Work While Studying

Work Off Campus/On Campus

Study permit holders in Canada may gain work experience by working off campus/on Campus while completing their studies.

As of June 1, 2014, you may qualify to work off campus/on campus without a work permit. If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to:

• work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and
• work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break.

To qualify, you must:

• have a valid study permit,
• be a full-time student,
• be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
• be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration.

You must stop working on the day you no longer meet the above eligibility requirements (e.g., if you are no longer a full-time student during an academic session.)

Work as a co–op Student or Intern

For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. Foreign students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.

Determine your Eligibility

To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a valid study permit.
• Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
• Your employment must be part of your academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
• Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50% (percent) of the total program of study.

You will not be eligible to work during your studies if:

• you study English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL), or
• you participate in general interest or preparatory courses.

Social Insurance Number

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.

You must have one of the following conditions or remarks printed on your study permit in order to apply for a SIN for off-campus work:

• May work 20 hrs per week off-campus or full-time during regular break
• May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria.
• Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria

If your study permit does not have one of the above conditions or remarks, you must submit a request for an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN.

If your study permit has: This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada, printed on it and you have changed your program of study, you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit and pay the applicable fee.

Confirmation to Work Off Campus

As of February 2, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is no longer issuing confirmation to work off campus documents. If you were previously issued a confirmation to work off campus document by CIC, you may continue to present it to Service Canada in order to apply for a SIN.