Part-Time Job Rules by Country for Students: 2026 Comparison

Part-time job rules by country for students differ a lot: in 2026 an F-1 student in the USA can work up to 20 hours a week on campus during term, a Canadian study permit holder up to 24 hours a week off campus, a UK degree student 20 hours a week (10 below degree level), and an Australian Student visa holder 48 hours a fortnight. Every country lets you work more in official breaks, but only if you meet its conditions. Minimum wages range from US$7.25 (US federal) to A$26.44 an hour (Australia).

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026.

This page is a side-by-side comparison with the official 2026 numbers. For a deeper explanation of each country’s rules, read our main guide to part-time work rules for international students.

Part-time job rules by country for students: 2026 table

Need help with the tax number? See our guide to SSN, SIN, NI and TFN for students.

Minimum wage for students in 2026

For full provincial and award tables, see our pages on minimum wage in Canada by province and minimum wage in Australia for international students.

USA: on-campus jobs, CPT and OPT

The US is the strictest of the four. The Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States working page says F-1 students “may not work more than 20 hours per week when school is in session” in on-campus jobs. Off-campus work is not allowed without authorisation, and to be eligible you must first have completed at least one full academic year of your programme.

• On-campus jobs: library, dining hall, lab assistant and similar roles at your school.
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training): work that is an integral part of your curriculum, authorised by your DSO in SEVIS before you start. It can be part-time or full-time (more than 20 hours a week). SEVP says one year or more of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility at the same education level.
• OPT: often 12 months of work in your field, usually after graduation, with a possible 24-month STEM extension. Compare the two in CPT vs OPT.

Note: a proposed DHS rule published on 8 October 2026 would add a fee for OPT recommendations. It is not in force, and comments close on 9 November 2026.

Canada: 24 hours a week off campus

IRCC’s work off campus page says you can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular terms, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer, winter and reading week. You must meet all of these conditions:

• You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI), with limited exceptions in your final semester.
• You have started your programme.
• Your programme is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
• Your study permit includes a condition allowing off-campus work.
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

If your programme has no scheduled breaks, the 24-hour limit applies all year. If your permit still says 20 hours, IRCC says you may work up to 24 as long as you meet the conditions.

UK: 20 or 10 hours, depending on your course level

The work conditions are in paragraph ST 26 of the Immigration Rules Appendix Student. During term-time:

• 20 hours a week if you study full-time at degree level or above with a higher education provider that has a track record of compliance.
• 10 hours a week if you study full-time below degree level with such a provider.
• No work for all other study, including all part-time study.

Outside term-time you may work full-time. You may not be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, work as an entertainer, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy (with limited exceptions). Your university decides its term dates, so ask for them in writing. Detail is in our UK student visa work hours page.

Australia: 48 hours per fortnight

Study Australia says Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Master’s by research and doctoral students have unlimited work rights once their course has started.

The fortnight limit means you can work more in one week and less in the next, as long as the two-week total stays at 48 or under. Many student jobs are casual, and the Fair Work Ombudsman says casual adult employees on the National Minimum Wage get at least A$33.05 an hour including the casual loading.

What this means for Nepali students and families

Part-time work helps with groceries, transport and phone bills. It is not meant to pay tuition, and no visa office lets you count future job income as proof of funds. Families in Nepal should plan to cover fees and living costs from savings, a loan or sponsor income, as shown in the visa file.

To compare: at the minimum rates above, 20 hours a week in the UK (21 and over) is £254.20 before tax, about Rs 51,600. In Australia, 48 hours a fortnight at A$26.44 is A$1,269.12 before tax, about Rs 1.34 lakh. In the US, 20 hours at the federal US$7.25 is US$145, about Rs 22,075, though many states and campuses pay more. Real pay depends on your city, your job and tax.

Common mistakes that put a visa at risk

• Working off campus in the US without CPT or OPT. Even a few cash shifts at a shop can be unauthorised employment.
• Counting the UK week wrong. The UK limit is per week, not averaged over a month.
• Assuming “break” means any week off. Only official scheduled breaks set by your institution count in Canada and Australia.
• Taking a second job that pushes you over the limit. All jobs count together.
• Accepting cash-in-hand work below minimum wage. You lose legal protection and may not be able to prove your hours.
• Starting work before your course starts. Canada’s rules say you must have started your programme first.

What to do next

1. Read the work condition printed on your visa, permit or I-20. It overrides any general advice.
2. Get your institution’s official term and break dates.
3. Apply for your tax number (SSN, SIN, NI number or TFN) once you are eligible.
4. Keep payslips and a record of hours for every job.
5. Ask your international student office before taking any job you are unsure about.

Frequently asked questions

Which country allows international students to work the most hours?
During term, Australia allows 48 hours a fortnight and Canada 24 hours a week off campus. UK degree students get 20 hours a week and US F-1 students 20 hours a week on campus. All four allow more in official breaks, with conditions.

Can F-1 students work off campus in the first year?
Generally no. Study in the States says off-campus work requires completing at least one full academic year and needs authorisation such as CPT or OPT.

Is it 20 hours or 24 hours for students in Canada in 2026?
24 hours a week off campus during regular terms, per IRCC, if you meet all the conditions. During scheduled breaks there is no weekly limit.

Can UK students work 20 hours on a foundation or pre-sessional course?
No. Full-time study below degree level with a higher education provider is limited to 10 hours a week, and some other courses have no work rights.

What is the minimum wage for international students in Australia in 2026?
The National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, about Rs 2,802. Casual staff get at least A$33.05 an hour. International students have the same workplace rights as everyone else.

Related guides

• Mental Health Support for International Students: Crisis Lines
• Student Scams Abroad: Rental, Job and Visa Fraud Guide

Sources

• Working in the United States – Study in the States (DHS)
• Curricular Practical Training – SEVP (ICE)
• STEM OPT extension overview – Study in the States
• Optional Practical Training Fees, proposed rule – Federal Register
• Minimum wage – US Department of Labor
• Work off campus as an international student – IRCC
• Government of Canada raises the federal minimum wage – ESDC
• Minimum wage – Government of Ontario
• Immigration Rules Appendix Student (ST 26 work conditions) – GOV.UK
• National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates – GOV.UK
• Student visa (subclass 500) – Study Australia
• Minimum wage increase starts today – Fair Work Ombudsman, 1 July 2026
• Foreign exchange rates – Nepal Rastra Bank

Last checked: 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Work conditions can change; check your own visa conditions and the official pages before you take a job.