Apply Online for a Co-op Work Permit

Co-op Education blends real-world work experience with academic studies, earning international recognition as a premier degree completion method. At uLethbridge, the Co-op Education program through Career Bridge fosters partnerships between students, the university, and employers, offering an immersive learning experience and invaluable networking opportunities.

• Co-op Education is available to all students in an academic program, who have completed at least one term at uLethbridge and meet the GPA requirements.
• Students enrolled in non-academic programs, such as English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or those in Open Studies courses, are not eligible to obtain a co-op work permit from IRCC. 

You can learn more about the Co-op Education process and requirements here. 

Note: International students are not eligible to complete "Applied Studies". Please contact us if you have any questions.

A co-op work permit is an official document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and allows the holder to work full-time during regular academic terms, while maintaining your full-time student status.

You must have a co-op work permit if your academic program has a essential work component needed to complete your program requirements (co-op work terms, internship, or practicum). 

A co-op work permit is not related to the work authorization you have as a study permit holder. 

You are eligible to apply for a co-op work permit, if:

• You have a valid study permit
• Working is a required part of your study program in Canada
• You have a letter from the university that confirms that you will need to complete a work placement to get your degree
• Your co-op or internship is 50% or less of the total program of study

There is no application fee to apply for a co-op work permit. 

uLethbridge students applying for a co-op work permit must include a "Co-op Support Letter" in their application. Depending on the nature of your work placement, this letter will be provided by different offices. (See Required Documents below for more information). 

Note: You won't be able to access the Co-op Job Board and apply for available positions until the Career Bridge team has seen your co-op work permit. Having a co-op work permit does not guarantee that you will find a co-op position. Students still must apply to the jobs, complete interviews and be offered the position. 

Co-op work permit applications must be submitted online, using the IRCC Secure Account. You'll be able to track and receive regular updates regarding the status of your co-op work permit application while IRCC processes it. If you do not have an existing IRCC Secure Account, you will need to register for one.

After logging into your Secure Account, you will complete a questionnaire to generate your "personalized document checklist", that will list the application form(s) and supporting documents you are required to upload and submit with your co-op work permit application.

Note: IRCC processing times for work permit applications from inside Canada are currently over 200 days. We recommend that you apply for your co-op work permit well in advance of wanting to start your Co-op Education. 

You can reach out to us, and we will support you with the co-op work permit application submission.

Most co-op work permit applicants will be required to submit the following form(s) and supporting documents:
 

• IMM 5710e - Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay, or Remain in Canada as a Worker
  • The application form can be downloaded from your document checklist once you have completed the questionnaire in your IRCC Secure Account.
     
• Co-op Support Letter (from the applicable office)
  • If you have applied to the Co-operative Education program through Career Bridge, you will receive your Co-op Support Letter from the Career Bridge office once you have been accepted and have completed the Co-op Admission Course.
  • If you require a co-op work permit to participate in a mandatory practicum for your program (e.g. Nursing, Aboriginal Health, Education, Addictions Counselling or Therapeutic Recreation), you can request this letter from your Faculty advisor. 
     
• A scan or clear photos of your passport
  • This should include the biodata page, as well as all other pages with markings, stamps or visas.
  • If you have recently received a new passport, include both your new passport (first) and your old passport, both clearly labelled.
  • Note: All pages/photos will need to be compiled and saved as one PDF document.
     
• Digital photo
  • Colour photo and must show full front view of head, face in the middle and include the top of the shoulders against a white backdrop.
  • Note: This photo does not need to be an official passport photo. IRCC has some examples of acceptable photos.
     
• Immigration Medical Exam - IME (if required)
  • An IME is required if you will work in certain jobs that bring you in close contact with people who have health problems.
  • IRCC extended a temporary public policy for IMEs allowing some applicants to use their old IME in their new application. (See Immigration Medical Exams below)
     

Optional Documents:
 

• Client Information
  • Use this space to upload a Letter of Explanation if your situation is unusual or to upload additional information/documentation to help the processing officer understand your application better. 
     
• Family Information (IMM 5707 or IMM 5645)
  • You are only required to submit a Family Information form with your application if it is listed in your Document Checklist. 
     
• Schedule 1 - Application for Temporary Residence (IMM 5257b)
  • You are only required to submit a Schedule 1 with your application if you have answered "Yes" to any of the Background Information (questions 3 through 6) on the IMM 5710 application form.
  • Please contact the International Student Advisor for guidance.

An Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is required if you will work in certain jobs that bring you in close contact with people who have health problems. IMEs must be completed by an IRCC Approved Panel Physician. Once your IME is complete, the Panel Physician will give you an "e-Medical" print out. 

IRCC extended a temporary public policy until October 5, 2029, exempting some individuals from completing a new Immigration Medical Exam, if they are submitting a new application from inside Canada. 

To be eligible for this public policy, you must meet all of the following conditions: 

• You applied or are applying for either permanent residence or temporary residence
• You already live in Canada
• You completed your previous IME in the last 5 years
• Your previous IME indicated a low risk or no risk to public health or public safety

If you meet all of the conditions above, you will upload a copy of your old Immigration Medical Exam (e-Medical print out) into your co-op work permit document checklist. 

Students in Nursing, Aboriginal Health, Education, Addictions Counselling or Therapeutic Recreation programs all have a practicum component that will bring you in close contact with individuals who have health problems. These students can still take advantage of the IRCC public policy and upload their old e-Medical print out in your co-op work permit application. 

Please review the information here about medical exams for IRCC.

Typically, IRCC will issue a co-op work permit with an expiry date that matches your current study permit's expiry. 

• If you require more time to complete your study program and co-op work terms, you can apply to extend your study permit and co-op work permit at the same time.
   
• If you did not apply to extend your co-op work permit at the same time as your study permit extension and require more time to complete your co-op work terms, you will need to submit a separate co-op work permit extension application through your IRCC Secure Account. 

If you are applying to extend your co-op work permit, you must submit your extension application before the expiry date listed on your current permit. 

Note: You will need to obtain an updated Co-op Letter from Career Bridge to extend your co-op work permit.

It is possible that your current co-op work permit may expire before you receive a decision from IRCC on your application to extend. If you submit your application to extend before the expiry of your current co-op work permit, you will benefit from "maintained status". This means you can continue studying and working according to the conditions of your permits until IRCC makes a decision on your extension application. 

If you leave Canada and return after the expiry date of your permit, but before a decision is made on your application, you lose your maintained status. You must wait for a positive decision on your application to begin studying and working again. Consult with an international student advisor before making a decision to leave Canada.

If your application to extend your co-op work permit is refused, your maintained status ends. You must stop working immediately.

To start the application process, you'll need create an IRCC Secure Account, if you don't already have one. You'll have the option to create either a GC Key or Sign-in Partner - we recommend creating a GCKey.

• If you are creating an account, click the "Register" button at the bottom of the page and enter a username, password, and some security questions.
  • We suggest that you make note of your security questions and answers so that you'll be able to access your account if you forget your password. 
     
• Once logged in to your IRCC Secure Account, scroll down to where you see “Start an application” near the bottom of the page, click “Apply to come to Canada”
   
• Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click “Visitor, study and/or work permit”
   
• Begin the questionnaire, indicating that you would like to work in Canada. Make sure you indicate your current country of residence is "Canada".
  • If completed correctly, the questionnaire should indicate that you are eligible to apply for "Co-op (in Canada)" Select that option and click “Continue” to complete the rest of the questionnaire 
     
• Click “Continue” and complete the rest of the questionnaire until you arrive at your personalized document checklist.

IMM 5710: Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker 

In the document checklist, click on “Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM5710)” to download the latest version of the application form. When you click on this link, you may see a "Please Wait..." message on a white page. From here, use the download button in your browser to download the PDF document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, follow the instructions on the "Please Wait..." page to download it. Open the downloaded IMM5709 file in Adobe Reader, from the saved location on your computer.
 

Here are some important tips for completing the IMM 5710 application form:

• Use IRCC's step by step instructions to help you complete the form.
   
• UCI stands for “Unique Client Identifier” and is also known as Client ID. It is an eight or ten-digit number found on your study permit. On the application form, enter your UCI number without spaces or dashes. 
   
