Work Permit

General information only, not legal advice. This page gives general information about a Canadian immigration topic as understood in 2026. It is not legal advice, it does not guarantee any outcome, and it is not a substitute for advice on your own case from a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. Immigration rules, figures, and fees change, so always confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada immigration and citizenship pages before you apply or rely on anything here.

Many international students work in Canada during or after their studies. The type of work permit you need depends on your situation, and the rules differ for work during study and work after graduation.

Work during your studies

Many full-time students at designated learning institutions can work on or off campus while they study, subject to conditions set out in their study permit. The conditions, including permitted hours, are written on the permit itself.

Eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular school terms, and full time during scheduled breaks, as long as they continue to meet their study permit conditions. You can hold more than one job to make up those hours, and you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada. If you stop meeting the conditions, for example by dropping to part-time study during a regular term, you must stop working off campus. Work in a co-op or internship placement follows its own permit rules, so check the conditions that apply to your placement.

Work after graduation: the post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

Graduates of eligible Canadian programs may be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit, an open work permit that is not tied to one employer. The main rules are:

Program length. Your program must have been at least 8 months long at an eligible designated learning institution, and must have led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Full-time study. You must have been a full-time student in each semester, except that your final semester may be part-time.
Deadline. You have 180 days after your school confirms you completed your program to apply. Your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days. Note that a study permit expires on the date marked on the permit or 90 days after you complete your studies, whichever comes first.
Length of the permit. The permit can last up to 3 years. Programs of 2 years or more generally lead to a 3 year permit, and master's degree programs of at least 8 months can also lead to a 3 year permit. Shorter programs generally lead to a permit matching the program length.
Language. For study permit applications made on or after November 1, 2024, graduates need a language result of Canadian Language Benchmark or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CLB/NCLC) level 7 for degree programs, or level 5 for non-degree college programs.
Field of study. For study permit applications made on or after November 1, 2024, graduates of non-degree college programs must have graduated in a field of study on the Government of Canada eligibility list. Graduates of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs have no field of study requirement.

A post-graduation work permit is normally issued only once, so timing your application matters. Confirm the current eligibility list and language rules on the Government of Canada work after graduation pages before you apply.

What this page does not state

This page does not state government application fees or processing times, because both change. Confirm current fees and times on the Government of Canada immigration pages before you apply.

Employer-specific permits

Some jobs require an employer-specific work permit, which is tied to one employer and one role. These usually require the employer to complete steps before you can apply.

Because the rules depend on your permit conditions and your program, it is important to check your own situation carefully. Ask us about working in Canada.