Working in Canada

IRCC Co-op work permit update: Read the latest announcement for students participating in a Co-op, practicum, or internship.

students, working, computer, classroom

About working in Canada

Work experience can help you prepare for your career, gain exposure to the Canadian workplace, earn extra money, and form a closer connection to the local community.

As an international student, there are several types of work you can do in Canada. Some of them will require applying for a specific work permit while others may be authorized by your study permit. It’s important to understand when, where, and how much you are authorized to work in Canada while you are a student.

Permits required to work in Canada

Type of work	Required permits
On-campus work	You don’t need a work permit to work on campus while attending UBC. If you meet the requirements, you can work unlimited hours on-campus based on your study permit. Check your eligibility to work on-campus.
Off-campus work	Students in degree, diploma, certificate programs, or on exchange do not need a work permit to work off campus while attending UBC. If you meet the requirements, you can work off-campus for up to 24 hours a week during academic terms, and unlimited hours during your program’s scheduled breaks. Check your eligibility to work off-campus.
Co-op placement or internships	If work is required to complete your academic program, such as co-op, a practicum, or an internship, you need to meet the requirements outlined within our Co-op or Student Work Placements website.
Working after graduation	If you want to stay in Canada and work after graduation, consider applying for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
Work permit for your spouse or common-law partner	Depending on your situation, your spouse or common-law partner might be able to apply for an open work permit while you study full-time and/or while you work on the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), if you meet the requirements.

Overview of permits required to work in Canada

On-campus work

You do not need a work permit in order to work on campus while attending UBC, as your study permit gives you permission to accept on-campus employment as long as you’re registered in full-time studies. There are however, certain conditions you must observe to work on-campus.

Off-campus work (up to 24 hours per week during regular study periods)

Students in degree, diploma, certificate programs, or on exchange do not need a work permit to work off-campus while attending UBC. If you meet the requirements, you can work off-campus for up to 24 hours a week during academic terms (or more under temporary policies, if you are eligible), and unlimited hours during your program’s scheduled breaks.

Check your eligibility to work off-campus.

Co-op or internship (if the work is integral to your academic program)

If work is required to complete your academic program, such as co-op, a practicum, or an internship, you need to meet the requirements outlined within our Co-op or Student Work Placements website.

Volunteer work (unpaid)

Some volunteer positions may be considered work by IRCC – for example, volunteering for a job that is normally performed by paid employees (photocopying, customer service, etc.) is considered work regardless of whether you are paid or not. Review the meaning of work according to the IRCC definition to decide. If your volunteer position is considered work, you need to follow the relevant work regulations (e.g. on- or off-campus work conditions).

Work after you graduate

Post-graduation work permit

Work for spouse or common-law partner

Spouse/partner work permit

If you work with children or seniors, in healthcare settings, or in agriculture

You need to complete a medical exam and have the right conditions on your study and/or work permit if:

You work in jobs which bring you into close contact with people, such as:
- Workers in health-care settings
- Clinical laboratory workers
- Patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
- Medical electives and physicians on short-term locums
- Workers in primary or secondary school settings, or workers in child-care settings
- Domestics
- Workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly and the disabled
- Day nursery employees and
- Other similar jobs
You are a medical student.
You will work in agriculture and have lived in a designated country for more than 6 months in the past year.

This is required even if your position is unpaid. See the list of example occupations.

Even if you do not work directly with vulnerable populations, you might require a medical exam based on your place of work, no matter what your position is. For example in-person positions in a hospital (even if you do not directly care for patients, such as research, administrative, or janitorial positions) or in a daycare (even if you do not directly care for children, such as administrative positions).

If you are unsure, contact International Student Advising for support before starting your position.

When to complete the medical exam

If you will likely work in these kinds of positions, or you would like to keep your options open, it is best to complete the medical exam before you apply for your study or work permit. It’s also possible to take the medical exam after you have received your study or work permit, then apply to change the conditions on your permit afterwards.

Whether you complete your medical exam with your initial permit application or at a later date, you will need to wait for your application to be processed.

