Working over your allowed hours as an international student isn't a grey area — it's a visa breach with serious consequences. Yet plenty of students don't know the exact limit for their country, or don't realise that some limits changed in 2022 and 2023. This guide gives you the current rules for every major study destination so you can earn what you're allowed to earn without risking your visa.
The quick reference: UK 20h/week during term, unlimited in holidays. USA 20h/week on-campus only (first year). Germany 120 full days or 240 half days per year. Canada 24h/week (changed from 20h). Australia 48h per fortnight during study (changed from 40h in 2023).
Work hour limits at a glance
What counts as "hours worked"?
All paid work counts toward your limit — regardless of who pays you, whether it's cash, whether the employer knows you're an international student, or whether it's described as "freelance" or "self-employed." If you're receiving money for doing work, it counts.
This is important because some students think cash-in-hand jobs don't count, or that working for a family member's business is exempt. Neither is true. The limit is on hours worked, not hours declared.
The USA is the most restrictive
The F-1 student visa is the most restrictive of any major destination. During your first academic year, you cannot work off-campus at all — only on-campus employment (library, cafeteria, student services, research assistant) is allowed, up to 20 hours per week.
After year one, off-campus work requires either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) — which must be integrated into your degree programme — or Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is a separate application to USCIS. OPT takes 3–5 months to process. Don't leave it until you need the money — apply as early as your programme allows.
Germany's day-counting system
Germany's limit of 120 full days (or 240 half days) per year sounds generous but has a counterintuitive implication: working 8 hours one day is the same count as working 2 hours another day (both = 1 full day). If you're working long shifts at a restaurant, you burn through your 120 days faster than someone working 3-hour shifts throughout the year.
The practical advice for Germany: plan your work calendar across the year. Many students reserve longer shifts for vacation periods when the annual cap has more room, and work shorter shifts (counted as half days) during term.
What happens if you work over the limit
FreeStudentTools can't overstate this: exceeding your work hours is a visa condition breach. Consequences can include visa cancellation and deportation, entry bans for future visa applications to the same country, and in some cases criminal prosecution (in the US, for example, unauthorised employment is a federal immigration offence). Employers can also face significant fines.
Honest employers who hire international students are usually aware of the limits. If an employer pressures you to work over your allowed hours, that's a serious red flag.
What 20 hours per week actually earns
At the 2026 minimum wage rates: UK (£11.44/hour × 20h = £228.80/week); Canada (CAD $17–$17.75/hour varies by province × 24h = ~CAD $420/week); Australia (AUD $23.23/hour × 24h = ~AUD $557/week). These are rough figures — tips, specific roles, and location all vary. For strategies on finding the best-paying student jobs, see our guide to finding part-time work.
For the full picture of how part-time income fits into your total budget, see our first-year budget guide which models income against expenses for each destination.