Work on campus as an international student

You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.

How we define work

Work is any activity that

• you’re paid to do, or
• you’re not paid to do but is a job that
  • you would usually be paid for, or
  • would be considered valuable work experience for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (for example, an unpaid intern)

Pay includes money or commission

• an employer gives you
• you receive for a service, or
• you receive for any other activity

On this page

• Who can work on campus
  • Apply for a social insurance number to work in Canada
• Who can’t work on campus
• Where you can work
• Who you can work for
• How many hours you can work on campus

Who can work on campus

You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit lists a condition that says you’re allowed to work.

You can work on your school campus, without a work permit, if

• you’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution
  • If you’re studying part-time in your final semester but you studied full-time during each previous semester, you can continue to work if you meet all other requirements.
• you’re enrolled in either
  • a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or
  • a secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec
• your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
• you have a valid study permit or applied to extend your study permit before it expired
• you have conditions printed on your initial study permit which allow you to work on campus and
• you have a social insurance number (SIN)

Apply for a social insurance number to work in Canada

A social insurance number (SIN) is a 9-digit number that the Government of Canada gives you. With this number, you can work in Canada and get government benefits and services.

What you need to apply for a SIN

To apply for a SIN to work on campus, you must have 1 of these conditions printed on your study permit:

• 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.

If you’re eligible to work on campus, but we didn’t include either of these conditions on your study permit, you can ask to have them added. There’s no fee to add these conditions to your permit.

You’ll need to request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN from Service Canada.

How to apply for a SIN

If you have the right conditions on your study permit, you can apply for a SIN. You should apply online to either

• submit a SIN application for the first time, or
• update your existing SIN
  • You can update the expiry date listed on your SIN or update your status in Canada.

You can also apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or by mail, but it may take longer than applying online.

 Find out how to apply for or renew your SIN

Who can’t work on campus

You must stop working on campus if any of these situations apply to you

• you stop studying full-time, unless you’re in your final semester and you meet other on-campus work requirements
• your study permit expires
• you’re on an authorized leave from your studies
• you’re switching schools and aren’t currently studying

You can return to work only once your studies have resumed and you meet all the requirements to work on campus.

Where you can work

“On campus” means you can work at all the buildings on your school campus. If your school has more than one campus, you can only work at the campus where you’re studying in most cases.

You can work at a location that isn’t on your school campus if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You’re working as a teaching or research assistant.
• Your work is strictly related to a research grant.
• You work at a library, hospital or research facility associated with your school.

You may be able to work in other locations with your on-campus work authorization if you’re eligible to work as part of a student work placement.

If you work at a hospital or other place where public health must be protected, you need to have a medical exam. You don’t need to provide a new medical exam if you’ve already submitted one.

Who you can work for

An “on campus” employer can be

• the school
• a faculty member
• a student organization
• yourself, if
  • you run a business that is physically located on campus (for example, you own a coffee shop that is located on campus)
• a private business
• a private contractor that provides on-campus services to the school

How many hours you can work on campus

There is no limit to on-campus work hours during

• regular school terms or semesters
• scheduled breaks in the school year

You can work as many hours as you want as long as you’re eligible.

Students with a part-time course load in their final semester

You can still work an unlimited amount of hours on campus if you

• study part-time in your final semester to finish your required coursework
• studied full time for every semester of your program until your final semester