immigration compliance and later work authorization, but the final PGWP assessment depends on the complete record and current eligibility requirements.
  • Do not describe a PGWP refusal as an automatic and permanent consequence of one isolated hour-overage unless IRCC specifically determines that result in the individual's case.

14. Practical weekly tracker workflow

Use one record for every off-campus employer and add the hours together for the same applicable week.

Mandatory Action Checklist

✓Record each shift's start/end time and paid working time.
✓Separate on-campus hours from off-campus hours.
✓Add hours from every off-campus employer.
✓Include applicable self-employed working time.
✓Check whether the dates fall within classes in session or a qualifying scheduled break.
✓If classes are in session, keep the total at or below 24 hours for the applicable week.
✓Do not average an overage in one week against unused hours in another week.
✓Keep the DLI academic calendar or official break schedule as evidence.
✓Keep payroll records, schedules, timesheets, invoices and other evidence that can demonstrate compliance.
✓Re-check eligibility after any change in enrollment status, leave, school transfer or study-program structure.

15. Simple compliance examples

These examples illustrate the current framework rather than guaranteeing an individual's authorization.

ScenarioResult
20 off-campus hours during a regular semesterWithin the 24-hour weekly limit
24 off-campus hours during a regular semesterAt the maximum weekly limit
25 off-campus hours during a regular semesterOver the applicable limit; study-permit conditions are violated
18 off-campus hours + 12 on-campus hours during a regular semesterOff-campus portion is 18 hours; on-campus hours are subject to the separate unlimited-hour rule while eligible
35 off-campus hours during a qualifying 7-day DLI scheduled breakPotentially permitted, assuming all other eligibility and break conditions are satisfied
35 off-campus hours during an ordinary long weekend created only by a statutory holidayDo not treat as automatically permitted; a statutory holiday alone is not a qualifying scheduled break
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

While classes are in session, an eligible international student can work up to 24 hours per week off campus. The student can have more than one job, but the total eligible off-campus hours must remain within the applicable weekly limit.

Yes, during a qualifying scheduled break in the school year. IRCC says the break must be scheduled by the DLI and generally last at least 7 consecutive days. There are also limits for unusually long breaks and a 180-day annual limit on unlimited off-campus work during regularly scheduled breaks.

No. Eligible on-campus work has no hourly limit during regular school terms and scheduled breaks. On-campus and off-campus work should therefore be tracked separately.

Yes, in the specific final-semester situation recognized by IRCC. The student must be studying part time only because fewer courses are needed to complete the program, must have been a full-time student in Canada until the final semester, and must meet the other off-campus work requirements.

Working more than the permitted hours violates the study-permit conditions. IRCC says this can lead to loss of student status, problems with future study or work permit applications and potentially having to leave Canada. It is not accurate to state that every single violation automatically creates a permanent PGWP ban.

The answer depends on the placement framework. As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a co-op work permit for qualifying student work placements such as co-op placements or internships. Do not automatically classify a qualifying student work placement as ordinary off-campus employment without checking the current IRCC placement rules.

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2026 Work-Hour Metrics

Classes in SessionUp to 24 hours/week off campus
Qualifying Scheduled BreakUnlimited off-campus hours
On-Campus WorkNo hourly limit while eligible
Final SemesterPart-time study may still permit off-campus work if IRCC conditions are met

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