How Many Hours Can International Students in Canada Work Now That the 20-Hour Cap Has Been Removed?
International students in Canada can now work up to 24 hours a week at part-time jobs, on or off campus, after the government removed the earlier 20 hour weekly cap. You are also allowed to work full time during scheduled vacations and semester breaks between terms.
Good news if you are budgeting for daily expenses in Canada: your weekly work allowance has increased. The government recently lifted the earlier cap, giving you more room to earn while you study.
Current Work Hour Limit
| Detail | Current Rule |
|---|---|
| Weekly work limit during term | Up to 24 hours |
| Previous weekly cap | 20 hours |
| Work during vacations or semester breaks | Full time permitted |
| Minimum bank balance for study permit applicants | Around CAD 22,895 |
Budgeting Alongside Your Work Hours
Even with extra work hours available, plan on needing roughly INR 1 lakh a month for living costs alone, excluding rent, and remember rent itself varies sharply between a major city and a smaller town. This bank balance requirement has been raised recently as part of tighter immigration rules.
My Advice
Treat your part-time earnings as a supplement to your funds, not a replacement for proper financial planning before you leave India. Keep your proof-of-funds documents, acceptance letter, and insurance papers organized together, since border officers will want to see all of them on arrival.
How much can you actually earn part-time in Canada?
See how part-time work fits into your total budget and visa funds.
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