International students in Canada often look for ways to earn extra money while studying. Many students choose simple side hustles like food delivery, tutoring, or designing websites to help cover daily expenses.
If your study permit allows work and you meet all the eligibility rules from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you can take on side hustles without needing a separate work permit.
However, it is very important to follow IRCC’s rules for on-campus work, off-campus work, and remote work. Ignoring these conditions can lead to serious immigration problems.
This article explains how international students in Canada can earn money legally and the types of side hustles you can do on campus, off campus, and remotely while studying in Canada.
If you do any type of work in Canada, whether it is a side hustle, part-time job, or paid gig, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This is a nine-digit number used for tax and employment purposes.
On-Campus Side Hustles For Students
If you meet all eligibility requirements, you can work unlimited hours on campus without applying for a work permit. On-campus jobs can be offered by:
- Your school or one of its departments
- A student organization
- A private business located on campus
- A contractor providing services on campus
- Your own small business (such as a coffee shop), as long as it is physically located on campus
Here are some common examples of on-campus side hustles:
Library Or Front-Desk Assistant
In this role, you help check out books and equipment, return items to shelves, and answer simple questions. You may also help students use printers or scanners, answer phone calls, watch study areas, and keep the workspace clean and organized.
Research Assistant (RA)
As an RA, you help a professor or research team with tasks like collecting data, searching academic articles, summarizing findings, creating slides, or running surveys. Depending on the field, you may also help with basic lab work, interviews, or project notes.
Note-Taker Or Accessibility Support Worker
In this role, you attend classes and prepare clear, well-organized notes for students who have accessibility accommodations. Your job is to write down key lecture points, highlight important examples, and submit your notes on time.
Student Union Or Club Assistant
Common duties may include answering emails, maintaining membership lists, updating social media, advertising events, and helping set up or clean up event spaces. You may also sell tickets or gather feedback from students who attend events.
Off-Campus Side Hustles For Students
During regular semesters, you can work up to 24 hours per week off campus without a work permit, as long as you meet all eligibility conditions.
During scheduled breaks, such as summer break or winter holidays, you can work full-time with no weekly limit.
It is important to track your off-campus hours carefully to remain compliant with your study permit. This includes paid time, commission work, or being “on call.”
Here are some common off-campus side hustles:
Delivery Driver Or Cyclist
This role includes picking up orders from restaurants or stores and delivering them to customers using a delivery app. You will use your phone for order alerts and navigation and confirm deliveries through the app.
Pet Care Or Dog Walking
As a pet sitter or dog walker, you feed pets, refill water, clean up after them, and take dogs out for walks. Sometimes pet owners ask for medication reminders, specific walking routes, or regular photo updates.
Mystery Shopper Or Store Auditor
A company pays you to visit stores or restaurants and report your experience. You may check customer service, cleanliness, product stock, or wait times. After visiting, you fill out a report or quick survey and sometimes take discreet photos.
In-Person Tutoring
In-person tutors meet students at their home, library, or other locations. As a tutor, you can help them understand class topics, review materials, practice questions, and prepare for tests.
Remote Side Hustles For Students
Another way international students in Canada can earn money legally is by remote side hustles.
This means that international students may also work remotely, but the rules depend on the type of employer:
- If you work for a Canadian employer, serve Canadian clients, or receive payment from Canada, your hours count toward the 24-hour weekly limit during regular semesters.
- If you work for a foreign employer (one with no financial or physical presence in Canada), you can work unlimited hours.
Here are some common remote side hustles:
Virtual Assistant
This role includes organizing schedules, booking appointments, managing emails, handling data entry, and assisting customers. Many small businesses hire virtual assistants for administrative support.
Customer Support
Customer service work usually involves helping clients by email, chat, or phone. You listen to the issue, understand it, and explain the solution clearly. You may also update customer files or escalate complex problems.
Freelancing On Platforms
Websites like Upwork or Fiverr allow you to offer services such as writing, graphic design, video editing, web development, or marketing. Clients may post jobs you can apply for, or they may contact you directly after seeing your profile.
Copywriting
As a copywriter, you create content such as website text, social media posts, ads, blogs, or email newsletters. You research topics, work with clients, and sometimes check performance data for improvements.
You can also combine remote work for foreign and Canadian employers, but all Canadian-linked remote hours must follow the 24-hour weekly limit.
Failing to follow any study-permit conditions can result in serious consequences, including losing your student status, being removed from Canada, or having future study or work permit applications refused.
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