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CO OP Work Permit
Co-op, Internship & Student Work Placements in Canada
As of April 1, 2026, eligible international students at the post-secondary level no longer need a separate co-op work permit to complete a required student work placement such as a co-op, internship, practicum or mentorship placement.
International students at the secondary-school level still need a co-op work permit for a qualifying required work placement.
Do You Need a Co-op Work Permit?
College, University & Other Post-Secondary Students
You do not need a separate co-op work permit if you meet all current IRCC requirements for a student work placement.
- You have a valid study permit, or applied to extend it before it expired
- You are a full-time student at a Canadian DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program
- Your study permit contains the required work condition
- The placement is required to complete your program
- Your DLI provides a letter confirming the placement requirement
- The work-placement component totals 50% or less of your program
Secondary-School International Students
A secondary-level international student still needs a co-op work permit to complete a qualifying student work placement in Canada.
- Valid study permit required
- Work must be required to complete the secondary program
- School letter must confirm the placement is required
- Placement must total 50% or less of the study program
- The co-op work permit currently has no application fee
Post-Secondary Student Work Placement Eligibility
A placement is not automatically authorized simply because a student or employer calls it a “co-op” or “internship.” It must be a genuine student work placement required by the Canadian DLI program.
You Must Meet All of These Conditions
- Have a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before expiry
- Be a full-time student at a Canadian DLI in an eligible post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program
- Have the required work condition printed on the study permit
- Have a DLI letter confirming the placement is required to complete the program
- Keep the total work-placement portion at 50% or less of the study program
What Counts as a Student Work Placement?
Required, school-approved work experiences can include:
- Co-op placements
- Internships
- Practicums
- Mentorship programs
- Other required work-integrated learning approved by the DLI
Who Is Not Eligible Under the Student Work Placement Rules?
You cannot use the student-work-placement authorization if you are taking only one of the following:
- English as a Second Language courses
- French as a Second Language courses
- General-interest courses
- Courses that prepare you for another study program
- Courses at an institution outside Canada
If Your Internship Is Optional
An internship or job that is not required to complete your program is not automatically covered by student-work-placement authorization.
You must instead have another legal authorization to perform the work, such as eligible on-campus/off-campus student work authorization or an appropriate work permit.
How Many Hours Can You Work in a Required Placement?
This is different from ordinary off-campus employment that is unrelated to the required placement. Eligible international students are currently limited to 24 hours per week of off-campus work during regular academic sessions, with separate rules for scheduled academic breaks.
Required Program Placement
No weekly IRCC hour limit for the eligible placement, subject to the program's placement requirements and the overall 50% program limit.
Separate Off-Campus Job
If you also work in an unrelated off-campus job, that separate employment must comply with the normal student off-campus work rules, including the current 24-hour weekly limit during regular academic sessions if you are eligible.
Where Can a Post-Secondary Student Complete the Placement?
An eligible student may work for any employer accepted by the school's student work placement program, including an employer located off campus.
Medical Examination for Certain Placements
A student may need an immigration medical examination if the placement is in a setting where protection of public health is important, such as certain healthcare, hospital, child-care or similar environments.
When Must You Stop a Student Work Placement?
A student must stop participating in the placement when they no longer meet the eligibility conditions.
You Must Stop If
- You stop studying full-time, unless the final-semester exception applies
- Your study permit expires and you did not preserve status through a timely extension application
- You are on an authorized leave from studies
- You are changing schools and are not currently studying
You Can Resume When
You resume your studies and again meet all of IRCC's requirements for participating in a student work placement.
Study Permit Conditions & Social Insurance Number (SIN)
To use the post-secondary student-work-placement authorization, the study permit must contain the required work condition. If IRCC did not print an eligible work condition on the permit, an otherwise eligible student can request that the condition be added.
Depending on the work being performed, a student may also need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). The appropriate work condition must be printed on the study permit before Service Canada can issue or update the SIN for this purpose.
What If You Already Have a Co-op Work Permit?
A post-secondary student who already holds a valid co-op work permit can continue using it for the entire period of its validity.
What If Your Post-Secondary Co-op Work Permit Application Is Pending?
If you applied for a post-secondary co-op work permit that is no longer required under the new rules, you can withdraw the application. IRCC has also stated that eligible active applications may be withdrawn by IRCC because the separate permit is no longer necessary.
Co-op Work Permit for Secondary-School Students
International students at the secondary-school level still need a co-op work permit for a qualifying required work placement.
Eligibility
- Valid study permit
- Work placement required to complete the Canadian secondary program
- School letter confirming all students in the program need the placement to receive the diploma or certificate
- Placement totals 50% or less of the study program
Application
- Applications are generally submitted online
- The co-op work permit application fee is currently $0
- If applying for the study permit and the mandatory work component is already known, the school acceptance documentation should identify the required placement
- A SIN may also be required depending on the type of work
Student Work Placement vs. Regular Student Employment
Required Placement
Part of the academic program and required for completion. Eligible post-secondary students generally do not need a separate work permit.
Off-Campus Employment
Separate employment that is not the required placement. Eligible students can currently work up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions.
On-Campus Employment
Eligible students with the required study-permit conditions may work on campus without a separate work permit under the applicable student rules.
Before Starting a Post-Secondary Placement
Confirm the Program Requirement
Make sure the co-op, internship or practicum is mandatory for completion of your program.
Get the DLI Letter
Obtain written confirmation that the work placement is a required part of the program.
Check Your Study Permit
Confirm that the permit is valid and contains the work condition required by IRCC.
Confirm Full-Time Status
Make sure you meet the full-time study requirement or an applicable final-semester exception.
Confirm the 50% Rule
The total work-placement component of the study program cannot exceed 50%.
Check SIN / Medical Requirements
Obtain a SIN and immigration medical exam where required for the specific placement.
Information to Remove From the Old SIA Page
Do Not Keep These Statements
- “Post-secondary students must apply for a co-op work permit”
- “You must receive the co-op permit before beginning your post-secondary placement”
- “Work without a co-op permit is automatically unauthorized for every post-secondary student”
- Old 20-hours-per-week off-campus work wording
- “As of 2025” wording
Use the Current Rule
- Eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit as of April 1, 2026
- Secondary students still need the permit
- Required placement must be DLI-approved
- Placement cannot exceed 50% of the study program
- No weekly hour limit applies to the qualifying placement itself
- Separate eligible off-campus work is currently limited to 24 hours/week during regular academic sessions
How Sia Immigration Can Help
Study Permit Conditions
Review whether your study permit contains the conditions needed for a post-secondary student work placement.
Placement Eligibility
Review the DLI letter, program requirement, 50% rule, medical-exam issues and your current student status.
Secondary Co-op Permit
Assist eligible secondary students who still require a co-op work permit for a mandatory placement.
Co-op & Student Work Placement FAQs
Do international college and university students still need a co-op work permit?
Do secondary-school international students need a co-op work permit?
Does the internship have to be mandatory?
Can my required placement be more than 50% of my study program?
How many hours can I work in my required placement?
Can I work an unrelated off-campus job at the same time?
Can I do my placement with any employer?
Do I need a medical exam for a hospital or healthcare placement?
I already have a co-op work permit. Is it still valid?
My post-secondary co-op permit application is still pending. What happens?
Is there a fee for a secondary-school co-op work permit?
Check Your Placement Before You Start Working
The April 2026 change removed an important administrative step for eligible post-secondary students, but it did not eliminate the eligibility requirements for student work placements.
Sia Immigration Solutions can review your study permit, DLI letter, program requirements, student status and intended placement before you begin work.
