Co-Op Work Permit

International students who are undertaking any kind of field education (co-op work experience or internship), regardless of length and compensation, must have a valid co-op work permit.

Who needs to apply for a Co-Op Work Permit?

  • Your intended employment is an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
  • Your employment is part of your academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
  • Your co-op or internship employment is not more than 50% of the total program of study.

When to apply for a Co-op Work Permit?

You must have the co-op work permit before you start your co-op/practicum.

We encourage you to apply as soon as you receive your official letter of acceptance. You may apply for a co-op work permit while you are applying for a study permit or a study permit extension. If you want to apply for the co-op work permit while applying for study permit extension, please see our study permit extension information.

How much does it cost to apply for a Co-op Work Permit?

Application fee: $0 (free)

How long does it take to apply for a Co-op Work Permit?

Check the processing time for the co-op work permit, click here and:

  1. Select “Temporary residence (visiting, studying, working)”
  2. Select “Work permit extension”

What documents do I need to apply for a Co-op Work Permit?

Prepare the following supporting documents to include with your application:

  • Scanned copies of passport pages clearly showing each of the following:
    • Page with passport number, dates of issue and expiry, name, date of birth
    • Any pages with marks or notations
  • Scanned copy of current study permit. Merge the passport pages and study permit into one PDF file and upload to passport session.
  • Confirmation of Enrollment (COE) from RRC Polytech (Use the COE as the Co-Op Letter because RRC Polytech is no longer issuing a separate letter for co-op work permit application.)
    • Please check the following sections on your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) on whether a valid co-op work permit is required.
      • Session 22:
        Work Experience/Practicum: yes
        Length: Less than 50% of the total program of study
        Field of Work: Program Related
        Completion of Co-op/Internship/Work Practicum is required to meet graduation requirements.
    • If you apply for a Co-Op Work Permit after the program starts, a valid Confirmation of Enrollment is required as the Co-Op letter and available to be ordered through the Student Service Centres. Please carefully review your Confirmation of Enrollment on-site to ascertain the inclusion of the co-op-related information and make sure this document remains valid up until the date of the submission.
  • Digital Photo
  • You may be required to do a medical exam if you want to work in jobs that will bring you into close contact with people such as:
    • workers in the health sciences field
    • workers in health care settings
    • clinical laboratory workers
    • patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
    • medical electives and physicians on short-term locums
    • workers in primary or secondary school settings, or other workers in child-care setting
    • domestics
    • workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly and the disabled
    • day nursery employees and
    • other similar jobs

Please always check with the International Student and Immigration Advisor before you book your medical exam. You can find the list of panel physician to do your medical exam here.

How to Apply for a Co-op Work Permit?

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Create a MyCIC Account

Create a MyCIC account (see instructions) and add a co-op work permit application (see instructions).

2. Answer Online Questionnaire

Answer co-op work permit online questionnaire.

3. Generate a Document Checklist 

See the document checklist.

4. Fill out the Application Form 

Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a worker [IMM 5710].

How to download and open a form from IRCC.

See the IMM5710 sample.

5. Upload Documents 

Upload photocopies of the required documents.

6. Submit Application 

Submit your application.

7. Confirmation of the Submission 

Within five business days, you should receive your confirmation of submission from the MyCIC account. Here’s what a sample Confirmation of Submission looks like.

Note: Co-op work permit paper applications are no longer available.


Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the International Student and Immigration Advisor. The advisor can review your completed application before you submit it.

All the above information was retrieved from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Please visit IRCC’s website for more information regarding study permit extension.

 

DISCLAIMER: This document was prepared by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in compliance with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This is not a legal document. Immigration laws and procedures change frequently, and so the information may have changed since this document was prepared. Please always refer to IRCC website for the most up-to-date information, or contact Red River College Polytechnic Immigration and Student Advisor at international@rrc.ca. This document was prepared on August 30, 2023.

If your Study Permit is expiring soon, find out what to do.

STUDY PERMIT EXTENSION

Find more information and supports for working in and immigrating to Canada.

WORK AND IMMIGRATION