Work-hour limits for international students vary enormously by country — and getting them wrong isn't a minor slip. Exceeding your permitted hours can put your visa and future immigration applications at risk, in some countries permanently. Canada raised its off-campus cap to 24 hours a week in 2024, New Zealand raised its cap to 25 hours in the same year, and Germany widened its annual day-based allowance in 2026 — so even students who researched the rules a year or two ago may be working from outdated numbers.
Quick Comparison Table
| Country | During Term | During Official Breaks | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA (F-1) | 20 hrs/week on-campus only (off-campus work generally not permitted without CPT/OPT authorisation) | Full-time on-campus permitted | Weekly, on-campus |
| UK (Student visa) | 20 hrs/week (degree-level courses); 10 hrs/week (below degree level) | Full-time permitted | Weekly |
| Canada (Study permit) | Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus | Full-time permitted during scheduled breaks | Weekly, with an annual cap on total unlimited-hours days |
| Australia (Subclass 500) | 48 hrs/fortnight (~24 hrs/week average) | Full-time permitted when course isn't in session | Fortnightly |
| Germany | 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year | Governed by the same annual day allowance | Annual, day-based |
| Ireland (Stamp 2) | 20 hrs/week | 40 hrs/week (Jun 1–Sep 30 and Dec 15–Jan 15) | Weekly |
| New Zealand | 25 hrs/week | Full-time permitted during scheduled breaks | Weekly |
These limits are reviewed and changed periodically by each country's immigration authority — always confirm the current figure on the official government visa page before relying on it, especially close to a visa renewal or job offer.
United States
The F-1 student visa is the most restrictive of the major destinations on-paper: on-campus work is capped at 20 hours per week during the academic term (full-time during scheduled breaks), and off-campus employment is generally not authorised at all unless you have specific work authorisation such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT), both of which are tied to your field of study and require prior approval.
| Authorisation | Where You Can Work | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Standard F-1 status | On-campus only | 20 hrs/week during term, full-time during breaks |
| CPT | Off-campus, tied to curriculum | Full-time or part-time depending on approval |
| OPT / STEM OPT extension | Off-campus, tied to field of study | Full-time, for up to 12 months (plus a 24-month STEM extension where eligible) |
United Kingdom
Students on a Student visa at degree level (RQF Level 6 and above) can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. Students on below-degree-level courses are typically capped at 10 hours per week. Your specific limit is printed on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or eVisa share code — always check your own documentation rather than assuming the general rule applies.
Canada
International students with a valid study permit can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus during regular academic sessions — a limit made permanent in late 2024 after a temporary pandemic-era waiver. During officially scheduled breaks (summer, winter holidays) full-time work is allowed, though unlimited-hours work during breaks is generally capped at a set number of days per calendar year under current rules. Exceeding the weekly cap during term time is treated as a study permit violation and can jeopardise future applications, including the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Australia
Student visa (subclass 500) holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, with unlimited hours permitted during scheduled course breaks. Because the limit is fortnightly rather than weekly, students can work more in one week and less in the next, as long as the two-week total stays within the cap. A proposal to raise the fortnightly cap has been discussed but was not confirmed as settled policy as of mid-2026 — check the Department of Home Affairs website for the current figure before planning your work schedule.
Germany
Germany uses an annual, day-based system rather than a weekly hour cap: eligible non-EU students can work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year (a half day being a shift of four hours or fewer). This was raised from the previous 120/240-day allowance in 2026. Work as a student assistant (Hiwi) at your own university and mandatory curricular internships generally do not count against this limit — but any other job does, and going over the limit without prior approval from the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) is treated as a visa violation.
Ireland
Students holding Stamp 2 permission can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during designated holiday periods — typically June 1 to September 30, and December 15 to January 15. Hours cannot be averaged across weeks, and if you work for more than one employer, your combined hours across all jobs must stay within the limit.
New Zealand
International students on an eligible student visa can generally work up to 25 hours per week during term (raised from 20 hours in recent years) and full-time during scheduled course breaks. Some visa conditions vary by qualification level and institution, so always check the conditions printed on your specific visa grant notice.
Why These Limits Matter Beyond Compliance
- Visa renewals and post-study pathways in several countries (notably Canada and Australia) explicitly check work-condition compliance history
- Employers can also be penalised for allowing students to exceed their permitted hours, which sometimes makes them cautious about hiring international students at all — understanding your own limits helps you reassure employers during interviews
- Averaging hours across weeks is not permitted in most systems (Ireland explicitly bans it; others calculate compliance on a rolling or fortnightly basis) — track your hours carefully rather than assuming occasional overages will balance out
On-Campus vs Off-Campus Work: A Key Distinction
Several countries treat on-campus and off-campus work differently, and confusing the two is a common source of visa violations.
| Country | On-Campus Work | Off-Campus Work |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Generally permitted up to 20 hrs/week without additional authorisation | Generally requires specific authorisation (CPT, OPT, or economic hardship approval) |
| UK | Counted within the same overall weekly limit as off-campus work | Counted within the same overall weekly limit as on-campus work |
| Canada | Counted separately in some cases — check current IRCC guidance on whether on-campus work counts toward your 24-hour off-campus cap | Capped at 24 hrs/week during term |
| Australia | Counted within the same overall fortnightly limit | Counted within the same overall fortnightly limit |
| Germany | Counted within the same annual day-based allowance, with some exceptions for university assistant roles | Counted within the same annual day-based allowance |
The US stands out as the country where the on-campus/off-campus distinction has the biggest practical impact — many F-1 students only realise partway through their degree that a seemingly ordinary off-campus job requires specific, separate work authorisation.
What Counts as a Violation, and What It Risks
| Violation Type | Typical Risk |
|---|---|
| Working more hours than permitted during term time | Can be treated as a breach of visa conditions, risking visa cancellation or refusal of future visa/PR applications |
| Working without required authorisation (e.g., off-campus in the US without CPT/OPT) | Can be treated as unauthorised employment, a serious immigration violation in most systems |
| Averaging hours across weeks where not permitted | Can still be flagged even if your average stays within the limit, depending on the country's specific compliance rules |
| Not declaring part-time income for tax purposes | Separate from visa compliance, but can create its own legal and financial complications |
Because consequences can extend well beyond the immediate job — affecting future visa renewals, post-study work visa eligibility, and even permanent residency applications in countries like Canada and Australia — treat these limits as firm rules, not loose guidelines.
Practical Tips
- Always check your own visa documentation — general country rules can have exceptions by course level, visa subclass, or nationality-specific agreements
- Keep a simple weekly log of hours worked, especially if you have more than one job
- Ask your institution's international student office before assuming a role (e.g., research assistantships, teaching assistant positions) counts differently under your visa conditions
- Reconfirm limits before each renewal cycle — several countries have changed these numbers within the last two years
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