04/09/2026
đ¨ BIG CHANGE for International Students in Canada đ¨đĻ
Starting April 1, 2026, IRCC is making a major shift in how student work placements are handled.
đ Co-op Work Permits are NO LONGER required for post-secondary students.
đŧ Whatâs Included?
You can now complete mandatory placements without a separate permit:
âĸ Co-ops
âĸ Internships
âĸ Practicums
âĸ Mentorship programs
â
What You Need Instead
To qualify, you must:
âī¸ Hold a valid study permit with work authorization
âī¸ Be enrolled full-time at a DLI
âī¸ Be in a program that requires the placement
âī¸ Ensure placement is ⤠50% of your program
âąī¸ No Hour Limits
Unlike off-campus work rules:
đ No weekly hour cap for these placements
(as long as itâs part of your program)
đĨ Why This Matters
âĸ Faster onboarding into placements
âĸ No delays waiting for co-op permits
âĸ Reduced processing burden for students & schools
âĸ More flexibility in career-building
â ī¸ Key Reminder
This applies ONLY to mandatory program placements
ânot regular off-campus jobs.
đŦ Final Take
This is one of the most student-friendly updates weâve seen in years.
Less paperwork.
More opportunity.
Faster integration into the workforce.
If you're planning to study in Canada â this just made your journey a lot smoother.
