A Step Forward for International Students
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations welcomes the removal of Co-Op Work Permit Requirements for International Students
Ottawa, Ontario – April 9th, 2026- The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) welcomes the federal government’s decision to remove the requirement for international students to obtain a separate co-op work permit for work placements that are required as part of their academic program. Effective April 1, 2026, this change will allow eligible international students to complete off-campus work-integrated learning opportunities that are part of their curriculum under their existing study permit authorization.
This announcement follows continued advocacy from CASA. The removal of the co-op work permit requirement was as a recommendation in CASA’s pre-budget submission and our submission to the government’s red tape reduction initiative. CASA also raised this directly with federal decision-makers as part of the organization’s broader efforts to reduce barriers for students and improve the accessibility of work-integrated learning.
“International students should not face months of uncertainty and administrative delay just to complete a required placement in their program,” said CASA Chair Abdul Abbasi. “This was an unnecessary barrier that made it harder for students to meet academic requirements, gain professional experience, and move through their degrees on time. Today’s decision is a welcome and practical step, and it reflects what students have been saying for a long time: if work-integrated learning is critical to producing high quality graduates and immigration candidates, federal policy should treat it that way.”
Work-integrated learning plays a critical role in helping students develop skills, and transition successfully into the workforce. CASA believes students should be supported, not held back, by the systems meant to serve them.
CASA will continue working with the federal government to ensure this interim change is implemented effectively and to advocate for long-term policies that reduce barriers for students and build employable skills across Canada.
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About CASA:
Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, national student organization composed of 25 student associations representing 300,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. Through its partnership with the Quebec Student Union/l’Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ) and its members representing 110,000 students, CASA presents a national student voice to the federal government. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.
CASA Contact:
Mariam Trifess, Communications and Public Relations Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (438) 225-4492