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. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (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. 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 included, you don’t need to contact IRCC as 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.