Immigration
Working in Canada
Effective April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the requirements for co-op work permits. Eligible international students at post-secondary institutions are no longer required to obtain a separate co-op work permit to complete co-op terms, internships, or practicums. Eligible students may use the on-campus work authorization on their 51猎奇入口study permit to participate in an SFU-approved work placement.
Work placements must still constitute no more than 50% of the total study program and be an essential component of the program. There is no limit on the number of hours students can work for their work placement. For additional details and eligibility requirements, please visit the webpage.
Can I participate in a work term (co-op/internship/practicum)鈥痠n my final academic term?鈥赌�
While IRCC does not restrict students from completing a work term in their final academic term,鈥痵tudents are鈥痑dvised to鈥痚nsure鈥痶hat their placement鈥痗omplies with鈥�痑nd aligns with SFU鈥檚鈥�academic calendar.鈥赌�
Students must confirm with their Co鈥憃p office or academic department whether they are鈥痯ermitted鈥痶o鈥痯articipate鈥痠n a co鈥憃p/practicum/internship during their final term.鈥�
Practicums, internships, and co-op work terms should align with SFU's official academic term dates, even if an employer's work schedule starts or ends on different dates.
贰虫补尘辫濒别:鈥赌赌�
If you are completing a co-op/practicum/internship that is scheduled from January鈥�5鈥痶o April 30, please note that your authorized co-op work period should align with SFU鈥檚鈥�academic calendar. For example, if the Spring term begins on January 5 and the final day of the examination period is April 25, your co-op/practicum/internship should end on April 25.鈥赌��
Students鈥痑re responsible鈥痜or鈥痳eferring to the鈥疭FU鈥檚鈥�academic calendar鈥痶o confirm the official start and end dates of each term.鈥赌��
In case, your co-op/practicum/internship鈥痗ontract ends after the last day of your final term (but before your鈥�Credential Completion Letter鈥�[CCL]鈥痠s issued), you have following options:
- You鈥痬ay be eligible to work part-time (up to 24 hours/week)鈥痷sing your off-campus work eligibility鈥痠f鈥痽our study permit is still valid and you鈥痬eet鈥�赌�
- Once your CCL is issued, you have鈥痮fficially鈥痗ompleted your program鈥痑nd鈥痗annot work under the study鈥痯ermit鈥檚鈥痺ork conditions. 鈥赌��
- You must鈥痵top working鈥痠mmediately, unless you have applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and meet eligibility鈥痳equirements鈥痶o begin鈥痺orking鈥痑fter鈥痵ubmitting鈥痽our鈥�PGWP application. If鈥�,鈥痽ou may鈥�痺hile your PGWP application is being processed.鈥赌��
Key Reminders鈥赌�
- IRCC considers you a student only while you are actively enrolled and before your program is officially completed.鈥赌�
- Keep track of SFU鈥痶erm鈥痙ates and the timing of your CCL.鈥赌�
- For questions about your co-op placement work term requirements and the associated dates, please contact鈥痽our Co-op Advisor or your graduate program for more information.
- For any immigration-related questions, please鈥痗ontact an International Student Advisor, Immigration鈥疭pecialist.鈥赌