Compliance
Planning Clinical Placements Under Canada's Updated Co-op Work Permit Rules
Canada simplified placement requirements for eligible post-secondary international students in April 2026. Learn what changed, who still needs a permit, and what to confirm before placement.
A simpler path for eligible post-secondary students
Canada updated its student work placement rules on April 1, 2026. Eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit when their required work experience meets the current eligibility criteria. The change removes an administrative step while keeping the existing study and program conditions in place.
Students who already hold a co-op work permit can continue using it until it expires. IRCC states that it will withdraw eligible, active post-secondary co-op work permit applications that are awaiting a decision; a student may also withdraw an application that is no longer required.
Understand what qualifies as a student work placement
To qualify, the experience must be required by a study program and approved by a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). Co-ops, internships, practicums, mentorship programs, and clinical placements can qualify when they form part of the approved curriculum.
Eligible students may work for any employer accepted by their school's placement program, including an employer located off campus. IRCC does not set a weekly hour limit for student work placements, but the total placement component cannot exceed 50% of the study program.
This pathway does not cover English or French as a second language, general-interest, or preparatory courses. Participation must also stop when the applicable study-status requirements are no longer met, such as when a study permit expires or during an authorized leave.
Prepare the right documents before placement
Post-secondary students must be enrolled full-time at a DLI, hold a valid study permit or have applied to extend it before expiry, and have conditions on their initial study permit that authorize on-campus work. They also need a letter from the DLI confirming that the placement is required to complete the program. An otherwise eligible student whose permit is missing an accepted work condition must have it added before beginning the placement or applying for a SIN; IRCC does not charge a fee for that amendment.
Some placements require additional preparation. A student may need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and a placement in a hospital or another setting where public health must be protected requires an immigration medical exam unless the student has already completed one.
Know when a co-op work permit is still required
International students at a Canadian DLI at the secondary level still need both a valid study permit and a co-op work permit. Their school must provide a letter confirming that every student in the program must complete a placement to receive a diploma or certificate. In most cases, the permit application is completed online, and IRCC does not charge an application fee for a co-op work permit.
Before acting, review the latest IRCC student work placement guidance and speak with your DLI, because immigration eligibility depends on the individual student and program. CareCard helps students and coordinators organize documents and deadlines, creating a clearer, more connected path into clinical education.
Official student work placement resources
Use current IRCC instructions and your DLI’s international-student guidance before beginning a placement.