H

Skip to main content
Dal.ca Home
Dal.ca Home

Working in Canada

If you are an international student and you want to work in Canada, you must meet certain requirements and adhere to certain regulations. It is important to understand when and under what circumstances international students arepermittedto work on and off campus, just as it is important to understand when you are not/no longerpermittedto work.

Authorization to work

When you receive your study permit at the Canadian port of entry,immediatelycheck to see if it authorizes you to work in Canada (e.g. “may accept employment” or “may work”). If this information is missing, ask the Canadian Border Services agent to update your study permit with the necessary work authorization before you leave the Canadian Immigration area.

If yourstudypermit does not authorize you to work on and/or off campus, and you discover this information after you leave the Canadian port of entry/Canadian Immigration, you must apply to amend your study permit.

Learn how to amend your study permit

Working while studying

Working on campus

On-campus employment is defined as employment within the boundaries of the campus or in facilities owned, leased, or rented by H. For example, your employer may be the university, a student organization, or a private contractoroperatingwithin the boundaries of the campus, such as a business in the Student Union Building or the library. On-campus employment includes work at facilities such as teaching hospitals, clinics, and research institutes, which may belocatedoff campus but have a formal association or affiliation with H, and which arelocatedwithin the City of Halifax. This includes H’s Sexton Campus and Agriculture Campus.

IRCC does not limit the number of hours students arepermittedto work on campus. However, some H employers may restrict the hours students can work. It isgenerally recommendedto work no more than 10–15 hours per week to avoidimpactingyour studies. 

You can work on campus without aworkpermit if you meet the following requirements:

  • You have a validstudypermitor you have applied to extend your Study Permit and havemaintainedstatus.

  • Yourstudypermitstatesthat you are authorized work on campus (e.g. “may accept employment” or “may work”). If your Study Permit does not authorize you to work, you mustapply to amend your Study Permit.

For more information about working on campus, eligibility requirements, and restrictions, visit the Government of Canada’s .

Working off campus

International students who qualify for off-campus work while enrolled in their program of study are eligible to work off campus up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions (fall and winter terms), if
  • they have a valid study permit (or they applied to extend their study permit before it expired);
  • the conditions printed on their study permit allow for off-campus work;
  • they are enrolled in full-time studies;
  • they have a Social Insurance Number.

Visit IRCC’sfor full eligibility details.

Many academic programs at H include scheduled breaks (e.g. summer and winter holidays, Fall and Winter Study Breaks, and the time between academic terms). During scheduled breaks, there is no limit on the number of hours per week international students may work off campus IF:

  • Your academic program includes scheduled breaks (e.gno classes during summer holidays).

  • You were enrolled in full-time studies before the break.

  • You will be enrolled in full-time studies after the break.

However, international students who are enrolled in programs with no scheduled breaks (e.g. continuous study from start to completion) are limited to 24 hours per week of off-campus work for the duration of their program. The only exceptions are during Fall and Winter Study Breaks and the time between academic terms.

You can work off campus without aworkpermit if you meet the following requirements:

  • You have a validstudypermitor you have applied to extend your Study Permit and havemaintainedstatus.

  • Yourstudypermitstatesthat you are authorized work off campus (e.g. “may accept employment” or “may work”). If your Study Permit does not authorize you to work, you mustapply to amend your Study Permit.

For more information about working off campus, eligibility requirements, and restrictions, visit the Government of Canada’s  .

Work restrictions

As an international student, you cannot work in Canada if any of the following is true:

  • Your study permit does not authorize you to work on or off campus.
  • Your study permit has expired and you did not apply to extend your study permit before it expired.
  • You’re enrolled in part-time studies. (Working during part-time studies is only permitted during a student’s final semester of studies and only if all other off-campus work eligibility criteria are met. Check IRCC’sfor more details.)

  • You are in Canada on a short-term program (e.g.less than 6 months)and you do not have astudypermit or aworkpermit.

  • You are registered in general interest courses which do not lead to a degree or diploma at H.

  • You are registered in a qualifying course or program that isrequiredfor admission into degree or diploma program at H.

  • You are registered in an English or French as a Second Language (ESL/FSL) program.Note: students who are enrolled in a degree program that includes an ESL/FSLcomponentmay be eligible to work off campus only after completing the ESL/FSLcomponent.

  • You are onan from your studies.

  • Your situation changes and you no longer meet the.

A student does work in front of a laptop in the International Centre.

Co-op work permit

As of April1, 2026, international students attending a post-secondary institution areto participate in mandatory or optional student work placements, such as co‑ops, internships, field placements, or practicums.

Volunteer work

Some volunteer positions may be considered “work” by the IRCC (e.g. volunteer duties that may be normally performed by a paid employee). If so, the volunteer work may be subject to IRCC’s off-campus work rules.

Working after graduation

International students who graduate from an eligible post-secondary program may be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP qualifies you to stay and work in Canada for up to three years.

Learn more about staying in Canada after graduation

Required documents for working in Canada

Social insurance number (SIN)

To work, file taxes, and access government programs and benefits in Canada, yourequirea . To get paid by an employer and to open a Canadian bank account, yourequirea SIN. To be eligible,your study permit must provide you with authorization to work on and/or off campus.

Learn more about getting a SIN

Individual tax number (ITN)

Anindividualtaxnumber (ITN) is a unique number that the Canada Revenue Agency uses toidentifyyou for tax purposes if youdon’thave a Social Insurance Number.

Learn more about obtaining an ITN