Working during and after studies: Canada and France, the official rules

Working during studies in Canada

According to the IRCC page updated April 15, 2026, you can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all conditions: be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, have started your post-secondary program (or secondary-level vocational program in Quebec), hold a valid study permit, be in a program of at least six months leading to a degree, diploma or certificate, have a permit whose conditions allow off-campus work, and have a social insurance number (SIN). Students enrolled only in an English or French as a second language program, general interest or prerequisite courses, or on authorized leave are not eligible.

You can work up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions, split across several jobs if needed, and without hour limits during scheduled breaks (summer, winter, reading week). You must track your own hours and be able to prove you comply. Exceeding the limit violates permit conditions and can lead to loss of student status, future refusals or being required to leave Canada. Remote work for an employer outside Canada is allowed if you meet your permit conditions, and does not count toward the 24-hour limit.

The SIN and the work condition on the permit

The SIN is a nine-digit number needed to work in Canada. Before applying for one, your study permit must carry a specific work condition. If not, you must first request an amendment, at no cost. The rules on on-campus work are on a separate IRCC page that this guide does not cover: read your own permit's conditions.

Working during studies in France

According to Service-Public (page checked October 7, 2025), a non-European student can work up to 964 hours per year, i.e. 60% of the legal annual working time, without a work authorization. The counting period begins when the residence card is issued or the long-stay visa valid as residence permit (VLS-TS) is validated: a permit issued on September 1, 2025 thus covers hours until August 31, 2026.

The employer must make a nominative declaration to the prefecture of the department of its registered office at least two working days before the contract begins. Exceeding 964 hours exposes the student to withdrawal of the residence permit and refusal of its renewal. The student card does not allow becoming self-employed as an auto-entrepreneur.

Students who sign an apprenticeship contract can work beyond 964 hours as part of their studies once the contract is validated. They must have stayed more than a year in France, except master's students or holders of a level I diploma recognized by the Conférence des grandes écoles. The page also states that for a six-month stay, a work authorization is required and hours are proportional to the duration.

After studies in Canada: the post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

According to IRCC (pages of March 9, 2026 and June 24, 2026), the PGWP is for graduates of certain designated institutions. The program must last at least eight months, or 900 hours for a Quebec credential. The permit can be as long as the program for a program under two years, and up to three years for a program of two years or more; for a master's, a three-year PGWP is possible even if the program is under two years, provided it lasts at least eight months (or 900 hours). Length is also limited by passport validity.

Most applicants must provide language test results: at least CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four skills for a university program, and CLB or NCLC 5 for a college or non-university program. For a bachelor's, master's or doctorate, no field of study is required; for other university programs and college programs whose study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024, the field of study must be on the eligible list. The application must be made within 180 days of confirmation that the program was completed. The fee is $255 according to our study permit guide, based on IRCC's March 2026 page.

All language tests and their rules are explained in our guide on language tests.

After studies in France: possible residence permits

According to Service-Public (sheet reproduced on the Code du travail numérique, updated June 1, 2026), three permits are possible for students finishing their studies. The “employee or temporary worker” card requires a contract or job offer and an employer authorization; for holders of a bac+2 or a licence, it is the only permit listed, and the employment situation is checked except for shortage occupations. The “job search / business creation” card is open to holders of a professional licence or a master's: it must be applied for before the student card expires. The multi-year “talent” card, subject to conditions including a salary, is also open to holders of a professional licence or a master's.

For a master's, the employee card is possible if the job is a shortage occupation, or if it is related to the training and pays at least €2,800.53 gross per month. For the change of status, the application is made within the two months before the student card's validity ends. The page does not state the duration of each permit or the fees. Bilateral agreements may provide specific rules depending on nationality: check with the prefecture.

Comparing without mixing everything up

Canada sets a weekly cap (24 hours off campus during sessions), France an annual cap (964 hours). In Canada, the right to stay after studies goes through a permit that depends on language, type of institution and sometimes field of study; in France, it depends on the level of diploma and on employment. These rules change: IRCC has amended the PGWP several times recently. Before choosing a country on the basis of work, reread the official pages, and bear in mind that the right to work does not cover the costs of a stay: proof of funds is still required.

Mistakes to avoid

Exceeding 24 hours per week during a session in Canada or 964 hours over the counting period in France. Starting to work before having the SIN or without a work condition on the permit. Taking a language test too early for the PGWP. Counting on work income to satisfy proof of funds. Trusting job offers or “guaranteed permits” sold by an intermediary: see our guide on immigration fraud.

Official sources consulted

IRCC: working off campus as a student (page of April 15, 2026), post-graduation work permit — overview (March 9, 2026) and eligibility (June 24, 2026); Service-Public: “Can a non-European student work in France?” (checked October 7, 2025) and the sheet “Foreign student: how to work in France after studies?” (updated June 1, 2026, reproduced on code.travail.gouv.fr). Consulted on October 26, 2026. Rules may change: check them on the official pages before acting.