Part-time work helps cover living costs — but every country sets a strict limit, and going over it can cost you your visa. Here is exactly how many hours you can work in 2026.
Work-hour limits by country
| Country | During term | During holidays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia | Up to 48 hours per fortnight | Unlimited during scheduled course breaks | The 48-hours-per-fortnight cap applies once your course has started. PhD and master’s-by-research students have no work-hour limit. Working beyond the cap can breach visa condition 8105. |
 Canada | Up to 24 hours per week (off-campus) | Full-time during scheduled breaks | The off-campus limit rose to 24 hours per week. On-campus work has no set weekly cap. You must be a full-time student at an eligible institution to work off-campus. |
 United Kingdom | Up to 20 hours per week (degree level) | Full-time during holidays | The 20-hour limit is for students on degree-level courses at higher education providers; below-degree courses are capped at 10 hours. You cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson. |
 New Zealand | Up to 25 hours per week | Full-time during scheduled holidays (eligible students) | The in-study limit increased from 20 to 25 hours per week from 3 November 2025. Not every student visa carries work rights, so check the conditions printed on your visa. |
 USA | Up to 20 hours per week, on-campus only | Full-time on-campus during breaks | F-1 students may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during term. Off-campus work requires authorisation such as CPT or OPT, or documented severe economic hardship — working off-campus without it is a serious violation. |
 Germany | Up to 140 full or 280 half days per year | Counts toward the same annual allowance | Germany uses an annual day-based system rather than a weekly cap (a half day is a shift of four hours or fewer). The allowance was raised to 140/280 days. Working at your own university as a research or teaching assistant is treated separately. |
 Ireland | Up to 20 hours per week | Up to 40 hours per week (holiday periods only) | Non-EEA students on Stamp 2 can work 40 hours per week only during set holiday periods: 15 December–15 January and 1 June–30 September. Outside those windows the limit is 20 hours. |
⚠️ Do not exceed your limit
Work-hour caps are a visa condition, not a guideline. Breaching them can lead to visa cancellation and can harm future visa and permanent-residency applications — sometimes permanently. Keep a record of your hours, and if an employer pressures you to work more, say no.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I work more than my allowed hours?
Exceeding your permitted hours breaches your visa conditions. Consequences vary by country but can include visa cancellation, being asked to leave, and damage to future visa or permanent-residency applications — in some cases permanently. No part-time job is worth that risk, so track your hours carefully.
Do the limits apply during holidays?
Usually not in the same way. Most countries let you work full-time (or more hours) during scheduled course breaks — Australia is unlimited in breaks, the UK, USA and New Zealand allow full-time, and Ireland allows 40 hours per week but only within fixed holiday windows. Always confirm the exact break dates with your institution.
Does every student visa allow work?
No. Work rights depend on your course level and the conditions printed on your visa. Below-degree courses often have lower caps, and some visas carry no work rights at all. Check the conditions on your own visa grant before you start any job.
Can I be self-employed or freelance as a student?
Generally no. Several countries — including the UK — specifically prohibit self-employment, freelancing and running a business on a student visa. Stick to employed, hourly work within your limit unless your visa explicitly allows otherwise.
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Work-hour rules change and depend on your visa and course level. Always confirm the current limit and the conditions on your own visa with the official immigration authority before you start work.