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.
# 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.
This gives you the opportunity to continue to register for an internship in Canada in 2019 with the Working Holiday Visa.**. Visa applications must be sent to the Canadian embassy in a good time as there is only a limited number available. All programs have an age limit of 18 to 35 years, with the exception of a work permit. **Internship Co-op Visa:** A 12-month work permit for students and trainees who want to do a study or training-related internship in Canada and already have an internship in Canada. The Working Holiday Visa is the easiest way to travel to Canada for an internship. The advantage of this type of visa is that the employer can be chosen freely and that one can also work on the side. To get a Working Holiday Visa you have to. If it is worth the company to pay the fee for you, then as an applicant in the "International Co-op (Internship)" category you must have the following 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.
## Sign in. ## Who can participate. To participate in International Experience Canada (IEC), your country or territory of citizenship must have a youth mobility agreement (YMA) with Canada. Others allow you to participate twice, but in different categories. Because each country is different, you should check your country’s eligibility requirements. ### You can’t participate with a refugee travel document. You’re **not** eligible to participate in IEC if you hold a refugee travel document from **any country**. Find out how to participate in International Experience Canada to work and travel abroad. It counts as a participation if you arrive in Canada and get your work permit. If we approve your application, but you don’t come to Canada to get a work permit, that doesn’t count as a participation. This is when you need to return to your country in the event of severe illness, injury or death. * returning you to your home country or.
The Open Work Permit allows you to be legally employed in Canada for up to 12 months, anywhere, for any employer. However, to work in agriculture, childcare,
As of April 1, 2026, you don't need a co-op work permit for student work placements, such as co-ops or internships, as a post-secondary international student.