Back to the blog

Working on a study permit: keeping track of your hours

, 4 minute read

If you study in Canada on a study permit, you can usually work off campus, but only up to a weekly limit while classes are in session. The rule is simple to state and easy to lose track of in a week with three shifts at two jobs.

Check the current rule with IRCC. The limit has changed more than once in recent years (in November 2024 it was set at 24 hours a week during academic sessions). Your permit's conditions and IRCC's website are the source that counts, not this post.

What counts

  • Off-campus work counts. Every hour at a job off campus, including a shift that ran late.
  • On-campus work is separate. Work for your school, on campus, is generally not counted toward the off-campus limit.
  • Co-op placements are separate. A co-op or internship that is part of your program is covered by a co-op work permit, not the off-campus limit.
  • Scheduled breaks are different. During your school's official breaks, such as winter and summer, you may be able to work more. Check the conditions that apply to you.

The week is the unit

The limit is per week, so an extra shift on Sunday belongs to the week it lands in. That is where people slip: two late closes and a picked-up Saturday can push a normal week over without it ever feeling like a lot.

A habit that works

  1. Log every shift, including the time you actually left.
  2. Check the week's total before you say yes to an extra shift.
  3. Keep on-campus and co-op jobs marked as such, so they are not added to the off-campus total.

CampusWage does the adding for you. Mark a job as on campus or co-op once, and the study-permit card shows your off-campus hours for the week against the limit, including shifts still on the schedule.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Follow the conditions on your study permit and IRCC's current guidance.