Some programs require a mandatory paid/unpaid internship or work placement as part of the academic curriculum. International students in these programs must apply for a co-op work permit as well as a study permit.
If work is integral to your program of study, you are required to have a co-op work permit before you start your work. Your co-op work permit will list “Humber College” as your employer; this work permit still allows you to work for external employers. Your co-op work permit is only valid for the mandatory hours to fulfill your approved co-op requirements.
When applying for the initial study permit, if you have a mandatory work placement, please apply for your co-op work permit at the same time. Students can find the co-op letter in the offer letter. IRCC may issue both study permit and co-op work permit to you when you enter Canada. If you did not apply for a co-op work permit overseas, you should apply for it upon arrival in Canada as soon as possible as processing time can take several months. Click on the following buttons for instructions.
Application Process
- Go to IRCC website and sign in with your IRCC secure account
- Click on the “Apply to come to Canada”, “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit” to initiate the eligibility questionnaire for a co-op work permit
Summary of Application Procedure
- Applications should be submitted online. If you cannot submit an online application due to disabilities or any other reason, please consult with an International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist.
- Complete application form IMM 5710. You need to click on hyperlink, download the form and open the form with advanced Adobe version.
- Gather and scan supporting documents
- Pay processing fee
- Submit application for processing; if you submit an online application, monitor the email account you specified on your application (including spam and junk folders) in case IRCC has a query about your application. These messages are time sensitive.When you receive your permit, please upload a copy via your MyHumber account.
The online Co-op work permit application process can be summarized in the following 4 steps:
Step 1: Initiate your application
- Log into your IRCC secure account. If you do not have an IRCC secure account, you can follow the link to create one.
- Once logged in, scroll down, and click on “Apply to Come to Canada”
- Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click on “Determine your eligibility and apply online”, then click on “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit”
To start the Eligibility Questionnaire:
- Log into your IRCC account.
- On the main account page, scroll down and click on “Apply to Come to Canada”
- Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click on “Determine your eligibility and apply online”, then click on “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit”
This will initiate the following Eligibility Questionnaire. Answer the questions according to your situation. Some areas that might be confusing are:
- What would you like to do in Canada? Work
- How long are you planning to stay in Canada? Temporarily – more than 6 months
- What is your current country/territory of residence? If you are presently in Canada, you should select Canada.
- Family Member questions: Click on hyperlink for definition of a family member and answer based on your situation.
- What is your current immigration status in Canada? Student
- Do you plan to work on campus? No
- Are you a full-time student at a participating post-secondary institution and want to work off-campus up to 20 hours per week? No
- Have you recently graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution for which your study program was full-time and a minimum of eight months? No
- Is your work an essential part of your studies (for example, a Co-Op or internship program)? Yes
- Do you have a written job offer? - No, this job offer is not the same as your co-op job offer
- What is your province or territory of destination? If visiting multiple provinces or territories, select the one in which you will be spending most of your time? Ontario
- On the "Your results" page select "Co-op (in Canada)". If "Temporary Resident Visa" appears, students who require a TRV can apply for a new one AFTER they receive their new study permit.
- Do you also want to apply for a study permit? Select No. If your study permit is close to its expiration, please submit a study permit extension application indicating you are also applying for a co-op work permit.
- Have you had a medical exam performed by a IRCC authorized panel physician (doctor) within the last 12 months? Answer “Yes” or “No” based on your situation.
- Do you want to work in one of the following jobs? Answer “Yes” or “No” based on your situation. Students working in these fields require medical clearance.
- Review your answers; To modify responses click on the “pencil & eraser” icon
- “Working in Canada – Your document checklist”, record your personal reference code; scroll to bottom of page for the link to application form IMM5710 and list of supporting documents
- Upload application and documents using your IRCC secure account
If you want to learn in detail, attend the live webinar we host every semester or request to access a webinar recording from an International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist.
Click on the “Documents” tab to read about the next steps of your application.
After you have completed the Eligibility Questionnaire (see previous tab), your application page will be created on your IRCC account. You can access this application at any time within the next 60 days.
Please upload all the required documents listed below before you pay and submit the application.
Required Forms:
- IMM 5710 – A link for this form should be available on your account after you complete the eligibility questionnaire. When you download IMM 5710, make sure to go to the folder where it is saved and open it with Adobe Reader.
Required Documents:
From Humber:
- Co-op letter (check your email account, the co-op letter is included in the Offer Letter); if you do not have a letter or if your co-op letter was issued more than 4 months ago, please request a copy from the International Centre through the International Contact Form
- Confirmation of enrolment letter (use the letter from your current or the most recent semester); verify that the expected graduation date is correct. If the expected graduation date shows N/A or incorrect, please contact us through the International Contact Form for North and Lakeshore students, and MyIGS portal for IGS students
- Official transcript (available only if you have completed at least one semester). Students have the option to request the transcript by mail or by MyCreds.
IRCC requirement: additional documents may be required
- Copy of your passport (including the personal information page, any pages with stamps, visas or markings), study permit and your current co-op work permit if you have one
- Proof of upfront medical exam (if required)
- Digital Photo - A scan or digital version of a passport size photo. See the government of Canada website for photo specifications.
Completing Form IMM 5710: Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a worker
- When completing the application, you will need to have your passport and current study permit handy.
- The form is a fillable PDF form which means you can type your answers; do not fill it by hand.
- There are a series of drop-down boxes throughout the form; use those boxes rather than creating your own answers.
- Please ensure that the form you are filling out is the most up-to-date version.
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| UCI | Unique Client Identifier” or “Client ID” is an 8- or 10-digit number found near the top of your study permit. |
| I am applying for | Select "Apply for a work permit for the first time or with a new employer”. |
| Family name | If you do not have a family name on your passport enter your given name(s) in this box and leave the given name box blank. |
| Current country of residence “from” and “to” date | From” is the date you entered Canada; “To” is the date of your study permit expires |
| Designated language testing agency | IELTS, CELPIP or TEF; answer "yes" even if your results have expired. |
| Street No. | Street no.” refers to “house number”. |
| P.O. Box | A locked box that you can rent to collect mail and parcels at the post office |
| E-mail address | Use an email address you check frequently; check your junk/spam folders for messages. |
| Original entry date to Canada | The first time you came to Canada; if you came to Canada prior to studying you would enter that date and place (airport or land border). |
| Document number | Appears in the upper right-hand corner of your study permit, usually starts with "F" followed by numbers |
| Details of prospective employer, location of employment, occupation, Duration of employment | Leave blank |
| Education | Answer “yes”; type in Humber’s information unless you earned a higher credential from another school; under “field and level of study” answer both portions of this question. |
| Employment | If you have never been employed, type in that you are a student and include Humber’s information; if you are or have been employed in the past include that information here including any employment outside of Canada. |
| Background Information | You must respond to ALL these questions truthfully. If you answer "yes" to any questions, you need to provide an explanation. |
| Sign the application form | If you are submitting an online application type your name in the signature section. |
| Validate | Validate and save the form. Another page with barcodes will appear, which is part of your application and needs to be submitted. If a series of red boxes appears, it means you have either neglected to complete a field or the formatting of the answer is incorrect. Make the correction(s), validate again, and save the document. |
Apply now on the Government of Canada website.
Disclaimer
Canadian immigration laws are always subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The website was prepared by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in compliance with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and procedures change frequently, and so the requirements and procedure for applying for your Co-op work permit may have changed. This page was updated on July 25, 2024. This page is intended for students of Humber ; the information contained herein may not be applicable to students at other academic institutions.