Brazilian students can work while studying in Canada if they meet the eligibility requirements. Eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and unlimited hours during qualifying scheduled breaks. This guide explains the rules for working on and off campus, required co-op placements, and how to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN). It also covers the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which may allow eligible graduates to continue working in Canada after completing their studies.
Find PGWP-Eligible Programs
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Work Rules for International Students in Canada at a Glance
The rules below apply to eligible international students, regardless of whether they are Brazilian or hold another nationality. Always check the conditions on your study permit and the official IRCC guidance on working in Canada as an international student.
Working Off Campus While You Study
You may work off campus without a separate work permit if you meet all the applicable requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These generally include:
- You are enrolled as a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI).
- You are studying in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or an eligible secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec.
- Your program is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
- You have started your study program.
- You have a valid study permit, or you applied to extend it before it expired, and your permit contains the required work authorization conditions.
- You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Some students are not eligible to work off campus, including those enrolled only in English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) courses, general-interest courses, or prerequisite courses for admission to another program.
During regular academic sessions, eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus, combined across all their jobs. During qualifying scheduled breaks, such as summer or winter holidays, eligible students can work unlimited hours off campus.
A scheduled break must be part of your institution's academic calendar. A statutory holiday or long weekend does not automatically qualify as a scheduled break. If your program does not have scheduled breaks, the 24-hour weekly limit continues to apply.
Important: You cannot start working before your study program begins. Working more than the permitted hours can violate your study permit conditions and may affect future immigration applications. Keep records of your work hours and check the current IRCC rules if your enrolment status changes.
Note: Eligible students may be able to work off campus part time during their final semester if they studied full time in Canada during previous semesters and need a reduced course load to complete their program. You generally cannot work off campus while on an authorized leave from your studies.
Working On Campus
Eligible international students can generally work on campus without a separate work permit and without a weekly limit on their working hours. You must still meet IRCC's eligibility conditions, including holding a valid study permit with the required work authorization conditions and having a SIN.
On-campus work is defined by the location and employer arrangements, not simply by whether a job is associated with your school. Depending on the circumstances, eligible employers may include the educational institution, faculty members, student organizations, or private businesses operating on campus.
Some students can also qualify for on-campus work at another campus of their institution if they meet IRCC's specific conditions.
Review the official rules for working on campus to confirm whether a particular job and work location qualify.
Co-op Placements and Internships
As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements, such as co-op placements, internships and practicums.
To qualify, you must generally meet all of the following conditions:
- Your study permit contains the required conditions authorizing you to work on campus.
- You have a letter from your designated learning institution confirming that the work placement is required to complete your program.
- You hold a valid study permit, or applied to extend it before it expired.
- You are a full-time student in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program at a DLI.
- The required work placement accounts for no more than 50% of your study program.
Eligible placements must be approved by your institution and completed with an employer accepted under its student work-placement program. A separate work permit is still required for secondary-school co-op placements under the applicable rules.
Students taking only ESL/FSL courses, general-interest courses or prerequisite courses for another program are not eligible under these student work-placement provisions.
Read the complete IRCC guide to student work placements before beginning a placement.
How to Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required to work legally in Canada and receive employment income. Applying for a SIN is free.
You can apply online, by mail or in person at a Service Canada Centre. Temporary residents generally need a valid immigration document that confirms their authorization to work. For international students, the study permit must contain the required work authorization conditions.
Check the official SIN document requirements and the SIN application page before applying.
Tip: Check your study permit after it is issued. If it does not contain the work authorization conditions you need, but you are otherwise eligible to work, follow IRCC's instructions to request an amendment before applying for your SIN. Adding the relevant conditions is free when you qualify.
How Much Can You Earn?
Minimum wages in Canada vary by province and territory, and some workers are subject to special rates or exemptions. The figures below are general minimum wages for most employees, not guaranteed earnings for every student job.
For example, at Ontario's general minimum wage of CAD $17.95 per hour, working 24 hours a week would generate approximately CAD $430.80 per week before taxes and other deductions. Actual earnings depend on your wage, hours, employment terms and applicable minimum-wage rules.
Part-time employment can help you contribute to living expenses, but you should not rely on future earnings to meet the financial requirements for a Canadian study permit. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for your studies and living expenses without relying on work in Canada.
Note: Read our guide to the cost of studying in Canada in Brazilian reais to learn more about budgeting for tuition and living expenses.
Working After You Graduate: The PGWP
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit that may allow eligible graduates of certain Canadian designated learning institutions to work for most employers in Canada. A PGWP is not automatic: your institution, program, study history and application must meet IRCC's requirements.
How Long It Lasts
A PGWP may be valid for up to three years. The duration depends on your eligible program's length and level, and other factors such as passport validity. Eligible graduates of master's programs that are at least eight months long may qualify for a three-year PGWP, even if the program is shorter than two years. Other program-length rules apply.
When to Apply
You generally have 180 days after your school confirms that you completed your program to apply. Your study permit must have been valid at some point during that 180-day period. Check IRCC's instructions if your permit expires before you apply.
Language Requirement
For applications subject to the current language rules, graduates of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees generally need CLB/NCLC 7 in all four language skills. Graduates of other eligible college or non-university programs generally need CLB/NCLC 5. You must provide results from an IRCC-accepted language test.
Field of Study
Graduates of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees are exempt from the PGWP field-of-study requirement. For certain other programs, the field-of-study requirement may apply depending on when you applied for your study permit and the program's eligibility.
Review IRCC's official PGWP eligibility requirements, including program eligibility, language requirements and any applicable field-of-study rules, before choosing a program.
Note: You can generally receive only one PGWP. The current PGWP application fee is CAD $255, but confirm the fee on the official application page before submitting your application. If you apply before your study permit expires, have completed your program, and were eligible to work off campus while studying without exceeding your permitted hours, you may work full time while IRCC processes your PGWP application.
Sources: IRCC PGWP overview and fees and IRCC rules for working while your PGWP application is processed.
Check If Your Program Qualifies for a PGWP
Review the eligibility criteria before choosing a Canadian program, as not every program or institution qualifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and unlimited hours during qualifying scheduled breaks. Eligible on-campus work has no weekly hour limit. The same general rules apply regardless of nationality. See IRCC's off-campus work guidance.
No. You cannot begin working before your study program starts. You must meet the applicable work eligibility conditions and obtain a SIN before starting a job. Arriving in Canada before your program begins does not authorize you to work.
Eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements under the rules effective April 1, 2026. You must meet IRCC's eligibility conditions, including having confirmation from your institution that the placement is required and ensuring that placements account for no more than 50% of your program. Secondary-school students still need a co-op work permit. Read the official student work-placement rules.
Your spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit if you meet the applicable eligibility criteria. Under the rules introduced in January 2025, eligible spouses of international students generally include those whose partners are enrolled in a master's program lasting at least 16 months, a doctoral program, or certain eligible professional or other programs. Eligibility is not automatic. Check IRCC's current spouse and common-law partner work-permit rules.
You may be able to work full time while IRCC processes your PGWP application if you completed your program, were eligible to work off campus during your studies, applied for the PGWP before your study permit expired, and meet the other applicable conditions. You do not automatically gain permission to work full time simply by finishing your studies. Read IRCC's guidance on working while waiting for a PGWP decision.
Working in Canada can help you contribute to living expenses, gain Canadian work experience and prepare for your career after graduation. However, you must follow the rules that apply to your study permit, track your working hours and confirm your eligibility before accepting employment. If you hope to work in Canada after graduation, research PGWP eligibility before choosing your institution and program.
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