Overview

General Overview:

1. If your program includes mandatory work experience you must apply for a co-op work permit. Examples of mandatory work experience include co-op placements, internships, practicums, clinical placements and stages that are a requirement for all students in a program.  
2. This applies whether the work is on-campus or off-campus, paid or unpaid, during the academic year or during the summer, and regardless of the number of hours involved.
3. If you are accepted directly into a program that includes mandatory work experience, you should apply for your co-op work permit at the same time as you apply for your initial study permit. Examples of these programs include B. Ed., BScN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), B Eng Materials Co-op, MBA.
4. Because of current processing delays, you should apply for your co-op work permit at least 6 months before the start of your mandatory work experience.
5. The co-op work permit is fee exempt (i.e., free).

Important Details:

1. Your co-op work permit is an open work permit that allows you to work anywhere in Canada as long as the work is a mandatory requirement of your program.
   • If a location is listed under the Conditions or Remarks/Observations section of your co-op work permit, you can only work at that location.
   • If you want to work in a different location, you must apply to change the conditions of your work permit. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a new work permit from within Canada.
2. Although the co-op work permit is an open work permit, Immigration Canada may list “McGill University” as the employer on the work permit since the work is an essential part of your studies at McGill.
   • This does not mean that you cannot work for an employer other than McGill.
   • A co-op work permit allows you to work for any employer as long as the work satisfies a mandatory requirement of your program for which you will be registered for an internship or co-op course.
3. You can only use your co-op work permit to work in a term where you are registered for an internship or co-op course.
4. You do not need a job offer to apply for a co-op work permit.
5. You can check IRCC's estimated processing time for inside Canada co-op work permit applications by selecting "Temporary residence (visiting, studying, working)" > “Work permit extension (new employer)”.
6. The remarks at the bottom of your co-op work permit must indicate:

   "Employment practicum cannot form more than 50% of the total program of study. Authorized to undertake employment which forms integral part of studies as certified by the institution."

   • If the above remarks do not appear, it is best to ask for a correction while you are at your Port of Entry (e.g. land border or airport).
   • If the above remarks do not appear and you applied for your co-op work permit online from within Canada or you have already left your Port of Entry, you will need to request to amend your co-op work permit. You can check IRCC's estimated processing time for amendments by selecting "Replacing or amending documents, verifying your status" > "Amendments of valid temporary resident documents"

For more information about the co-op work permit, see IRCC’s website.

If you, your Program Coordinator or your employer are unsure whether your co-op work permit has the correct remarks and/or conditions, contact us.

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