Co-op and internship programs
As an international student, can I take part in student work placements, such as co-ops or internships?
Post-secondary students
Yes, you can participate in student work placements if
- you’re a post-secondary international student studying full-time at a designated learning institution, and
- your study program includes student work placements as part of your curriculum
Learn more about who is eligible for student work placements.
Secondary students
If you’re an international student at a designated learning institution at the secondary level, you need a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements.
Learn more about who’s eligible for co-op work permits.
There’s a specific employment location on my co-op or post-graduation work permit. Can I work somewhere else?
It depends on where the employment location information is on your work permit.
If the location is under Additional Information
You can work in any location across Canada. You don’t need to apply to change your work permit. If you have a co-op work permit, your work must be required to complete your study program.
Figure 1. Employment location information under the “Additional Information” section of a sample work permit.
If the location is under Conditions or Remarks/Observations
You must work at the location on your permit. You must apply to change the conditions of your work permit if you want to work in a different location. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a new work permit from within Canada. Select “Inside Canada” to find out how you can apply for your new permit. Include a letter explaining why you need the condition removed from your work permit with your application.
Figure 2. Employment location information under the “Conditions” section of a sample work permit.
There’s a specific occupation on my co-op or post-graduation work permit. Can I work in a different field?
It depends on where the occupation information is on your work permit.
If the occupation is under Additional Information
You can work in any field. You don’t need to apply to change your work permit. If you have a co-op work permit, your work must be required to complete your study program.
Figure 1. Occupation information under the “Additional Information” section of a sample work permit.
If the occupation is under Conditions or Remarks/Observations
You must work in the field listed on your permit. You must apply to change the conditions of your work permit if you want to work in a different occupation. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a new work permit from within Canada. Select “Inside Canada” to find out how you can apply for your new permit. Include a letter explaining why you need the condition removed from your work permit with your application.
Figure 2. Occupation information under the “Conditions” section of a sample work permit.
My co-op work permit says “not authorized to work for any employer other than stated”. What does it mean?
As a co-op student, your co-op work permit might say:
- you’re “not authorized to work for any employer other than stated”
- your school is your employer
This is to identify you as a co-op student. It means you can work for any employer that’s accepted by your school’s co-op program.
If your employer doesn’t understand this condition
If the condition on your work permit is causing problems for you with your employer, you may apply to remove the condition.
To do this, you must apply for a new work permit.
Include a letter explaining why you need the condition removed from your work permit (that is, it’s causing problems with your employer) with your application.
There is no fee for this.
If you change schools
If you change schools and stay in a co-op program, you must apply for a new work permit. This means your new co-op work permit will say your new school is your employer.
You won’t need to pay another application fee to change your co-op work permit conditions or for the new co-op work permit.
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