Co-op work permit

Co-op work permit application

• How do I apply for a co-op work permit?

  You can apply online through your IRCC secure account on the Immigrations, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. It is highly recommended to apply for your co-op work permit once you are accepted to a co-op program in your Offer of Admission or approved by your program/faculty to be part of the co-op program. Do not wait until you have a job offer. You must have your co-op work permit prior to starting your work term. 

  You can apply for your co-op work permit during one of the following times:

  • With your initial study permit application.
    • You can use your offer of admission letter as long as it’s valid and it states, internship/work practicum: yes or the specific hours. 
  • With your study permit extension application.
  • Separate co-op work permit application.
• Do I need to complete a medical exam to get my work permit?
  You may need to complete a medical exam to get a work permit if you wish to work in a job where it is important to protect public health (such as health services, child care, or primary or secondary education), or if you will be working in an agricultural job and you have lived in a designated country or territory. A list of occupations that require a medical exam can be found on the IRCC website. You must see a physician on Canada’s list of Panel Physicians on the IRCC website to complete your medical exam.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I know if there is a co-op in my program?

  You can confirm whether or not your program requires a co-op by reviewing your offer of admission from the university (if it is still valid and applicable) or your letter of enrolment.

  You can acquire your co-op work permit letter by:

  1. Undergraduate students: Contact the Office of the Registrar at connect@ontariotechu.ca.
  2. Graduate students: Fill out the Verification of Enrolment form.

  You require a co-op work permit if you are in any of the following faculty or programs:

  • Faculty of Business & Information Technology 
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Social Science & Humanities
  • Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
  • Master of Information Technology Security (MITS) 
  • Nursing
• When can I apply for my co-op work permit?

  Apply for your co-op work permit as soon as you have received the offer of admission with work as a mandatory part of your program or you are approved to the program with work as a mandatory part of your program. The processing times for a co-op work permit may be long so it’s best to start your application as soon as you can. 

  You do not need a job offer to start your co-op work permit application.

  You can apply for your co-op work permit during one of the following times:

  1. Apply for your co-op work permit with your initial study permit application or
  2. Apply for your co-op work permit with your study permit extension application from inside Canada or
  3. Apply separately for the co-op work permit application from inside of Canada
• Where can I find the letter to confirm I have co-op in my program?

  The following documents can be used to confirm that you have a co-op in your program:

  • Co-op work permit letter. You can acquire your co-op work permit letter by:

  1. Undergraduate students: Contact the Office of the Registrar at connect@ontariotechu.ca.
  2. Graduate Students: Fill out the Verification of Enrolment form.

  • Offer of admission from the university (if it’s still valid and applicable to you).
• How long will it take to receive my co-op work permit?

  You can check the processing time on the IRCC website.

• How much does it cost to apply for my co-op work permit?
  This is a free application!
• How long can I take co-op?
  Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program. More information can be found on the IRCC website.
• Can I have other paid employment on the side while being on a co-op term?
  Yes, as long as you are eligible to work on/off campus.
• How do I prepare for my work term?
  Six weeks before your work term begins, contact uhip@ontariotechu.ca with your full name, student number and information on any eligible dependents you have. This is to ensure you are eligible, enrolled and charged the appropriate fees for University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).
• What happens if I apply for my co-op work permit but I do not end up doing it?

  That is okay! However, you cannot use your co-op work permit for work that is not related to your program requirements (even if it’s still valid).

• There is a specific employment location on my co-op or post-gradation work permit. Can I work somewhere else?

  According to the IRCC website, 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.

  

  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.

  

Temporary Changes

• If I can work off-campus for more than 20 hours, do I need to apply for a co-op work permit?

  Depending on the date IRCC received your study permit application, you may not need to apply for a co-op work permit. Detailed information can be found on the Government of Canada website. 

• If I cannot work off-campus for more than 20 hours, can I work while submitting my co-op work permit application?

  Outside Canada

  If you are outside of Canada, you can work while your study permit and co-op work permit are being processed. If your faculty and employer agree, you can either:

  • Accept a Canadian work placement and begin working remotely from your home country or 
  • Work for a company in your home country 

  Inside Canada

  If you are already in Canada and have applied for a co-op work permit, you may begin your co-op placement using your on-campus and off-campus work authorization, provided you meet all the eligibility requirements. 

  There is no limit on work hours for on-campus work. For off-campus work, you can work a total of 20 hours per week during an academic term or semester while you are waiting for your co-op work permit; however, the 20 hours must include both the hours worked at your co-op job ad those worked at your regular paid job (if you have one). You can work full-time during the regularly scheduled breaks. 

  However, if the co-op work permit application is refused, you must stop your co-op work immediately.

  More information can be found on the IRCC Website with the section named "Post-secondary co-op - exemption code C32 eligibility".