IRCC Expands On-Campus Work Rules: Post-Secondary Students Can Now Do Co-ops and Internships Without a Work Permit

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Ottawa, April 16, 2026 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a significant program delivery update that expands the definition of on-campus work for post-secondary international students. As of April 1, 2026 , eligible students can now participate in student work placements – including co-op placements, internships, practicums, and mentorship programs – using their existing on-campus work authorization, without needing a separate co-op work permit.

This change simplifies the process for post-secondary students, removes administrative duplication, and aligns with IRCC's broader effort to streamline the International Student Program.

Key Change	Before April 1, 2026	After April 1, 2026
Co-op work permit requirement	Required for post-secondary co-op placements	Not required
Student work placements	Required separate application	Covered under on-campus work authorization
Secondary school students	Co-op permit required	Still require co-op permit (no change)
Work hours limit	No limit for co-op	No limit for on-campus or placements

Important: This change does not increase the number of students authorized to work or affect temporary resident volumes. It simply removes an unnecessary administrative step.

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On This Page

• What Has Changed? Expanded Definition of On-Campus Work
• Eligibility Requirements for On-Campus Work and Placements
• What Is Considered "On-Campus Work" Now?
• Work Locations: Campus, Placements, Research, and Remote
• Occupations Allowed Under the New Rules
• Working On-Campus Plus Off-Campus (24-hour limit)
• Secondary School Students: Still Need Co-op Permits
• Previous Updates and Official Sources
• Frequently Asked Questions

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What Has Changed? Expanded Definition of On-Campus Work

The April 16, 2026, update makes several key changes to IRCC's internal instructions for officers:

Change	Description
Removed co-op work permit requirement	As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit (C32) for work placements.
Expanded definition	On-campus work now includes student work placements (co-ops, internships, practicums, mentorship programs) that are essential to a post-secondary program.
Title change	Page renamed from "Study permits: Working on campus" to "On-campus and student work placement work [R186(f)] – Authorization to work without a work permit – International Mobility Program."
Format update	Page reformatted to be consistent with the International Mobility Program's preferred format.
Clarified guidance	Updated eligibility requirements, work locations, and occupations.

Official Statement

*"As of April 1, 2026, the definition of on-campus work has been expanded to include student work placements (such as co-ops and internships) in locations where work that is an essential part of a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada will be performed."*

"Post-secondary students who are already in Canada may now participate in their student work placement using their on-campus work authorization, provided they meet all the eligibility requirements."

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Eligibility Requirements for On-Campus Work and Placements

To work on campus (including student work placements) without a work permit, post-secondary students must meet all of the following conditions:

Requirement	Details
Full-time studies	Engaged in full-time studies at an eligible DLI
Valid study permit	Study permit must include on-campus work authorization conditions
Type of institution	Public post-secondary institution (college, trade school, university, CEGEP), certain private institutions in Quebec (900+ hour programs leading to DVS/AVS), or Canadian private institution authorized to confer degrees (if enrolled in a degree program)
Final academic session	Students who need only a part-time course load to complete their program are still considered full-time in their final session

Eligible Institutions (Full List)

• Public post-secondary institution (college, trade/technical school, university, CEGEP in Quebec)
• Private post-secondary institution in Quebec operating under same rules as public institutions
• Private secondary/post-secondary institution in Quebec offering 900+ hour programs leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) or Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS)
• Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral) – but only if the student is enrolled in a degree program

When On-Campus Work Is NOT Permitted

Students cannot work on campus or in student work placements:

• ❌ On the day they stop studying full-time (unless final semester)
• ❌ When their study permit expires
• ❌ If they are on an authorized leave from studies
• ❌ If they are switching schools and not currently studying

Students can return to work only when they resume studying and meet all requirements.

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What Is Considered "On-Campus Work" Now?

The updated definition of on-campus work includes three categories of work locations:

Category	Description
Campus locations	Employment facilities within the boundaries of the educational institution's campus(es) in the same municipality
Student work placements	Co-op placements, internships, practicums, mentorship programs that are essential to the study program (can be outside campus boundaries)
Research locations	Teaching or research assistant work at affiliated facilities such as libraries, hospitals, or research institutes

There is no limit on work hours for on-campus work (including student work placements). Students may participate in different forms of on-campus work.

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Work Locations: Campus, Placements, Research, and Remote

Campus Locations

• Students can work on the campus of the institution where they are registered as full-time students.
• If the institution has multiple campuses in the same municipality , students can work at different campus locations.
• If campuses are in different cities , students are restricted to the campus where they are registered.

Student Work Placements (New)

Student work placements are work experiences that are an essential part of a study program and related to the field of study. They include:

• ✅ Co-op placements
• ✅ Internships
• ✅ Practicums
• ✅ Mentorship programs

Conditions for student work placements:

Condition	Requirement
Essential part of program	Must be required to complete the study program (letter from DLI may be requested)
Duration limit	Work placement cannot total more than 50% of the study program
Location	Can be outside the boundaries of the educational institution

Not eligible for student work placements under this authorization:

• ❌ English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) courses
• ❌ General interest courses
• ❌ Courses to prepare for another study program

Research Locations

• Students may work as teaching or research assistants on campus or in affiliated buildings outside campus boundaries (e.g., libraries, hospitals, research facilities).
• Work must be strictly related to the student's research grant.

