International students in Canada can work on campus, off campus, and in mandatory co-op placements under their study permit — but the rules are more layered than most people realize, and they changed significantly in 2024 and 2026.
At Kingwell Immigration Law, we work with international students and graduates whose work authorization has been put at risk through permit refusals, unauthorized work complications, or PGWP eligibility issues that threaten their path to permanent residence.
Whether you are just arriving in Canada or approaching graduation, our team is here to help you protect your status and plan your next steps with confidence.
Speak with a Toronto immigration lawyer about your situation today.
International students who hold a valid study permit from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) can generally work on campus without a separate work permit. On-campus work includes jobs with your school, student unions, or private businesses physically located on campus, such as cafeterias, bookstores, or libraries.
You may begin working on campus as soon as your study permit is valid and your courses have started. Working before classes begin is not permitted, even if your study permit has already been issued.
As of November 8, 2024, eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions. This limit was confirmed by IRCC in its November 2024 news release and represents a permanent regulatory change, replacing the previous 20-hour limit.
To be eligible to work off campus, you must:
During scheduled academic breaks — including summer, winter, and reading weeks — you may work unlimited hours off campus without a separate permit. If your school has back-to-back scheduled breaks creating a period longer than 150 consecutive days, unlimited hours apply only during the first 150 days.
One detail that catches many students off guard: if you are on an authorized leave from your studies, or switching institutions and not currently enrolled, you cannot work off campus during that gap.
If your situation involves a leave, a program change, or a gap in enrollment, our team can help you assess whether your work authorization is still valid and what steps to take.
Before April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students in mandatory work-integrated learning programs needed two permits: their study permit and a separate co-op work permit. That requirement has now been eliminated.
As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a co-op work permit for placements that are required by their program. A valid study permit with on-campus work authorization is now sufficient, provided the placement totals no more than 50% of the program’s total hours.
Key points about this change:
IRCC described this change as removing an administrative burden. It does not expand who is eligible to participate in work placements — it only eliminates the need for a second permit to do so.
Two situations create particular anxiety for international students and graduates in Canada: waiting for a study permit extension to be approved, and waiting for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) decision after graduation. Both involve a gap period where it can be unclear whether you can legally work.
If your study permit expires while your extension application is still pending, you are considered to have maintained status under IRCC’s framework, which allows you to continue studying. Whether you can continue working during this period depends on the conditions of your existing permit. IRCC has proposed regulatory changes that would formally extend work authorization to students in this situation, though those changes remain in the consultation phase as of April 2026.
Graduates face a window between completing their program and receiving a PGWP decision. Under current IRCC guidance, graduates can work full-time during this waiting period if they completed their program, were eligible to work off campus during their studies, and applied for their PGWP before their study permit expired.
Proposed regulatory changes, currently under consultation, would codify this work authorization explicitly and reduce uncertainty for graduates managing this transition.
If your situation does not fit neatly within these parameters, our team at Kingwell Immigration Law can assess your specific circumstances and advise you on the safest path forward.
The PGWP allows eligible international graduates to work in Canada for any employer for up to three years. It is a key step toward permanent residence for many international students. However, eligibility rules have become significantly more complex since November 2024, and errors at this stage can have long-term consequences.
To qualify for a PGWP, you must generally meet all of the following conditions:
Language requirements apply to all PGWP applicants who submitted their PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024. The minimum level depends on your program type:
| Program Type | Minimum Language Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree | CLB/NCLC 7 in all four language skills |
| College, polytechnic, and other non-degree programs | CLB/NCLC 5 in all four language skills |
Language test results must be from an approved test, taken in person, and must be less than two years old at the time of application.
Field of study requirements apply to most non-degree graduates who applied for their study permit on or after November 1, 2024. Your program’s Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code must appear on IRCC’s list of currently eligible CIP codes either when you submitted your study permit application or when you apply for your PGWP. University bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree graduates are exempt from the field of study requirement.
For 2026 specifically: IRCC has confirmed it will not add or remove any eligible fields of study from the list this year. Students affected by the brief June 2025 removal of 178 programs — which was reversed on July 4, 2025 — retain their eligibility.
If you are uncertain whether your program qualifies, or if your field of study status has changed since you applied, we can review your specific situation and advise you before you submit.
The length of your PGWP corresponds to the length of your study program, with one important distinction for master’s graduates.
Graduate certificates and diplomas do not qualify as master’s degrees for this purpose. If you complete your program faster than its stated length, you may still be eligible for a PGWP that matches the full program duration. Where the length of your PGWP is in dispute or unclear, our team can help you assess your options.
Not sure how the PGWP rules apply to your situation? Book a consultation with our team.
