[Co-op Work Permit in Canada] How long can you work? Employment conditions and points to be cautious of to avoid illegal employment

Co-op (cooperative education) refers to the practice of applying what you have learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Sometimes the position is paid, and other times it is unpaid, but regardless of whether you are paid or not, obtaining a co-op work permit is always required.

Since co-op is a practical experience to apply what you have learned in the classroom, the work must always be related to the field of study in your program. For example, a student enrolled in a digital marketing program must complete their co-op in a field where they can apply their knowledge, and working as a server at a restaurant would not be permitted.

Before starting a co-op, it is advisable to confirm with the school which job positions are eligible for the co-op, and whether a particular job you are interested in can qualify for the co-op.

The number of hours you can work in Co-op depends on the school’s program. Schools design their programs based on the rule that “the internship cannot exceed half of the total classroom hours.” If you exceed the hours designated by the school, it would count as illegal employment.

For those holding a study permit, in addition to the co-op hours, off-campus work up to 20 hours per week and on-campus work is permitted, so these work hours are considered separately from the co-op hours.

Information on the allowed working hours for co-op is likely listed on the college’s website or the Letter of Acceptance, but if it is not clearly stated, be sure to confirm the permitted working hours with the school.

The co-op work permit is a work permit issued alongside the study permit, and its validity period is always set to match the study permit’s expiration date. This is because co-op is integrated into the curriculum as part of the program and is credited as a course.

Without a valid study permit, you cannot obtain a co-op work permit. The study permit allows study in Canada, and based on this, the work approved as part of the program can be authorized through the co-op work permit. In other words, the co-op work permit is issued in conjunction with the study permit.

The study permit is issued with an extension of up to 90 days after the program’s end date. The co-op work permit is also issued alongside this study permit and holds the same validity period.

However, even with a study permit that has the additional 90-day validity after the program ends, there are conditions under which you cannot work:

• On- and off-campus part-time jobs with a study permit will no longer be permitted once graduation is confirmed.
• The co-op work permit will no longer allow work once the approved working hours for the co-op program have been completed.

As reiterated, continuing to work after reaching the allowed co-op working hours will result in “illegal employment.” This is often misunderstood, and after speaking with clients, we find that many cases of illegal employment are due to this misunderstanding. Therefore, it is very important to have the correct understanding of the rules.

If you break the rules set by Canadian immigration law, you will need to disclose any illegal employment when applying for a visa or permanent residence in the future. After 6 months, it is somewhat like a statute of limitations, meaning it will not automatically result in a rejection of your application. However, it could lead to stricter scrutiny and longer processing times compared to other applicants.

Whether it is a study permit, a co-op work permit, or any other type of visa, it is important to follow the rules to ensure a smooth and lawful stay in Canada.

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