Before you start
- Use only your own government account.
- Never share government or email credentials.
- Confirm fees, deadlines and checklists when you act.
CHANGING CONDITIONS
Student-placement eligibility, hour limits and application instructions can change by school level and situation; verify the current page before any work starts.
REVIEWED STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Responsibilities, outputs and checkpoints
- 01RESPONSIBLESchool
Confirm the placement is part of the program
Use the current IRCC rules and school curriculum to confirm that the work placement is required to complete the study program and record its expected dates and share of the program.
- Expected output
- A dated curriculum and placement requirement record.
- Checkpoint
- The placement is mandatory under the school record; optional employment is not relabelled as co-op.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca - 02RESPONSIBLESchool
Obtain the school placement letter
Request the current school letter confirming that all students in the program must complete the placement to obtain the credential.
- Expected output
- A signed or officially issued mandatory-placement letter.
- Checkpoint
- The letter identifies the student, program, institution and mandatory work component.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca - 03RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Verify study status and permit conditions
Review the current study permit, passport validity, full-time or other required study status and the live co-op eligibility rules before applying.
- Expected output
- A dated status and permit-condition record.
- Checkpoint
- The planned placement dates fit the study authorization and passport timeline.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca - 04RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Prepare the co-op permit checklist
Open the current IRCC checklist and prepare the school letter, passport, study permit, enrolment and placement records plus any status or medical evidence requested.
- Expected output
- A checklist-indexed co-op work-permit package.
- Checkpoint
- The selected application is for a mandatory student placement and uses current records.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca - 05RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Submit before the placement starts
Submit the co-op work-permit application through the applicant’s own IRCC account and retain the confirmation and every later request.
- Expected output
- A dated application confirmation and response file.
- Checkpoint
- The placement has not started without the current authorization required by IRCC.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca - 06RESPONSIBLECanada
Verify the issued co-op authorization
Read the issued work permit for employer, occupation, location, medical and expiry conditions and compare them with the school placement before working.
- Expected output
- A verified co-op permit and authorized placement record.
- Checkpoint
- The work occurs only within the issued conditions and required school placement.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Work in a student work placement · www.canada.ca
DOCUMENT PREPARATION SUMMARY
What this procedure organizes
- Prepare the official school letter confirming the mandatory placement, curriculum and placement dates, enrolment and study-status records, passport and study permit, placement/employer information, the personalized checklist, forms, confirmation and issued co-op permit.