Working without valid authorization — or exceeding your authorized hours — is a serious immigration violation. IRCC has stated clearly that breaching study permit conditions can result in loss of student status, refusal of future work permits or study permits, and removal from Canada.
These consequences are not abstract. A student who unknowingly works more than 24 hours per week off campus during an academic session — perhaps believing a freelance or remote arrangement is fully exempt — may later find their PGWP application refused, or their permanent residence application flagged due to unauthorized work history.
One exemption worth noting: under current IRCC guidance, remote work performed in Canada for a foreign employer based outside Canada is excluded from the 24-hour weekly limit — but only if the employer has no financial connection to Canada, you are not serving Canadian clients, and you are not receiving payment from a Canadian source.
These conditions are narrow, and if there is any ambiguity about your employment arrangement, our team can advise you before an issue arises rather than after.
A PGWP refusal is not necessarily the end of the road. Depending on the circumstances, there may be legal options available — including an application to the Federal Court for judicial review.
At Kingwell Immigration Law, we have successfully represented clients at the Federal Court in cases where applications were refused based on insufficient reasons, improper assessment of evidence, or procedural fairness violations.
📌 In M.M. v Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2022 FC 1098), we appealed a study permit refusal to the Federal Court, arguing that the officer’s reasons were insufficient to justify the decision. The application was sent back to IRCC for reconsideration.
It is important to act quickly. Under section 72 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, an application for leave and judicial review must be filed within 15 days of the date you are notified of the decision, for matters arising in Canada. Only lawyers — not Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) — are authorized to represent clients at the Federal Court. If your PGWP has been refused, our team can review the decision, advise you on your grounds for challenge, and act before that deadline closes.
If your application has been refused, contact us before the deadline passes.
If you are an international student, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit to work in Canada while you study. Eligibility depends on the level and length of your program, and the rules have been updated as part of Canada’s broader temporary resident reduction measures.
Your spouse or partner’s open work permit is tied directly to your study permit. If your status is affected, your permit is refused, or your study program changes in a way that affects your eligibility, your work authorization may also be at risk. We can advise on how changes to your own status could affect your family’s work authorization and help you plan accordingly.
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For many international students and graduates, a work authorization issue is not just a short-term inconvenience — it can affect their entire path to permanent residence.
Both the Canadian Experience Class stream under Express Entry and many Provincial Nominee Programs require applicants to demonstrate authorized work experience in Canada. Gaps, violations, or questions about the nature of your employment can undermine an otherwise strong application.
Where your work history is questioned by IRCC, you may receive a Procedural Fairness Letter giving you an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. We regularly assist clients in preparing PFL responses that clearly and effectively address IRCC’s concerns — giving their applications the best possible chance of success.
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International student work authorization involves more rules, deadlines, and exceptions than most people realize — and the stakes are high.
With over 20 years of experience in Canadian immigration law and a proven track record at the Federal Court, Kingwell Immigration Law is positioned to support students and graduates at every stage: from assessing work permit eligibility, to responding to IRCC decisions, to pursuing judicial review where a refusal was unreasonable.
We handle both urgent matters and long-term planning, because your future in Canada deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
To speak with our team, call 416.988.8853 or reach out through our consultation booking page.
A Canadian study permit does not automatically authorize off-campus work. Your permit must include a specific condition granting that authorization. If yours does not, you cannot work off campus — even if you are enrolled full-time at a DLI and otherwise meet all eligibility requirements. You would need to apply to amend your permit conditions before beginning any off-campus employment.
Yes. A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit, which means it allows you to work for any employer in Canada in almost any occupation. You can change jobs, work for multiple employers at the same time, or shift industries — none of these actions affect the permit’s validity, provided you remain in Canada with valid status.
Yes — if IRCC refuses your study permit extension, you are generally required to stop working and, in most cases, leave Canada. Your work authorization depends on maintained status, which ceases upon refusal. The deadline to file a judicial review application at the Federal Court is 15 days for in-Canada decisions. Contacting Kingwell Immigration Law immediately gives us the best opportunity to act before that window closes.
No. IRCC assesses PGWP eligibility based on whether your program’s CIP code was on the eligible list either when you submitted your study permit application or when you apply for your PGWP. Eligibility established at the study permit application stage is protected, even if the field is later removed. Students affected by the June 2025 temporary removal of 178 fields also retain their eligibility following the July 4, 2025, reinstatement.
Yes, in many cases, through a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). International graduates who have applied for permanent residence through an eligible program and whose PGWP is expiring may be able to apply for a BOWP to maintain authorized work status while the PR application is processed. Eligibility depends on the program applied under and the timing of both applications. Our team can review your situation and help you apply before any gap in your work authorization occurs.
