Work abroad co-op requirements

1. Check your eligibility

To be eligible for an international co-op term, you must:

Have a valid passport (with an expiration date at least six months following your return from your work term).
Obtain a permit or visa that allows you to complete your international work term.
Be enrolled in full-time degree studies, including the term before your international work term.
Be 18 years of age or older.
Be proficient in the English language.
Not have a criminal record.

Please note:

You should complete at least one year of academic studies before applying for an international work term outside your home country.
You must be in full-time studies in the term immediately before your international work term. If you are enrolled part-time, off, or have an unemployed work term (due to unemployment or a renege), your visa application may be denied.
If you are an international student (on a study permit in Canada), you must ensure your Canadian study permit is valid for the duration of the work term.
As per guidance from the U.S. Consulate, if you are an international student, you should complete at least two full-time academic study terms before applying for a work abroad term in the U.S.
If you are in the process of applying for status within a country, you cannot apply for a work permit in that country. For example, if you are currently in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, you cannot apply for a J-1 intern visa.
Interns and trainees in the U.S. cannot work in unskilled or casual labor positions or in positions that require more than 20 percent clerical or office support work. Additionally, positions that require or involve childcare, pre-schools or elder care, or in any kind of position that involves medical patient care or contact are not allowed. This includes dentistry, veterinary medicine, psychological therapy and sports or physical therapy. Further, programs in sports coaching, construction trades, carpentry, home electricians or auto-body shops will not be approved.

2. Ensure your destination is approved

Before arranging a job abroad, you must be aware of the overall level of security risk for the country of employment. Work term credit approval depends on the travel advisory risk level assigned to the country where your job is located. Find more information about travel advisories.

Please note: The locations of jobs posted in WaterlooWorks on the co-op board have been pre-approved by the University.

3. Complete your Risk Management Form

As soon as you have an international job offer or match, complete the Risk management form in WaterlooWorks.

How to complete the form in WaterlooWorks:

In the left navigation bar click Submit a Form.
Select International from the Category menu.
Select Risk management form - USA (5005) or Risk management form - Outside Canada and USA (5004) from the Sub Category menu.
Complete the form and click Submit.

4. Complete your co-op work term readiness training

Log into LEARN and open the 'Co-op Work Term Readiness Training’ course. The course provides important information and is required to work abroad. You are automatically enrolled in the course when your work abroad term is approved. You may need to click the 'ALL' button and use the arrows to find the course.

You must complete this training prior to leaving for your work term abroad.

To receive credit for your work term, you must:

achieve an 80% mark on the training course to pass and,
agree to the conditions in the Acknowledgement of Liability Form in the course.

If you have any questions about the training, contact an international employment specialist.

5. Access the Anvil Group's Threat and Risk Intelligence Service

Once your work term record is visible in WaterlooWorks, we will automatically provide the University’s Safety Abroad office with your information to register your work term with The Anvil Group. This information will include your name, student ID, email, job, city and country of employment.

The Anvil Group is Waterloo’s official international travel safety and security provider. It is mandatory that you are registered with The Anvil Group to access Threat and Risk Intelligence Service (TRIS) as well as the Anvil app, which provides travel alerts and advisories.

Use your userid@uwaterloo.ca email and WatIAM password to log in to the Anvil Group Portal. If there are any issues with the app or the Anvil Group email safetyabroad@uwaterloo.ca.

6. Update your contact and emergency contact details

Once your job is approved and reflected in WaterlooWorks, the Emergency contact and location information tab (formerly My Contact and Travel Info) will be available to you. Upon arrival at your destination, please update the address and phone number of where you will be living during your work term (not your address in Canada or your work address).

In case of an emergency, please keep the Emergency contact and location information and Work-term details tabs of your WaterlooWorks Work Term Record up to date throughout your work term. You should also sign into Quest and follow the instructions to update your personal information on Quest.