Remote Work

• Students eligible for on-campus work can work remotely for employers located within the boundaries of their educational institution.
• Employers are encouraged to provide a teleworking agreement as confirmation.

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Employer for On-Campus Work

The employer can be any of the following:

Employer Type	Examples
The institution	University, college, CEGEP
A faculty member	Research assistant roles
A student organization	Student union, clubs
The students themselves	Self-employment taking place on campus
A private business	Campus bookstore, cafeteria
A private contractor	Providing services to the institution on campus
Employer for student work placements	Approved by the DLI

Note: On-campus employers include businesses whose premises serve the general public, as long as the place of business is located on the institution's campus or is part of a DLI-approved student work placement.

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Occupations Allowed Under the New Rules

Full-time post-secondary international students may work without a permit in any occupation as long as they are working in one of the following contexts:

Context	Details
On campus	No restriction on number of jobs
Research or teaching assistant	At off-campus facilities (teaching hospitals, clinics, research institutes) with formal affiliation to the learning institution, work related to research grant
Student work placement activities	Co-op placements, internships, practicums, mentorship programs approved by the DLI

Medical Examination Requirement

Students who have not submitted an immigration medical examination (IME) as part of their study permit application must undergo an IME if their on-campus work occurs in:

• A hospital, or
• Any other location where the protection of public health is essential.

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Working On-Campus Plus Off-Campus (24-hour limit)

Students may work on campus (including student work placements) with no hourly limit , and simultaneously work off campus up to the standard limit of 24 hours per week (as of current rules), provided they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

Work Type	Hour Limit
On-campus work (including placements)	No limit
Off-campus work	24 hours per week (during academic sessions)
Combined	Students can do both concurrently

Important: The off-campus work hour limit is separate. Students must still comply with the conditions printed on their study permit regarding off-campus employment.

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Secondary School Students: Still Need Co-op Permits

The new rules do not apply to secondary school (high school) international students. They still require a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements.

Student Level	Co-op Work Permit Required?
Post-secondary (college, university, CEGEP)	No – covered by on-campus work authorization
Secondary (high school)	Yes – must apply for co-op work permit

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Previous Updates

This instruction page was previously updated on:

• March 1, 2022

The April 16, 2026, update represents the first major revision in over four years and reflects the government's commitment to streamlining the International Student Program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do post-secondary international students need a co-op work permit now?

No. As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students can participate in co-op placements, internships, practicums, and mentorship programs using their on-campus work authorization. No separate co-op work permit is needed.

Does this apply to secondary school students?

No. Secondary (high school) international students still need a co-op work permit.

Is there a limit on hours for student work placements?

No. There is no weekly hour limit for on-campus work or student work placements. However, the total work placement cannot exceed 50% of the student's entire study program.

Can I work for any employer during a student work placement?

Yes, you can work for any employer approved by your DLI's student work placement program, even if the employer is off campus.

Do I need a medical examination?

If your work placement is in a hospital or other public health-sensitive location, and you did not submit an IME with your study permit application, you will need to undergo an immigration medical examination.

Can I work on campus and off campus at the same time?

Yes. There is no limit on on-campus work hours, and you can also work off campus up to the standard 24 hours per week, as long as you meet all eligibility requirements.

What if my study permit doesn't have the right on-campus work conditions?

Check your study permit. It should include a condition allowing on-campus work. If not, you may need to request an amendment. You cannot work without the proper conditions.

I already applied for a co-op work permit. What should I do?

If you applied for a co-op work permit but are eligible under the new rules, IRCC may withdraw your application automatically. You can also withdraw it yourself. You do not need the permit.

Does this change affect my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility?

No. The PGWP eligibility rules remain unchanged. Your work placement experience may still count toward PGWP requirements if it meets the criteria (e.g., authorized work, full-time status, etc.). Consult the PGWP guidelines for details.

Where can I find the official instructions?

The official instructions are available on the IRCC website under "On-campus and student work placement work [R186(f)] – Authorization to work without a work permit – International Mobility Program."

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Official Sources

Resource	Link
IRCC Program Delivery Updates	canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals.html
On-campus work instructions	IRCC website (search "on-campus work")
Student work placements	canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/intern.html

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Bottom Line

IRCC has significantly simplified work authorization for post-secondary international students by eliminating the need for a separate co-op work permit and expanding the definition of on-campus work.

Key takeaways:

For Post-Secondary Students	For Secondary Students
✅ No co-op work permit needed for placements	❌ Still need co-op work permit
✅ Can work in co-ops, internships, practicums, mentorships	✅ Process unchanged
✅ No hourly limit for on-campus or placement work	⚠️ Must apply separately
✅ Can also work off-campus (24 hours/week)

For students already in Canada: You can immediately participate in student work placements using your existing on-campus work authorization, provided you meet all eligibility requirements.

For students planning to come to Canada: Your study permit will include on-campus work authorization. Ensure your DLI confirms that work placements are required for your program.

For employers: You no longer need to wait for a co-op work permit to be issued. Students can start their work placements as soon as they meet eligibility requirements.

This change reflects IRCC's commitment to reducing administrative burden, improving efficiency, and making the International Student Program more responsive to the needs of students and employers.

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