The International Co-op (Internship) IEC work permit

Your International Co-op permit will authorise you to stay in Canada for a maximum of 6 to 24 months, depending on your country of citizenship. You will need a job offer or contract for the length of time you intend to stay in Canada (up to the maximum length of time for your citizenship).

• Australia: 12 months
• Germany: 12 months
• Ireland: 12 months
• New Zealand: Not eligible for International Co-op
• The UK: 24 months

For all other nationalities, check your eligibility here.

Depending on your citizenship, you may also be able to apply for multiple participations, extending your total stay in Canada. We cover the number of participations you are allowed in Chapter 1.

You will need to have insurance for the planned duration of your stay, otherwise you will receive a shortened permit. Learn more.

An open work permit means you are not tied to a specific job/employer. Closed work permits tie you to a specific role and employer. The International Co-op permit is a closed work permit. For more info, read Open and closed work permits in Canada – The fine print explaining the difference.

Yes, you must have an eligible job offer in Canada before you can apply for the International Co-op permit. The job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada must be related to your current field of study and contribute toward the completion of your studies.

Yes, your permit will be a closed work permit, i.e. employer-specific. You will work for the same employer in the same role and same location for the duration of your permit.

If you want the possibility of changing employers throughout your time in Canada, apply for the Working Holiday permit instead.

No, your closed work permit will tie you to one specific location in Canada for the duration of your stay. If you want freedom of movement, apply for the Working Holiday permit instead.

Since your permit is tied to a specific employer and role, it is mandatory for you to work during your stay in Canada.

If your priority is to travel Canada with the possibility, but not requirement, of finding work, apply for the Working Holiday permit instead.

Your spouse, partner or children won’t automatically get a permit to come to Canada with you. Each individual has to apply for their own immigration status (visitor, study, or work permit) to be able to accompany you. Learn more.

You must be a student registered at a post-secondary institution and have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada that contributes to the completion of your studies.

Read our guide to Finding a job in Canada for tips on how to tackle the Canadian job market. Note that it can be hard to find an employer in Canada who is willing to make a job offer from overseas.

We cover the application process in full in our step-by-step guide.

You must arrive in Canada within 12 months of your Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction being issued. You must also factor in your contract start date; you will need to arrive and activate your permit before your start date.

Unpaid interns will need to show the border services officer proof of funds covering the entire duration of the internship.

Since the International Co-op work permit is an employer-specific work permit, you should check the permit issued by the border services officer to make sure it correctly states that you can only work for the employer named on the document for the length of time specified. If you notice a mistake, inform the border services officer right away.