Yes! As outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students can apply and take part in Co-op programs at designated learning institutions that require work Co-op/internship experiences as part of the degree requirements.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires all international students who are accepted into a co-op program to obtain a valid Co-op Work Permit – in addition to a Study Permit, to legally be considered for Co-op employment opportunities and complete required work terms in Canada. Employers require all international Co-op students to have a valid Co-op Work Permit at the time of being considered for the position.

Students must prove that Co-op is essential to completing the program, upon applying for the Co-op Work Permit. International students must also obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to legally work and get paid by employers.

For more information on permits and what is required, International Services presents workshops and drop-in sessions for Brock’s international students. More information around event dates, times, location, and sign-up can be found on ExperienceBU – Brock International Events (https://experiencebu.brocku.ca/organization/international/events).

Detailed information on eligibility for Co-op Work Permits can be found here on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that students are eligible to apply for a Co-op Work permit if:

• you have a valid study permit,
• work is required to complete your study program in Canada,
• you have a letter from your school that confirms all students in your program need to complete work placements to get their degree, and
• your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that students are not eligible for a Co-op Work Permit if they are taking one of the following:

• English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL),
• general interest courses, or
• courses to prepare for another study program.

Students must apply for their permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work.html

Follow the link to begin the application process online. Once you have accessed the website, select “Work as a co–op student or intern” for additional information on eligibility, how to apply, and the required forms that need to be completed and submitted.

Co-op Work Permits can be requested within the Study Permit application, or a separate application can be submitted if Co-op is confirmed after starting the program.

For more information on the application process, please visit International Services Frequently Asked Questions or contact Brock University’s Immigration Consulting at isa@brocku.ca

Please refer to Brock’s Co-op Programs  page for additional information on Co-op related fees.

There is no fee for the Co-op Work Permit application process.

The Co-op office will reach out to students approximately eight months before their scheduled work term and will provide a letter of confirmation to assist with the application, free of charge.

It is important to be mindful of potential delays and to apply for the Co-op Work Permit as soon as letters of confirmation are available.

For example, if an international student’s first work term is scheduled for the Spring/Summer of their 2nd year of study, they would want to submit their work permit application in Fall (September) of their 2nd year.

Please refer the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to check current processing times on permits to plan accordingly: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html

Co-op Work Permits can only be used for Co-op work terms and employment opportunities that have been approved by Brock University’s Co-op office.

As an international Co-op student, your Co-op Work Permit may have Brock University listed as your employer. This is to identify you as a Co-op student. This indicates that students can work for any employer that is accepted by Brock University’s Co-op offices.

All Co-op opportunities must be approved by the Co-op offices in order to be considered for a work term.

As an international student, it is very important that you are always checking the expiry date of any permits and your passport. It is mandatory that you maintain your status in Canada.

A Co-op Work Permit must be valid during the entire length of all upcoming Co-op Work Terms. If your study permit or passport expires prior to your Co-op Work Term, you will need to apply for an extension of your study permit or visa at the same time as your Co-op Work Permit application.

Please refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for more information about the process, when to apply, how to apply, and what to do if your permit is expired: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/extend-study-permit/when-to-apply.html

As outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students work terms and employment opportunities cannot be more than 50% of the total program of study.

For example, if an international student is completing a program that is only 8 academic terms in length, they are only eligible to complete up to 4 Co-op work terms.

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number that is required for anyone that wants to work in Canada. Protect your SIN as it should remain private, and it is illegal for anyone else to use it.

While SINs are confidential and should be kept closely guarded, employees are required to share it with employers upon accepting a job offer, for administrative and tax purposes.

International students must apply for a SIN prior to scheduled work term.

For more information on Social Insurance Numbers, please click here

You can complete the SIN application online or by mail. Brock International Services invites Service Canada officers to deliver application workshop virtually on a regular basis. Please follow ExperienceBU for upcoming events or connect with International Services for more information or contact isa@brocku.ca

For more information on Social Insurance Numbers, please click here.

A valid Canadian bank account is required for international students who will be on their work terms. Once you start working, you’ll need a Canadian bank account to deposit your hard-earned money. You can start your application for a Canadian bank account from inside or outside of Canada.

Choose a bank close to campus. All banks are not the same. Shop around for the best service package to meet your needs. You can find more tips related to banking in Canada provided by (https://brocku.ca/safa/).

For information on the Post Graduate Work Permit, please refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRRC) website here

Follow the above link to find out more about the Post Graduate Work Permit, including eligibility and the application process.

In order to apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit, students must wait for final grades to be released and obtain a confirmation letter from the Graduate office. Please note that final grades for Co-op terms cannot be release until after your final day of work.

Please visit this link to check the status of a permit application: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html

Please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website here before traveling outside of Canada while on a permit.

Always ensure that you are checking and maintaining your status before traveling outside of Canada. If you are unsure, please connect with Brock University’s International Serviceand Immigration Consulting for more information.

IRCC Help Centre (Frequently Asked Questions – Online): https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/index-a-z-can.asp

IRCC Client Support (Call) Centre – 1-888-242-2100 (for those already in Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/client-support-centre.html

Automated telephone service (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week): You can listen to pre-recorded information about IRCC programs and check the status of your application.

IRCC Web Form (direct inquiries can be submitted through the web form): https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp