Co-op Work Permit for International Students

For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. However, international students need a co-op work permit to participate in a co-op, field placement, internship, practicum or clinical placement, whether you are paid or unpaid. A co-op work permit allows students to work full time in their co-op jobs. The co-op work permit is usually issued for the length of your study permit.

The information on this page may change.

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Readers should always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.

Last updated November 2024.

For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. However, international students need a co-op work permit to participate in a co-op, field placement, internship, practicum or clinical placement, whether you are paid or unpaid. A co-op work permit allows students to work full time in their co-op jobs. The co-op work permit is usually issued for the length of your study permit.

To be eligible for a co-op work permit, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • You have (or are applying for) a valid study permit.
  • You are required to work in order to complete your study program in Canada.
  • You have a letter from your school that confirms all students in your program need to complete work placements to get their degree.
  • Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.

Important:
1. To be eligible for a co-op work permit, international students must first apply to participate in a UM co-op program and be accepted. To learn more about a co-op program, please contact academic advisors in your home faculty for details.
2. You can only use the co-op work permit for jobs that are required and approved by your UM co-op program.  The University of Manitoba will be listed as the employer; however, you are still allowed to accept co-op jobs with external employers.

When and where to apply

You should apply for a co-op work permit as soon as you receive a co-op letter from your faculty confirming your co-op program acceptance. Processing times can be long, a delay may impact your ability to participate.

If you already have a study permit, you should apply for the co-op work permit from inside Canada. If you are currently outside of Canada, you should plan your return to Canada in time for you to apply and receive your co-op work permit before your co-op term starts. You can’t apply for a co-op work permit separately from a study permit from outside of Canada.

Tips:

  • If your study permit is expiring soon, you can apply for a co-op work permit (or co-op work permit extension) and study permit extension together. Review our study permit extension page for more details.
  • If you haven’t applied for your initial study permit, you can apply for a co-op work permit at the same time from outside of Canada.
  • Your UM acceptance letter must confirm that a co-op or internship placement is part of your program’s curriculum. You can then apply for a study permit and IRCC may process your co-op work permit with your study permit application. Please note that some UM programs don’t offer co-op/internship, such as University 1.

How to apply within Canada

In most cases, you must apply online for a co-op work permit.

There is no fee for the co-op work permit. You do not need a job offer to apply for this work permit.

Step 1: Create or login to IRCC Secure Account

Create or login to IRCC Secure Account through GCKey (recommended) or sign-in partner.

Do not apply through the "IRCC Portal". If you forgot your GCKey password and/or username, follow the steps to recover your username first then password. Or sign up for a new GCkey and new IRCC secure account. You may link your applications to your new account, if needed.

Step 2: Create your document checklist

On your IRCC Secure Account home page, look for “Apply to Come to Canada” and choose the option for “visit, study, work”. Answer the questionnaire to receive a reference code and the document checklist.

Use the following instructions to help you answer the questionnaire:

  • What would you like to do in Canada?
    • Choose: Work
  • Do you plan to work on campus?
    • Choose: No
  • Are you a full-time student at a participating post-secondary institution and want to work off-campus up to 20 hours per week?
    • Choose: No
  • Is your work an essential part of your studies (for example, a Co-Op or internship program)?
    • Choose: Yes
  • Do you have a written job offer?
    • Choose: No

Step 3: Complete the application form.

Complete application form Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM5710). Ensure to review the instructions carefully, then consider the following to help you understand questions on the form:

  • UCI: can be found on your study permit and TRV.
  • PERSONAL DETAILS:
    • Question 7: “From” date should be the date you received the first study permit, “To” date should be the date of your current study permit expiration date.
  • COMING INTO CANADA:
    • Question 1: Place: should be the airport that you first landed in Canada.
    • Question 4: Study Permit document number: Black bolded number starting with one letter at top right of your study permit.
  • DETAILS OF INTENDED WORK IN CANADA
    • Question 1: choose “Co-op Work Permit”
    • Question 2a: write “University of Manitoba”; 2b: write “University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada”.
    • Question 4: Job title write “co-op student”, Brief description of duties write “As assigned”
    • Question 5: “From” date should be the date you complete the application. “To” date should be your study permit expiry date.
    • Question 6 – 8: leave boxes empty or put “N/A”
  • EMPLOYMENT: Indicate your current activity/occupation as a student and provide UM program information. You are not required to complete the remainder of the EMPLOYMENT section.
  • BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
    • Answer questions 2 a), b) and c) honestly.
      • 2 a) example: If you have studied or worked without a valid study permit or work permit, you need to list details and an explanation.
      • 2 b) example: If you were ever refused any visa, or admission to Canada or any other country, you need to report it with a brief explanation.
      • 2 c) example: Choose “yes”, provide brief information or your previous IRCC applications such as study permit (extension) application(s).
  • SIGNATURE: instructions for signing an online application can be found online.

Step 4: Gather supporting documents

  • Co-op Letter
    • Copy of the original co-op letter from your faculty/department.
  • Passport: Merge all the pages with photos, signature, stamps, visas into one PDF document.
  • Digital Photo: Click “?” besides to find photo specifications
  • Immigration Medical Exam (IME): An IME is needed if you are planning to work in certain jobs in which public health must be protected or if you have been in a “designated” country for at least 6 months of the past 12 months. Review IRCC websites for information of who needs an IME, who can do your IME.
    • If you had an IME within the 12 months prior to applying for your work permit, upload proof (i.e. IME number) in your online application.
    • Note: Note: A temporary public policy for IME until October 5, 2029 may exempt eligible in-Canada applicants from the IME requirement.

After you submit your application

IRCC will mail the co-op work permit to your mailing address if your application is approved. If your contact information changes after submitting your application, you should update it through IRCC webform as soon as possible.

IRCC may request additional documents to be submitted in 5-10 business days while they are reviewing your application. You should check your IRCC account and email regularly for any message from IRCC. If you are asked for new documents and need information of how to submit it, review the instructions on how to submit a new document online.

Work eligibility as a co-op student inside Canada

While you are waiting for your co-op work permit, you may begin your co-op jobs using the study permit on-campus and off-campus work authorization, if you are eligible to work on or off campus:

  • You may work unlimited hours on campus including co-op jobs.
  • You may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during an academic term. The 24 hours must include both the hours worked at your co-op job and those hours at your regular paid job (if you have one). You can work full-time during the regular scheduled break only if you are eligible.

Important:
If you will work in a job which requires a medical exam, such as working with children or in health-care settings, you must wait until you’ve received your co-op work permit with the right conditions before starting your co-op job.

A student registered in a co-op work term at UM is considered to be a full-time student for immigration purposes. You may work on your co-op jobs using the co-op work permit also work on and/or off campus (up to 24 hours per week off campus during an academic term) in addition to your co-op position if you meet the criteria for each.