Study & work · Students
Finding a part-time job as an international student
The short answer
International students in Canada can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during the term, and full-time during scheduled breaks, once the study permit carries the work condition and they have a Social Insurance Number. Most first jobs come from retail, food service and on-campus work. Minimum wage runs from $15.00/hour in Alberta to $18.25/hour in British Columbia as of 2026.
On this page
A part-time job covers the small costs and builds Canadian experience. Before you hand out a single résumé, though, two things have to be in order: your permit and your SIN. After that it’s mostly legwork.
Before you apply, check your permit
You can work only if your study permit says so, and only once you have a Social Insurance Number. Your permit must carry a condition like “may work 24 hours per week off campus… per paragraph 186(v) of the IRPR.” If that line isn’t on your permit, you cannot work yet, so ask IRCC to amend it first. With the condition in place, the SIN from Service Canada is free.
Your study permit has the off-campus work condition
You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
You're a full-time student who has started classes
The 24-hour weekly cap applies while classes are in session. During a scheduled break, meaning winter holidays or summer if you’re enrolled either side of it, you may work full-time.
Going over the cap risks your status
Working more than the permitted hours, or working before you’re eligible, breaks the conditions of your study permit. That can cost you your status, your ability to get a post-graduation work permit, and future applications. Track your hours across every job you hold, because the cap is a total rather than a per-employer figure.
Where students actually get hired
Most first jobs come from three places: retail, food service, and on-campus work. These employers hire in volume, train on the job, and are used to student schedules. None of them need a separate work permit, because your study permit’s work condition covers all off-campus jobs.
Retail: cashier, sales floor, stockroom
Food service: server, barista, kitchen help, fast food
On-campus jobs: library, front desk, research or teaching assistant
Warehouses, call centres, tutoring
Minimum wage by province
Your pay floor is set by the province you work in, not by the federal government, and it changes most years. As of 2026, British Columbia has the highest general minimum wage of these provinces and Alberta the lowest.
By the numbers
$17.60/hr
Government of Ontario — Minimum wage$18.25/hr
BC Gov News — June 2026$15.00/hr
Government of Alberta — Minimum wageElsewhere as of 2026, Manitoba is $16.00/hour (rising to $16.40 on 1 October 2026) and Quebec is $16.60/hour. These are floors; tipped serving jobs and skilled roles pay more. Always confirm your province’s current rate, because most raise it once a year.
Certifications that raise your pay
A cheap certificate can move you from minimum-wage roles into tipped or specialised ones. In Ontario, serving alcohol legally requires Smart Serve; security work requires a provincial licence. Both cost little and pay for themselves within a shift or two.
By the numbers
A food-handler certificate is similar: low cost, quick to earn, and often expected for kitchen and café jobs. Check which certificate your province and role require before you pay; rules and providers differ by province.
The walk-in and apply method
Online applications get buried; walking in gets you remembered. For retail and food service, the fastest route to a first job is showing up in person during a quiet hour with a short résumé in hand.
Print 10–15 short résumés
One page, plain, with your name, phone, email, and your availability (which days and hours you can work around class). Add your SIN status as 'eligible to work', never the number itself.
Walk into stores and cafés during off-peak hours
Mid-afternoon on a weekday, never the lunch or dinner rush. Ask politely to speak to the manager. If they're busy, leave the résumé and the manager's name.
Say you're a student with open availability
Managers value students who can cover evenings and weekends. State clearly that you can work up to 24 hours a week during term and full-time on breaks.
Follow up in three to four days
Return or call, mention the day you dropped in, and restate your interest. Persistence separates you from the online pile.
Bring your documents to the interview
Your SIN, study permit, and a void cheque or bank details for direct deposit. Being ready to start signals you're organised.
What to do next
- Studying in Canada? See how we handle study permits and the transition to working.
- How work fits alongside your studies: the rules on hours, permits, and moving from study to work.
- Ask us a question if your permit doesn’t show a work condition and you need it amended.
Common questions
How many hours can international students work in Canada in 2026?
Up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes are in session, and full-time during scheduled breaks like winter and summer holidays. This is the standard as of 2026. You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, have started your program, and hold a study permit that says you may work off campus.
Do international students need a SIN to work in Canada?
Yes. Every job in Canada requires a nine-digit Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you get free from Service Canada. To qualify, your study permit must carry a condition stating you may work on or off campus. If it does not, you can ask IRCC to amend the permit before you apply for the SIN.
What part-time jobs can international students do in Canada?
The common first jobs are retail (cashier, sales floor, stockroom), food service (server, barista, kitchen help, fast food), and on-campus roles (library, front desk, research assistant). Warehouses, call centres, tutoring and grocery stores also hire heavily. None of these need a separate work permit, because your study permit's work condition covers off-campus work.
What is the minimum wage for students in Ontario?
Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.60 per hour as of 2026, and it rises to $17.95 on 1 October 2026. There is no lower 'student' rate for the general minimum wage. British Columbia pays $18.25, Alberta $15.00, Manitoba $16.00 and Quebec $16.60 per hour, so the rate depends entirely on the province you work in.
Do I need Smart Serve to work in a restaurant in Ontario?
You need Smart Serve to serve or handle alcohol in Ontario, so any server or bartender role requires it, though a dishwasher or kitchen job may not. The online course costs $44.95, takes three to four hours, and the certificate lasts five years. It is a small cost that opens up tipped serving jobs, which usually pay more than minimum wage.
Related guides
Study permit & PGWP
One wrong assumption costs the PGWP.
Work hours, a programme change, the field-of-study rules: each quietly decides whether you can stay after you graduate. Have your case read before it becomes a refusal.
Three fields · about 30 seconds