Co-op Work Permit Eliminated: What International Students Need to Know (April 2026)

As of April 1, 2026, the separate co-op work permit (C32) no longer exists for post-secondary international students. If your program requires a work placement — whether it's called a co-op, internship, practicum, or clinical rotation — your study permit now covers it automatically.

This eliminates roughly 120,000 annual applications, saves students ~$255 in fees, and removes weeks of processing delays that used to force universities to replace international students with domestic hires for paid placements.

What changed

Before April 1, 2026: International students at post-secondary institutions needed a separate co-op work permit (condition code C32) to participate in any mandatory work placement that was part of their academic program. Without it, you couldn't legally work at your placement — even if the placement was required to graduate.

After April 1, 2026: Your study permit with standard on-campus work authorization is now sufficient. No separate application, no extra fee, no additional processing time.

Who this applies to

You're covered by this change if:

• You're a post-secondary international student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Your work placement (co-op, internship, practicum, clinical rotation) is a mandatory requirement of your academic program
• The work placement totals 50% or less of your overall program duration
• You hold a valid study permit

You still need a co-op work permit if:

• You're a secondary school (high school) student participating in a work placement
• Your work placement is NOT a mandatory component of your program (elective placements)
• Your placement exceeds 50% of your total program duration

What to do if you have a pending co-op work permit application

Do nothing. IRCC will automatically withdraw all eligible pending co-op work permit applications. You don't need to contact IRCC or take any action.

• Pending applications will be withdrawn automatically
• Application fees ($255) will be refunded without you needing to request it
• You can begin your work placement using just your valid study permit

If you already hold an approved C32 co-op work permit, it remains valid but is no longer required. You can simply rely on your study permit going forward.

What about biometrics fees?

If you paid biometrics fees as part of your co-op work permit application, those will also be refunded as part of the automatic withdrawal process. The refund timeline is typically 4–8 weeks after the withdrawal is processed.

Impact on your immigration timeline

This change is purely administrative — it doesn't affect:

• Your PGWP eligibility (co-op placements still count as part of your program)
• Your study permit conditions (off-campus work rules remain at 24 hours/week during regular sessions)
• Your future PR application (work experience on a co-op placement doesn't count toward CEC's 12-month requirement regardless — CEC requires post-graduation work)
• Your program completion or graduation timeline

What your school needs to do

Nothing, in most cases. Schools that previously issued letters confirming your co-op as a mandatory program component no longer need to provide this documentation for a separate permit application. However, your school's co-op office may still require internal documentation for placement coordination — that's a school requirement, not an immigration one.

The 50% rule explained

Your work placement must total 50% or less of your overall program. Here's how that works in practice:

If your program has alternating academic and co-op terms (common in Canadian universities like Waterloo, SFU, and UBC), the total co-op terms cannot exceed the total academic terms.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start my placement immediately or do I need to wait for something? If you have a valid study permit and your placement starts on or after April 1, 2026, you can begin immediately. No additional documentation needed from IRCC.

My placement started before April 1 and I have a C32 permit. Does anything change? No. Your existing co-op work permit remains valid. You can continue your placement as normal. The change only affects new applications.

Does this mean I can do any work on just my study permit? No. The 24-hour-per-week off-campus work limit during regular academic sessions still applies for general employment. This change only covers mandatory program-required work placements. Your co-op/internship hours don't count against the 24-hour limit because they're academic requirements, not general employment.

What if my placement is paid? Paid or unpaid doesn't matter. As long as the placement is mandatory for your program and within the 50% limit, your study permit covers it regardless of compensation.

I'm starting a new program in September 2026. Do I need to do anything special for co-op? No. When you receive your study permit, it will automatically authorize you for mandatory program placements. No additional application needed.

Related guides

• Study Permit Guide — full study permit application guide
• Student to PR 2026 — the complete pathway from student to PR
• PGWP Guide — post-graduation work permit after your program
• LMIA-Exempt Work Permits — other work permit categories