Co Op Work Permit
If an International student is contemplating a program in Canada that requires them to attend a Co-op internship program or work placement, they may apply for a co-op work permit in Winnipeg, Canada. Some International Students who are planning on pursuing a program at a DLI or Designated Learning Institute in Canada that may require them to do a mandatory work placement or internship they will have to apply for a Co-op work permit in addition to a Canadian Study Permit. This Co-op work permit is a separate work permit and is not related to the part time work permit that is issued under a Canadian Study permit. They also must be holding a valid study permit to apply for a co-op work permit.
A co-op work permit is only used essentially for the study program related to it. Any other work that a student undertakes that is not related to the field of study which the co-op permit was issued is covered under the study work permit. Students who are unsure if they need a co-op study permit should always seek advice from their program advisor.
Work Experience Essential to the Program of Study
Gaining work experience through the co-op work permit in Winnipeg, Canada, is essential for students to earn program credits and help them graduate.
- International students undertaking employment, paid or unpaid, need in order to graduate from the program of study requiring a co-op work permit
- They need authorization from the DLI in order to obtain the co-op work in order to begin the work experience
- The work cannot be more then half of the educational study
- Work experienced gained can be in different forms.
- Field work
- Clinical work
- Practicums
- Volunteer work
- Internships, paid or unpaid
Eligibility Criteria
International students may be able to be eligible to apply for a co-op work permit if:
- They hold a valid study permit
- They enroll in a study program that requires mandatory work placement to obtain the necessary credits for the program.
- They hold a letter from the educational institution authorizing the work placement and confirming its requirement for their field of study.
The application may require additional documentation, depending on the student’s situation. When the international student has obtained all the necessary documentation, they then can apply with the co-op work permit in Winnipeg, Canada
Details of a Co-Op Work Permit
- The permit allows the student to work full-time during the semester depending on the conditions outlined by the learning institution placement details
- You need the permit even for paid or unpaid work.
- International students can simultaneously have a work permit and student work permit and be able to work under both permits up to its maximum requirements
- The co-op work permit is a closed work permit and therefore the student can only work for one specific employer under that permit. The permit outlines the educational institution as the employer authorizing the co-op placement.
- The work permit outlines the duration of use as specified by the educational facility and coordinated with the student’s study timeline.
- A co-op work permit has no associated fees.
A student may apply for a co-op study permit at the same time that they apply for a regular study permit as soon as they meet all the requirements outlined above. They do also have the option to apply for the co-op permit at a later date in their program. However, the best time to apply is when you are applying for your initial study permit because the length of time it is to obtain one and the risk of not having the permit in time of its requirement could cause great problems in the future.
