Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Canada: 24-Hour Rule and Best Options (2026)
Quick answer: Eligible international students in Canada can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular academic sessions and full time during scheduled breaks (IRCC), with a valid study permit that allows work and a Social Insurance Number. The part-time jobs that most often hire beginners are food counter attendants, cashiers, retail salespersons and food servers, with median advertised wages of $17.00 to $21.00 an hour in August 2026.
Rules: IRCC (checked October 2026). Pay data: Government of Canada Job Bank open data, August 2026. Last updated October 2026.
The 24-Hour Rule: What International Students Can Do in 2026
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), eligible international students can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular academic sessions, and can work full time during scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays. You may hold more than one job as long as the total stays within the limit. Working more than allowed breaks your study permit conditions and can put your status at risk.
To work off campus without a separate work permit, IRCC says you must:
- be a full-time student at a designated learning institution;
- be in an academic, vocational or professional program of at least six months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate;
- have already started your studies;
- have a valid study permit with work conditions printed on it;
- have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Rules and permit conditions can change and depend on your program, so confirm your situation on the IRCC website or with your school's international student office before you accept a job.
Part-Time Jobs With the Most Openings for Beginners
These are occupations that frequently hire people with under one year of experience, with the median advertised wage for those entry-level postings (Job Bank, August 2026). The weekly figure is the wage multiplied by 24 hours, before tax. Check each posting for the actual hours, because many of these jobs are posted as full time.
| Occupation | Median wage / hour | 24 hours a week, before tax | % of postings entry-level | Entry-level postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations | $17.20 | $412.80 | 87% | 716 |
| Cashiers | $17.00 | $408.00 | 88% | 182 |
| Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers | $17.75 | $426.00 | 79% | 328 |
| Food and beverage servers | $17.00 | $408.00 | 66% | 104 |
| Light duty cleaners | $19.00 | $456.00 | 79% | 343 |
| Receptionists | $20.00 | $480.00 | 72% | 77 |
| Material handlers | $21.00 | $504.00 | 68% | 117 |
| Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers | $20.00 | $480.00 | 81% | 120 |
Wages above are advertised medians for Canada as a whole. Provincial minimum wages and local pay differ. See how much you would actually keep with the take-home pay calculator.
On-Campus Jobs
Students with a valid study permit can generally also work on campus, and on-campus hours are not capped by the 24-hour off-campus limit. Typical roles include library or lab assistant, residence staff, campus food service, research assistant and student ambassador. Ask your school's career centre for postings.
How to Find a Part-Time Job as an International Student
- Get your SIN first. You need it before you can legally start working.
- Build a Canadian-style one-page resume. Use the free Canadian resume builder. List coursework, languages and volunteering if you have no work history.
- Search with the right job titles. Use the titles above on Job Bank and Indeed, filtered to your city, and add "part-time".
- Use the free job finder. The entry-level job finder matches your studies and skills to real occupations and shows wages and hiring volume.
- Prepare for a short interview. Practise with the AI interview simulator and read how to prepare with no experience.
- Budget realistically. See the cost of living in Canada for newcomers.
Limits of This Data
Job Bank does not label postings as "student friendly" or by weekly hours in the data used here, so use the table to see which jobs often hire beginners, not as a list of 24-hour jobs. Advertised wages are not guaranteed offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can international students work in Canada?
Eligible international students can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular academic sessions and full time during scheduled breaks, according to IRCC. There is no 24-hour cap on on-campus work for students who are eligible to work on campus.
What do I need to work off campus as an international student?
You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, in a program of at least six months leading to a degree, diploma or certificate, with work conditions on your study permit, and have a Social Insurance Number. You must also have already started your program.
What part-time jobs can international students get in Canada?
Common entry-level options include food counter attendants, cashiers, retail salespersons, food and beverage servers, light duty cleaners, receptionists and material handlers. In August 2026 their median advertised wages for entry-level postings were between $17.00 and $21.00 an hour.
How much can a student earn working 24 hours a week?
At the advertised entry-level medians in the table, 24 hours a week is about $408 to $504 a week before tax, depending on the job. Take-home pay is lower after income tax, CPP and EI.
Can I work more than one job within the 24 hours?
Yes. IRCC says you can have more than one job as long as your total off-campus hours stay within the limit and you keep meeting your study permit conditions.
Sources and Method
- IRCC: Work off campus as an international student
- Government of Canada Job Bank open data (job postings), August 2026
- AdaptiT Pro entry-level job finder
AdaptiT Pro is an independent site and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Statistics describe advertised job postings, not a promise of a job or a wage. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
