Legal student work — the 24-hour rule and real pay

• ✓
  Library, teaching or research assistant roles

  Often posted through your faculty or department — apply early in the term, since these fill quickly.

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  Campus food services and bookstore

  Frequent hirers of student staff with flexible shift scheduling around classes.

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  Students' union and residence positions

  Residence advisor, orientation leader and students' union roles are common on-campus jobs for international students.

1. 1

   Confirm the placement is curriculum-essential

   Your DLI must provide a letter confirming the work placement is a required part of your program before you can apply for a co-op work permit.

2. 2

   Apply for the co-op work permit before starting the placement

   You cannot begin a co-op or internship placement without this permit in hand — apply well ahead of your placement start date given current processing times.

3. 3

   The co-op work permit is separate from your off-campus hour cap

   Hours worked under an approved co-op placement do not count against your off-campus study-session hour limit.

1. 1

   Apply as soon as you arrive and have your study permit

   Apply online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada office — you'll need your study permit and passport.

2. 2

   Study permits authorizing work get a SIN starting with '9'

   This marks you as a temporary resident authorized to work under specific conditions; it does not affect your pay or taxes.

3. 3

   Keep your SIN private and secure

   Only share it with your employer, the CRA, and your bank — never post it publicly or share it with an unverified contact.

These figures are approximate planning ranges only — provincial minimum wages are adjusted periodically (often annually on a set date) and the exact current rate for your province is published on that province's labour ministry website. Verify before budgeting.

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  Retail and grocery

  Chains like Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, and grocery stores regularly hire student staff for evenings and weekends.

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  Food service and restaurants

  Tips are a significant part of income in food service and hospitality — typical tipping is 15–20% of the bill, often pooled among staff or kept individually depending on the employer's policy; ask how tips are distributed before accepting a serving role.

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  Campus jobs

  See the on-campus section above — check your university's own jobs portal first.

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  Warehouse, logistics and delivery

  Distribution centres and delivery services hire seasonal and part-time staff, especially around November–December — confirm hours fit within your off-campus cap during study sessions.

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  Call centres and customer service

  Common part-time and full-break-period roles in larger cities, sometimes with evening shifts that suit a student schedule.

File a tax return every year you're in Canada, even with low or no income — many international students are owed a refund or are eligible for GST/HST credit payments, which only arrive if you file.