15 Best Part-Time Jobs in Canada for International Students

What Are the Best Part-Time Jobs for Students in Canada?

The best part-time jobs for students in Canada are in shops, food service, campus offices, tutoring, warehouses and delivery, because they fit around classes and take beginners.

We call a job “best” when it fits your timetable, is open to students and pays through a legal payslip. These are part time jobs in Canada for international students that a Nepali student can realistically look for in the first year. If you are still planning your move, start with our guide to study in Canada from Nepal.

What Is Each Part-Time Job Like?

Most first jobs for Nepali students are in shops and food service, while campus, office and research roles usually come after a term or two.

1. Retail sales associate

You help customers, arrange products and check stock in supermarkets, malls and clothing shops. This is one of the most common first jobs. It also teaches you how customer service works in Canada.

2. Cashier

You handle payments and receipts in grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores. The work is simple to learn, but you need to be accurate and patient. Busy stores often need people for evening and weekend shifts.

3. Barista

You make drinks, take orders and keep the counter clean. Some cafes also share tips with staff. The fast pace is tiring at first, but it is good practice for your spoken English.

4. Restaurant server

You take orders, serve food and clear tables. Tips can add to your pay in many restaurants. Rules on serving alcohol differ by province, so ask your employer whether you need training first.

5. Food service worker

You prepare and pack food in cafeterias, bakeries, food courts and campus dining halls. This is one of the easiest ways in if you have never worked before. Choose shifts carefully, so late nights do not hurt your morning classes.

6. Tutor

You help other students with subjects such as maths, science, English or coding. Your college may hire tutors, or you can tutor privately. Keep a record of your hours if the work is off campus, since it counts toward your limit.

7. Library assistant

You shelve books, help users and do basic desk work. Many students want this job, so check your college or university job board early. It suits you well if you like a calm place to work.

8. Teaching assistant

You help a professor with tutorials, labs or marking. These jobs usually go to master’s students or strong senior students. Our guide to master’s in Canada covers that route.

9. Research assistant

You collect data, read papers and help with lab work or reports. You are unlikely to get this in your first term. Speak with your professors once they know your work.

10. Customer service representative

You answer calls and emails for banks, phone companies and other service businesses. Employers usually ask for clear English and basic computer skills. This job often comes after you have a first job in Canada.

11. Administrative assistant

You handle emails, documents and bookings in campus offices, clinics or small businesses. It helps if you are studying business, and it looks good on your resume later. Our BBA in Canada guide explains that field of study.

12. Warehouse associate

You pack orders, scan items and move stock. Warehouses are common around big cities, and many hire through job agencies. Late shifts can be hard on your studies, so watch your health and your class attendance.

13. Delivery driver or partner

You deliver food, groceries or parcels by bicycle, scooter or car. You may have to pay for your own fuel, repairs and insurance, so your real earnings can be lower than they look. If you work for yourself through an app, you still have to count your hours.

14. Receptionist

You greet visitors, answer phones and book appointments in clinics, gyms and hotels. Employers look for a friendly manner and basic computer skills. It is a good next step after a shop or cafe job.

15. Freelance or remote work

You might write, design, edit video or build websites for clients. It is flexible, but finding clients takes time. IRCC says remote work for an employer outside Canada does not count toward your limit, as long as you still meet your study permit conditions.

What Are the Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs in Canada for International Students?

Skilled roles such as tutoring, research work and office work usually pay more than first jobs, but no official figure sets their pay, so check each job yourself.

Pay ranges you may see on social media in Nepal are often only guesses. A better way is to search your job and city in the Job Bank wage search, which is run by the Government of Canada. It shows what workers in that job usually earn in that area.

What we can say for sure is the legal floor. Every province sets a general minimum wage, and Ontario’s rule covers part-time and casual workers too. These are the hourly rates at the time of writing:

As a rough guide, 24 hours at Ontario’s minimum wage comes to about CAD 430 a week before tax, or about Rs 46 thousand. Use our CAD to Rs forex converter for today’s rate. Your employer may also take out income tax and other deductions, so your take-home pay will be lower.

Which Part-Time Job Should You Try First?

Start with the job that matches your English and your timetable, then move toward your field of study later.