• Personal details
  • Select “Student” as current status in Canada.
  • Enter the “from” date as your study permit issue date and enter the “to” date your the study permit expiry date. You will find both dates on your study permit. 
     
• Details of Intended Work in Canada: Select "Co-op Work Permit" from the drop down menu.
  • Enter the "University of Lethbridge" as your employer
  • Enter “Co-op student” as your occupation/job title
  • Enter “to be determined” in the description of duties field.
  • Leave the duration field blank
     
• Education: Enter the details of your highest level of completed post-secondary education.
  • If you are a continuing student at uLethbridge and have not previously completed any post-secondary studies, you can select “No”.
     
• Employment: For Co-op work permit applicants, a full 10-year employment history is not required. **However, information in #1 "Current Activity/Occupation" is required in order to validate the form.**
  • Enter “Student” as your current activity, the University of Lethbridge’s as your employer.
  • Enter the “from” date as your study permit issue date and leave the "to" date blank to show that your studies are ongoing. 
     
• Signature: an electronic signature will occur prior to payment so no physical signature is necessary for IMM 5710. DO NOT print and scan this form.
   
• Validate & Upload: When you have completed the application form, click the blue “Validate” button at the end of the form. If you have made mistakes or missed any fields, these sections will be highlighted red and you will need to complete these areas prior to attempting to validate again. Once you have successfully validated, a page of black bar codes will be generated as the final page of the document. Save the validated form on your computer and then upload this form in the IRCC account.

Upload your documents into the corresponding field in the document checklist:

• IMM 5710e - Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay, or Remain in Canada as a Worker
  • Make sure that the information entered on this application form is up-to-date and that you have validated the form before uploading. 
     
• Co-op Support Letter
  • From either Career Bridge, or your Faculty Advising office.
     
• A scan or clear photos of your passport
  • This should include the biodata page, as well as any other pages with markings, stamps or visas.
  • If you have recently received a new passport, include both your new passport (first) and your old passport, both clearly labelled.
  • Note: All pages/photos will need to be compiled and saved as one PDF document. 
     
• Digital photo
  • Ensure your photo meets the IRCC temporary resident photo specifications. 
     
• Medical exam (if required)
  • Upload a copy of your "eMedical" print out that the Panel Physician gave you after you completed your Immigration Medical Exam. 

Optional Documents:

• Client Information
  • Use this space to upload a letter of explanation if your situation is unusual
  • You can also use this space to upload additional information/documentation to help the processing officer understand your application better. 
     
• Family Information (IMM 5707 or IMM 5645)
  • If it appears in your document checklist, upload the filled and signed form. 
     
• Schedule 1: Application for Temporary Residence (IMM5257b)
  • Only required if you have answered "Yes" to any of the Background Information questions 3 through 6 on the IMM5710 application form.
  • Please contact the International Student Advisor for guidance.

After uploading the completed application form(s) and all supporting documents, you will click “Continue” at the bottom of the page. On the next page you will provide your electronic signature by typing in your full name as it appears on your passport.
Note: If you are only applying for a co-op work permit, there is no application fee.

• Take screenshots of any confirmation numbers regarding payment and application submission. If you need to leave the application and return at a later time, your application will be saved in your GCKey account for 60 days from the time that you first complete the questionnaire to create the application.
   
• You will be able to follow the processing of your application via your IRCC Secure Account. If IRCC requests any additional documents for your application, you will upload and submit them them via your online GCKey account. You must provide any documents requested by the deadline given by IRCC, or your application will be refused. If your email has a strong junk mail filter, consider logging in to your GCKey account at least once a week to check for messages.

If your co-op work permit application is approved, IRCC will notify you with a message in your GCKey account. Once you receive this confirmation of approval, you should notify your co-op coordinator or faculty advisor. If you are a co-op student, you are required to provide a copy of both your confirmation of approval and your co-op work permit to your co-op coordinator.

• Check processing times: Select "Temporary residence" > "Work permit from inside Canada (initial and extension)".
  
• IRCC will mail your co-op work permit to the mailing address that you specified on the IMM5710 application form.
  
• If you do not receive your co-op work permit in the mail within the posted processing times, notify IRCC using the webform.
  
• If your application for a co-op work permit is refused, please contact us immediately for advice.