International students pursuing study programs in Canada that require a co-op internship program or work placement may apply for a co-op work permit.
# Canada Internship Visa Requirements. To do an internship in Canada, you’ll need to obtain an internship visa, called the International Co-op work permit. Canada has a bilateral youth mobility agreement with approximately 35 countries, allowing you to do an internship in Canada as part of your studies back home. This specific internship work permit category is called International Co-op or internship visa, and belongs to the commonly known program International Experience Canada (IEC). There is one general requirement: you must be registered as a student outside of Canada for the duration of the internship. In order to apply for an international co-op work permit, you will need to be able to prove the following:. Check the table below to see if your country is participating in the International Experience Canada program. If your country does not have access to the International Co-Op work permit category, you could be eligible to apply under the Working Holiday category.
Students from countries that have an agreement with Canada can apply for a work permit through International Experience Canada (IEC) . IEC offers three
# Internships in Canada: Legal FAQs for international students. Internships are a fantastic way to jumpstart your career and begin building your professional network while you’re studying abroad in Canada. But before you start applying to or accepting internship offers, you’ll want to make sure you know about Canadian internship laws and requirements and how they specifically apply to your unique needs as an international student. According to the government of Canada, in order to get a work permit, you must prove that the work experience is essential to completing your academic program. Before accepting an unpaid internship, it’s a good idea to look up the specific regulations in the province of your school. For students seeking out or currently working a paid internship, it’s a good idea to open a Canadian bank account so you can be paid via direct deposit (which is the norm for most employers) and manage the money you make.
# Work in a student work placement. ## Changes to co-op work permit requirements for post-secondary international students. As of April 1, 2026, as a post-secondary international student, you don’t need a co-op work permit for student work placements, such as co ops or internships. **Secondary students** still need a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements. To be eligible for a student work placement, the work placement must be required to complete your study program. You can participate in student work placements as a **post-secondary student** if you meet **all** of the following conditions:. If you’re an international student at a DLI at the secondary level, you need a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements. You can apply for a co-op work permit if you meet all of the following conditions:. If you’re not eligible to participate in a student work placement but you want to work in Canada, you need to apply for a work permit.
Yes, the 8 months after graduation & on valid or implied work permit counts. No for the 4 months during studies under study permit.
# Co-op or student work placements. A student work placement, often called a Co-op, is a work experience, such as a UBC Co-op, practicum, or work-integrated learning experience, that is approved by your UBC program or UBC Co-op office and required for the completion of your degree program. In most cases, you are enrolled in a formal Co-op, practicum, or work-integrated learning course or term in order for the student work placement to be considered authorized. A work placement or internship is not considered a student work placement for immigration purposes if **all** of the following is true:. As of April 1, 2026, you do not need a work permit for required student work placements, such as a UBC Co-op, internship, or practicum, provided you meet the eligibility requirements below. If you’re not eligible for a student work placement, you may be authorized to work on and off campus during your studies for other types of employment, based on your study permit’s work authorization if you meet the eligibility requirements.
**On this page:** Am I eligible to participate in a student work placement? As of April 1, 2026, students no longer require a co-op work permit in order to complete a student work placement required by their program. * Immigration Canada (IRCC) has removed the requirement to hold a valid co-op work permit to participate in work that is a mandatory part of your program – now called a student work placement. * IRCC will therefore **no longer be issuing co-op work permits** to students whose program includes a student work placement. Immigration Canada may send you a letter which explains that you don’t need a co-op work permit to participate in a student work permit any longer, but even if they do not, you no longer need to have a co-op work permit. * You can wait for IRCC to withdraw your application and send you a letter which explains that you don’t need a co-op work permit to participate in a student work placement any longer.