How Co-op Terms and the Co-op Work Permit Fit Together

General information, not immigration advice

This guide explains, in plain language, how the co-op or internship terms built into your study program line up with your authorisation to work in Canada. It uses official Government of Canada (IRCC) facts and is general information only — it is not immigration advice.

Two things must align: the academic side (the work terms your program requires, set by your school) and the immigration side (your authorisation to do that work, set by IRCC). These immigration rules changed recently, so do not rely on older information. Always confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada source before you start a placement.

The two pieces you have to line up

The first piece is your program's structure: many co-op and some other programs include mandatory work terms you must complete to graduate. Your university or college defines how many terms there are and when they fall in your schedule.

The second piece is work authorisation. A required work placement is treated differently from general on-campus or off-campus student work, and whether you need a separate co-op work permit depends on your study level. For both pieces to work, your authorisation has to be valid before each required work term begins. Confirm the academic requirements with your school and the current work rules on the official IRCC source.

• Academic side: your program's mandatory co-op/internship terms (set by your school)
• Immigration side: your authorisation to do that required work (set by IRCC)
• Both must be valid and aligned before a required work term starts

The recent change to the co-op work permit rule

The Government of Canada updated this rule. As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students generally no longer need a separate co-op work permit to take part in a required work placement — 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 can change again, do not assume which rule applies to you. Verify the current requirement for your study level on the official Government of Canada source. This is general information, not immigration advice.

• Post-secondary students (current rule): 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 the current condition on IRCC

Timing: when to act

The key principle is that your authorisation must be in place before the required work term begins. If your situation does still require a separate co-op work permit, you generally need to apply and receive it before starting, and processing takes time. If a separate permit is no longer required for you, you still need to confirm your study permit carries the on-campus work condition and that your placement meets IRCC's current conditions.

Because work terms can fall early in some programs, work backwards from your first co-op term to figure out when to check requirements and, if needed, apply. Do not wait until the placement starts. Confirm current timelines and processing on the official IRCC source and with your international student office.

• Identify the calendar date your first required work term begins
• Check whether a separate co-op work permit applies to your study level on IRCC
• If it does, apply early — processing takes time (verify current processing times on IRCC)
• If it does not, confirm your study permit's on-campus work condition and the current placement conditions

Conditions IRCC sets for required placements

Whether or not a separate permit applies, IRCC sets conditions for required work placements. 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 total 50% or less of your program.

Your school may also need to confirm in a letter that the placement is a mandatory part of the program for all students. The exact criteria can change, so check the official student work placement page and ask your school's international student office to confirm what your specific program needs.

Keep required placements, student work, and PGWP separate

Three things are easy to confuse. General student work (on-campus and off-campus) is allowed under your study permit's conditions. A required work placement is work built into your program — under the current rule this is generally covered by the study permit for eligible post-secondary students, while some learners (such as secondary-school students) may still need a separate co-op work permit. 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 companion guides on working while studying and on the PGWP, and verify the current rules for each on the official IRCC source.