• New to Canada with little experience: try food service, warehouse work or a kitchen job.
• Comfortable speaking English: try retail, cashier work, a cafe or serving in a restaurant.
• Studying IT: try campus IT help or tutoring. Our computer science in Canada guide covers that field.
• Studying nursing or health: look for campus or clinic reception work first. Our nursing in Canada guide covers that field.
• Coming from a hotel management +2 in Nepal: a restaurant or hotel job fits your course well. See our hospitality management guide.

Your first job doesn’t have to be your job for all 2 or 3 years of study. Our list of job opportunities in Canada for international students looks at the longer term.

On-Campus or Off-Campus: Which Is Better for You?

On-campus work is closer and has no hours limit, while off-campus work has far more jobs to choose from.

Many Nepali students start off campus and try for a campus job in their second term. “On campus” means the buildings on your own school campus. If your school has more than one campus, it usually means the campus where you study.

Can You Do These Jobs on a Study Permit?

Yes, you can do any legal job on a study permit if your permit allows work, you have started your program and you stay within your limit.

You cannot start work before your studies begin, so a job offer you hear about in Nepal must wait until then. To work off campus, you must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, in a program of at least 6 months. You can have more than one job, but all your off-campus hours are added together.

Keep your own record of your hours, including self-employed work. Our guide on whether students can work more than 24 hours in Canada explains the limit, the breaks and what happens if you go over.

What Do You Need Before You Apply for a Job?

You need a Social Insurance Number, a Canadian bank account, a short resume and a clear list of the hours you can work.

• Social Insurance Number (SIN): this 9-digit number lets you work in Canada. Applying is free, and you can do it online. Your study permit must show the work conditions first.
• Bank account: employers usually pay into a Canadian account.
• Resume: keep it to 1 or 2 pages. The Job Bank resume builder is free, and our CV format guide helps with the layout.
• Your availability: tell employers exactly which days and hours you are free.
• Extra certificates: some jobs ask for food handling, first aid or a police check. Don’t pay for a course until a job really asks for it.

You may also have to file a Canadian income tax return. Your college’s international office can usually point you to free help in tax season.

Where Can You Find Part-Time Jobs in Canada?

Start with your college’s career office, then use Job Bank, job websites, people you know and walk-in visits.

These 6 places are where most students look:

• Your college or university: the career office and job portal list campus jobs and co-op roles.
• Job Bank: the Government of Canada’s Job Bank lets you search by city.
• Job websites: Indeed and LinkedIn are widely used for shop, cafe and office jobs.
• Company websites: supermarkets, cafes, banks and hotels post jobs on their own career pages.
• People you know: ask classmates, seniors and the Nepali community in your city. Many first jobs come this way.
• Walking in: visit shops and cafes near your home in quiet hours with a printed resume.

To get your first job faster, apply close to your home or a bus route, and apply every week rather than once. Answer calls quickly, dress neatly and arrive early for any interview.

What Rights Do You Have at Work in Canada?

You have the same basic workplace rights as other workers, including minimum wage, safe work and pay for every hour you work.

Being from Nepal or on a study permit does not lower these rights. Exact rules depend on your province, but these basics matter most:

• Fair pay: you should get at least your province’s minimum wage, on time.
• A record of your pay: ask for a pay slip that shows your earnings and deductions.
• Safe work: you can ask for training, and you can refuse work that is truly unsafe.
• Your documents: no employer should keep your passport or study permit.
• No abuse: threats, harassment and discrimination are not acceptable.

Keep your shift times, messages and pay records. Avoid cash jobs with no records, since they leave you with no proof of your hours or pay. Be careful with anyone who asks for money before giving you a job.

Can a Part-Time Job Pay for Your Study in Canada?

A part-time job can help with food, transport and some rent, but you should not count on it for tuition or for your visa money.

You must show your funds from Nepal before you get a study permit, so future job income does not help there. Our page on proof of funds for a Canada student visa explains what you need to show. The cost to study in Canada page covers tuition.

Compare your likely pay with the cost of living in Canada before you choose a city. Your first job may also take time to find, so bring enough money for those first weeks. Work in Canada can help you later too, when you look for a job on a post-graduation work permit.

How Can Goreto Help You Plan Work and Study?

A counselor can help you choose a course, city and budget that still work if your first job takes time.

Our counselors help Nepali students plan their money honestly, so part-time pay stays a help and not the whole plan. They can also go through rent, food and travel costs with you and your parents, so your family knows what to expect in the first months.

You can also compare options on our colleges in Canada page. You can meet us at our 5 branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara. To start, book a counselling session.