International Student Work Rights in Canada 2026: What Is in Force and What Is Only Proposed

Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319 · Updated Oct 16, 2026 · 5 min read

From April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for placements their program requires. IRCC has also listed further proposals, such as letting graduates keep working while a PGWP decision is pending, but it has not published text or dates for them. This guide separates what is in force from what is only proposed.

Read it with our working while studying guide and our PGWP page.

Key Takeaways

In force: from April 1, 2026, no separate co-op work permit for required placements at post-secondary level. Placements must be 50% or less of the program.
Proposed only: IRCC’s Forward Regulatory Plan 2026-2028 lists further changes. No text or date is published.
PGWP wait: you can keep working full time while a PGWP decision is pending only if you meet IRCC’s conditions, including the 24 hour off-campus limit during term.
Permanent residence: full-time student work and co-op terms do not count toward Canadian Experience Class.

Do you still need a co-op work permit in 2026?

No. Since April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students do not need a separate co-op work permit for a placement their program requires. The placement must be 50% or less of the total program, and there is no weekly hour limit for the placement itself (IRCC program delivery update, 2026).

Secondary school students still need a co-op work permit. Check your study permit conditions before you start a placement.

What are the work rules for international students today?

Your study permit conditions set what you can do. The rule that most students care about is the off-campus limit during academic sessions, which is stated in your permit and in IRCC’s guidance. Work on campus and work during scheduled breaks follow different rules.

Our working while studying page covers the current limits step by step. Because limits change, confirm the current number on IRCC’s site before you accept a schedule.

Can you work full time while you wait for a PGWP decision?

Yes, but only if you meet all of IRCC’s conditions. When you applied, you must have held a valid study permit, finished your program, been eligible to work off campus, and not worked more than 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions (IRCC help centre).

If you did not meet one of these conditions, stop working until the decision. Working without authorization can harm your PGWP and your future applications.

See our PGWP page and our PGWP rules guide for the full eligibility rules.

What has IRCC proposed but not yet confirmed?

IRCC’s Forward Regulatory Plan 2026-2028 lists a project called “Streamlining study and work authorizations”. It proposes to remove the co-op work permit requirement, remove the study permit requirement for certain foreign apprentices, extend work without a permit to students awaiting a study permit extension decision and to graduates awaiting a PGWP decision, and standardize work during scheduled breaks.

No regulatory text or date has been published. These are proposals, so do not plan around them. The co-op part already took effect on April 1, 2026 through an IRCC policy change.

Note also that the number of international students has dropped sharply. IRCC data shows 80% fewer new student arrivals from January to July 2026 than in 2024 (IRCC, data as of July 31, 2026).

How does Canadian work experience count toward permanent residence?

Canadian Experience Class counts one year, or 1,560 hours at 30 hours a week, of paid skilled work in Canada (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) within 3 years before you apply. Work done while you are a full-time student and co-op terms do not count. There is no education requirement, but you need an approved language test with the minimum score in all four abilities, and you must plan to live outside Quebec.

The minimum score depends on your job’s skill level. Read our Canadian Experience Class page and our study to PR guide.

What this means for you

If you are a current student

Check whether your program requires a placement. If it does, you can now take it without a separate permit, provided you are at post-secondary level and the placement is 50% or less of the program.

If you are about to graduate

Apply for your PGWP inside the 180-day window. Do not rely on the proposed rule that would let you work during the wait. Use the current rule and its 24 hour condition.

If you are planning permanent residence

Count only hours that qualify. Keep pay records and a letter from your employer that lists duties and hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do international students need a co-op work permit in 2026?

From April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for placements their program requires. The placement must be 50% or less of the program, and secondary school students still need a permit.

Can I work full time after my program ends while waiting for a PGWP?

Yes, if you meet IRCC’s conditions: a valid study permit and a finished program when you applied, eligibility to work off campus, and no more than 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions. Otherwise, wait for the decision before you work.

Has IRCC confirmed that students can work while waiting for a study permit extension?

No. IRCC lists it as a proposal in its Forward Regulatory Plan 2026-2028, with no published text or date. Keep following your current permit conditions.

Do my student work hours count toward Canadian Experience Class?

No. Work done while you are a full-time student and co-op terms do not count. You need one year, or 1,560 hours, of paid skilled work within 3 years before you apply.

Do I need a language test for Canadian Experience Class?

Yes. You need an approved language test with the minimum score in all four abilities. The minimum depends on the skill level of your job.

To plan your work and PR timeline, Book a Strategy Consultation.

Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R412319) who has been associated with the immigration consulting industry since 1991.