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Co-op Students: Important Information Update
Before April 1, 2026, international students in a degree program with a co-op component/degree required internship were required to have a separate co-op work permit to undertake their work placements.
As of April 1, 2026, a separate co-op work permit is no longer necessary. IRCC has announced that moving forward, co-op students may instead use the work authorizations included on their valid study permit to perform co-op work placements. IRCC will no longer be issuing co-op work permits. Instead, you can use your valid study permit, as long as it has a condition or remark which indicates you may perform on-campus work.
Examples of this condition or remark are provided below:
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v), or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria, or
- This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada. May accept employment only on campus if meeting criteria as per R186(f). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
Please note: if your active study permit does not have a condition or remark allowing you to perform on-campus work, then you should request an amendment to your study permit. Please contact the immigration consultants for more information and assistance. IRCC considers co-op placements / degree required internships as on-campus work as the main employer would be the University of Waterloo.
If you have already applied for a study permit with co-op work requirements included, you don’t need to contact IRCC. They will still proceed with the application. If you applied for a separate co-op work permit but no longer need one due to the new requirements, please wait until IRCC withdraws it for you.
As IRCC will no longer be issuing co-op work permits or accepting separate co-op work permit applications, please refer to our “Returning Students Inside Canada” webpage for instructions on how to extend your study permit.
For frequently asked questions about Co-operative Education’s policies, refer to their website here.
If you would like information about working on or off campus part-time, during breaks and/or off terms, review our working in Canada page.
If you have any concerns about the conditions or remarks on your study permit, please speak with one of our immigration consultants. For information regarding finding a co-op position and the Waterloo co-op experience, contact Co-operative Education (CE).
Our team of Immigration Consultants is here to help you with your application! Please book an appointment with our team for an application review to not risk a refusal on your application. You can book a same day appointment on Portal or contact us via webform requesting an appointment.