The International Co-op (Internship) IEC work permit

The International Co-op (internship) work permit is one of the three International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit categories. It is available to 18-30 or 18-35 year-old citizens from around 20 countries who have a job offer for a work placement or internship. This job offer must be related to your field of study. Depending on your country of citizenship and the internship offer, you could work in Canada for up to 12, 18 or 24 months.

Note that every foreign intern in Canada must have a work permit (International Co-op or another type of work permit), regardless of whether the internship is paid or not and no matter how long it is. It is illegal to work as an intern in Canada without a work permit.

Already familiar with the International Co-op permit? If you’re ready to apply, read our step-by-step guide to the IEC application process.

If you’re just discovering the International Co-op permit, read on for a complete overview.

When should I apply for my International Co-op work permit?

The International Co-op work permit runs in a year-long “season.” Each season has an opening and closing date, announced every year—seasons usually start mid-autumn (around October) and end the following year around the same date.

You can submit your profile (this is the first step of the application process) up to 12 months before the start of your internship in Canada.