Co-op / Student Work Placement Permit in Canada

General information, not immigration advice

This guide explains, in plain language, how a required work placement (a co-op term, internship, or practicum) works for international students in Canada, using official Government of Canada (IRCC) facts. It is general information only and is not immigration advice.

These rules are set by IRCC and changed recently: since April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students generally no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a required placement (more below). Whether a separate permit applies, and whether you qualify, depend on your study level, program, and situation. Always confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada source before you start a placement.

What a required work placement is

Some study programs include a work placement — a co-op term, internship, or practicum — as a mandatory part of completing the program. This is the kind of work this guide is about: work experience that your program requires you to complete in order to graduate.

This is different from working on-campus or off-campus for income, which is governed by the conditions on your study permit. A required work placement is built into the program itself. Whether it needs a separate work permit depends on your study level, and the rules changed recently (see the next section) — confirm the current position for your situation on the official IRCC source.

• A co-op, internship, or practicum that is a mandatory part of your program
• Required in order to complete and graduate from the program
• Different from general on-campus / off-campus student work for income

The rule changed on April 1, 2026

The Government of Canada updated this rule. Since April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students generally no longer need a separate co-op work permit to take part in a student work placement that is a required part of their program — a valid study permit with the on-campus work condition can be enough, provided the placement totals 50% or less of the program.

Secondary-school (high-school) students generally still need a co-op work permit for a required placement. Because this rule changed recently and the conditions can change again, do not rely on older information: verify the current requirement for your study level on the official Government of Canada source before you start any placement. This is general information, not immigration advice.

• Post-secondary students (since April 1, 2026): generally no separate co-op work permit needed — verify on IRCC
• Secondary-school students: generally still need a co-op work permit — verify on IRCC
• A required placement still generally must total 50% or less of the program — confirm on IRCC

General conditions for a required placement

Whether or not a separate permit is required, IRCC sets conditions for taking part in a required work placement. You generally need a valid study permit with the on-campus work condition, must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) in an eligible program, and the required placement generally must make up 50% or less of your program.

Your school may also be asked to confirm in a letter that the placement is a mandatory part of the program for all students. Some programs and study levels are treated differently, and the criteria can change, so check the official student-work-placement page on IRCC and ask your institution's international student office to confirm exactly what your program needs.

• Valid study permit with the on-campus work condition
• Full-time student at a DLI in an eligible program
• The required placement generally totals 50% or less of the program
• Your school may need to confirm the placement is mandatory for all students

Before you start your placement

Make sure you are authorised for your required placement before it begins. For most post-secondary students this now generally means confirming that your study permit carries the on-campus work condition and that your placement meets IRCC's conditions, rather than applying for a separate co-op work permit. If a separate permit does apply to your situation (for example, secondary-school students), there is generally no separate processing fee for the co-op work permit itself, though fee positions can change.

Do not assume which rule applies to you — your study level and program details matter. Verify the current requirement, any documents, and any fees on the official Government of Canada source, and ask your international student office if you are unsure.

Required placement vs PGWP vs student work

It helps to keep three things separate. General student work (on-campus and off-campus) is allowed under the conditions of your study permit. A required work placement is work built into your program that you must complete to graduate — for most post-secondary students this is now generally covered by the study permit rather than a separate co-op work permit (since April 1, 2026), while some learners, such as secondary-school students, may still need one. The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a separate permit for after you graduate.

Each has its own eligibility and purpose, and qualifying for one does not mean you qualify for another. See our separate guides on working while studying and on the PGWP, and confirm the current rules for each on the official IRCC source.