You cannot start the position until you have received a study or work permit with the appropriate conditions.

When you may not need a medical exam

If you previously completed a medical exam with your initial study permit and don’t have a restrictive condition, such as “Not authorized to work in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching, health service field occupations”, you would not need to complete another medical exam during the validity of your current study permit unless you lived in one or more of these countries or territories for at least 6 months in a row within the last year.

For your next study or work permit application, if you took your medical exam within the past 12 months, it is still valid and you can upload the same e-medical. If you completed a medical exam in the past 5 years, you might be eligible for a temporary medical exam policy which has been extended to October 5, 2029. Normally you would need to complete another medical exam for your next study or work permit application, however with this temporary policy you can use a medical exam from the past 5 years without taking another exam. When you prepare your study or work permit application, answer yes to the question in the questionnaire about medical exams, upload your most recent e-medical from the past 5 years, and include a request in your letter of explanation to have the right conditions on your study/work permit to work in jobs that require medical exams. The officer who reviews your application will make the final decision and could request a medical exam. You’ll need to wait to receive your new study/work permit to confirm it has the correct conditions.

Contact International Student Advising for support if you’ve lived in one or more of these countries or territories for at least 6 months in a row since your last medical exam.

Medical exam requirements

You must book an appointment with an IRCC-approved panel physician, who will send your results to IRCC. Ask the doctor for a copy of your medical exam report, also known as your “e-medical”, and submit it with your study or work permit application. Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months from the date of your exam, or you might be eligible for the temporary policy where you can use a medical exam from the past 5 years (check previous section).

Include a letter of explanation asking specifically for your work permit to indicate that you may work in these occupations. Upload this in “Client Information” under Optional Documents.

Other types of work permits unrelated to studies

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to apply for other types of work permits. In general, work permits unrelated to studies can be difficult to qualify for and might take a long time to process. Please visit the IRCC website to learn about your options. Students from certain countries which Canada has an agreement with might be eligible for International Experience Canada, such as the Working Holiday Work Permit.

If you’d like more information on other types of work permits, you can contact IRCC or find an authorized immigration representative for advice.

Working for an employer outside Canada while you are physically in Canada

Working for an employer located outside Canada while you are in Canada is outside the jurisdiction of IRCC. As per the Canadian immigration regulations, long-distance work (by telephone or Internet) done by a temporary resident, such as a student whose employer is outside Canada and who gets paid from outside Canada, is not considered to be “work” in Canada.

Part-time studies or taking time away from studies

If you’re no longer studying full-time, you are not eligible to work during the term you are part-time or are not enrolled (for example, you are on leave), or during the scheduled breaks before or after the term. There may also be potential impacts to your status in Canada. Learn more about how enrolment impacts immigration, including part-time studies, and taking time away from studies.

Get help on starting your career

Launch a Career in Canada
Held every March, hear the stories of former UBC international students now working in Canada across different industries.
Career resources
Improve your resume and cover letter, prepare for interviews, and more.
Student & Alumni Job Board
Browse and apply for employment or volunteer opportunities both on- and off-campus.
Work Study
Gain valuable work experience and ensure you are career ready after graduation.

Starting your own business

If you’d like to start your own business in British Columbia, please check the BC government’s step-by-step guide. You can also check their resources and help for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

International Student Advising is not able to provide advice on taxes or setting up a business.

If you are self-employed, be sure to track your hours of work. Be careful not to work more hours than you are authorized to.

If your documents get lost or stolen

If your passport is lost or stolen, you must replace it immediately. You must have a new passport before replacing any Canadian permits or applying for a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), if you had one.
- If you had a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in the lost or stolen passport, make sure you apply for a new TRV.

If your study or work permits are lost or stolen, you must request a replacement from IRCC.
- Follow instructions on the IRCC website and submit your application with proof of payment of the $30 processing fee.
- You may continue studying and/or working while your documents are being replaced.
- You should not leave Canada until you receive your replacement study or work permit.

Additional resources

The information on this page may change

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.

Career & Experience