Comprehensive reference for international students at UBC.
Co-ops & internships
The co-op work permit allows international students to work when doing work that is for credit and is a required part of your education. The co-op work permit is the only work permit that allows students to work full-time during regular school terms. You cannot complete a co-op work term with an off-campus work permit. A co-op work permit is different from an off-campus work permit, and you may hold both if you meet the criteria for each.
The co-op work permit is issued for the length of your study permit, and when you extend your study permit online, you can follow up with a paper application for a co-op work permit.
Eligibility
If you are enrolled in a co-op program, you are required to have a co-op work permit before you start your work term. Your co-op work permit will list the employer as “UBC” and will allow you to work for any authorized co-op work term. This work permit only allows the work associated to your co-op work term. This means you cannot work a second job that is not for co-op using this permit.
How to apply
You may download the I. House tutorial for step-by-step instructions on completing a Paper Application (564 KB PDF) for a co-op work permit.
- Fill out the Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada (IMM 1249) (265KB PDF)
- Prepare other documents:
- Document checklist (IMM 5583) (32KB PDF)
- Photocopies of passport pages showing the passport number, the dates of issue and expiry, name and date of birth, the stamp made by the Canadian authorities on most recent entry to Canada and any other marked pages
- Original letter provided by your UBC co-op office stating that your intended employment is an essential part of your program
- No payment is needed – the co-op work permit is free
Mailing instructions
- Make and keep a photocopy of your complete application package.
- Send your documents to the correct address below, depending if it is a new permit or an extension. It is a strongly recommended that you send it with a service that provides tracking. Print the receipt showing the package has been received by CIC and keep this print-out for your records.
| Type of work permit: | Send application to: |
|---|---|
Student work permit extensions:
|
Citizen and Immigration Canada – Work Permit CPC – Vegreville 6212 55 Avenue, Unit 202 Vegreville, AB T9C 1X6 |
New student work permits:
|
Citizen and Immigration Canada – Work Permit CPC – Vegreville 6212 55 Avenue, Unit 555 Vegreville, AB T9C 1X6 |
Processing time and fee
Current processing times can be found on the CIC website.
The co-op work permit is free.
