International students in Canada who are required to complete a co-op placement or internship as part of their study program need authorization to work in Canada during that placement. As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit to participate in these student work placements — provided they meet the conditions set out by IRCC. Previously, all students required a co-op work permit (an employer-specific permit) before starting any off-campus placement. The change simplifies the process for eligible post-secondary students. However, secondary school students still require a co-op work permit. The work placement must be a mandatory, credit-bearing component of the study program; the placement must comprise 50% or less of the total program duration; and the student must be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) in a program of at least 6 months leading to a credential. This page explains the co-op authorization framework, the April 2026 change, who still requires a co-op work permit, and when co-op work permit applications are still needed.

For current eligibility conditions and application instructions, refer to the IRCC work in a student work placement page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 186(v) and 186(w) — the regulatory basis for on-campus work and co-op/internship work for eligible international students; these provisions allow students meeting certain conditions to work without a work permit in specified circumstances
• IRCC public policy — April 1, 2026 simplification of co-op work permit requirement — IRCC announced the elimination of the separate co-op work permit requirement for eligible post-secondary students; the policy set out the conditions under which post-secondary students may participate in student work placements without a separate permit; published at canada.ca
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 185 — conditions on study permits; off-campus work rights and work placement conditions are set as conditions on the study permit for eligible students
• IRCC: Work in a student work placement — canada.ca/student-work-placement
• IRCC: Simplifying the co-op work permit requirement — canada.ca/co-op-simplification

The April 2026 change — post-secondary students

Prior to April 1, 2026, all international students in Canada (both post-secondary and secondary) who participated in a co-op placement or internship were required to obtain a co-op work permit before starting the placement. As of April 1, 2026, the requirement was simplified for eligible post-secondary students:

• Eligible post-secondary students may now participate in student work placements that are mandatory and credit-bearing components of their program without applying for a separate co-op work permit
• The work placement is authorized under the conditions of the student's existing study permit, provided the eligibility conditions are met
• The change reduces administrative burden for students and institutions in cases where the placement is clearly integral to the program

Eligibility conditions — participating without a separate permit

To participate in a student work placement without a separate co-op work permit (under the April 2026 simplification), a post-secondary student must:

• Have conditions on their initial study permit that allow on-campus work (or otherwise meet the criteria for off-campus work authorization under the study permit conditions)
• Hold a valid study permit at the time of the placement
• Be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• Be enrolled in a program that is at least 6 months long at the post-secondary level and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• The work placement must constitute 50% or less of the total duration of the study program
• The work placement must be a mandatory and credit-bearing component of the program (not optional or elective)

If all of these conditions are met, no separate co-op work permit application is required for the placement. For the full current eligibility criteria, refer to the IRCC student work placement page.

Who still needs a co-op work permit

A co-op work permit is still required in the following circumstances:

• Secondary school students: the April 2026 simplification applies only to post-secondary students; secondary school students who participate in a work placement as part of their secondary program must continue to apply for a co-op work permit before starting the placement
• Post-secondary students who do not meet the eligibility conditions: students enrolled in programs that do not meet the 6-month minimum, programs that do not lead to a degree/diploma/certificate (e.g., ESL, FSL, general interest programs), or placements that exceed 50% of the study program duration still require a co-op work permit
• Optional or elective placements: placements that are not mandatory components of the program (i.e., the student can complete the program without doing the placement) do not qualify for the simplified pathway and require a co-op work permit

Applying for a co-op work permit when required

When a co-op work permit is still required, the student applies through IRCC:

• The application uses the work permit application process (form IMM 5710 for online applications), with the co-op/internship purpose specified
• Supporting documents typically include a letter from the educational institution confirming that the co-op placement is a mandatory program component and the placement details (employer, dates, occupation)
• The co-op work permit is employer-specific — it authorizes work only for the named employer for the placement period
• For current processing times and fees, refer to the IRCC application instructions page

Excluded programs — ESL, FSL, and general interest

Students enrolled in the following program types are not eligible for co-op work authorization under either the pre- or post-April 2026 framework:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) programs
• French as a Second Language (FSL) programs
• General interest or continuing education programs not leading to a credential

These students would need to apply for a different category of work permit or study permit condition if they wish to work in Canada.

The April 2026 simplification of the co-op work permit requirement is a practical improvement for the significant number of post-secondary international students whose program includes a mandatory work placement — they no longer need to track an additional application, pay a separate fee, or wait for a permit before starting the placement, provided the conditions are met. The 50% cap on the placement component relative to total program duration is an important threshold — programs where the work component is the dominant part of the degree (more than half the program time) are not eligible for the simplified pathway. Secondary school students are not covered by the change and the co-op work permit application process remains in place for them. For the current conditions, what documentation is required to show a placement is mandatory and credit-bearing, and for the co-op work permit application process when one is still required, refer to the IRCC work in a student work placement page.