The 50% Rule: What Counts and What Does Not
Short answer: Work-integrated learning still cannot exceed 50% of your total program length: a 24-month program caps placements at 12 months; paid, unpaid, co-ops, practicums, mentorships, and clinical rotations all count, but summer jobs and freelance work outside the program do not.
The 50% rule sits at the centre of co-op authorization. It has not changed, but many students get it wrong.
Your work-integrated learning cannot exceed 50% of your total program duration. The math is simple: divide total program length by two. A 24-month program caps you at 12 months of work. A four-month program caps you at two.
What counts toward the 50%: paid placements, unpaid internships, co-ops, practicums, mentorships, clinical rotations, and any other work-integrated learning tied to your credential. The work period is measured in months, not hours. Paid and unpaid work both count.
What does not count: summer jobs outside the formal curriculum, personal projects, freelance work outside your program structure, and work experience you do on your own. The placement has to sit inside the program itself, either required or as an accepted part of the credential pathway.
Your Designated Learning Institution will confirm whether your placement counts as integrated learning and whether the duration keeps you under the 50% threshold. If you have any doubt, ask your institution's international student services office before the placement starts. Get their confirmation in writing. That written confirmation, often called a co-op letter or work placement letter, matters more than students realize.
What Students Who Already Applied for a Co-op Permit Should Do
Short answer: IRCC withdraws eligible pending C32 applications automatically with no action required, but students can pull their own application to avoid delays; contact IRCC directly to confirm refund status since auto-refund is not officially confirmed.
If you filed a co-op work permit application (C32) before April 1, 2026, IRCC's stated policy is to withdraw eligible pending applications on its own. You do not need to act for the withdrawal to happen. IRCC says it will process them proactively.
You can also pull the application yourself instead of waiting for IRCC. The University of Toronto's official guidance to students reads: "you can withdraw your co-op work permit application or it may be withdrawn automatically by IRCC." If your placement starts soon and you cannot risk further delays, withdrawing yourself may be faster. Do it online through your IRCC account or by contacting IRCC directly.
What About Fees?
IRCC confirmed that pending co-op work permit applications will be withdrawn automatically. On refunds for application fees, news outlets reported that refunds would be processed automatically. That claim is not directly confirmed in IRCC's public notice. If you paid a co-op work permit application fee and your application is withdrawn, contact IRCC directly to confirm your refund status. Do not assume the refund is automatic; verify it with IRCC yourself.
Existing C32 Permits Issued Before April 1
If you already hold a co-op work permit issued before April 1, 2026, that permit is still technically valid. You do not need to use it. You do not need to return it to IRCC. You can rely on your study permit for the placement instead, provided your study permit carries the correct work authorization conditions. The valid C32 does not expire because the new rules took effect; it simply becomes unnecessary.
The Co-op Letter: The Trap Many Students Miss
Short answer: Even without a separate permit, your DLI must still issue a written co-op letter confirming you are a full-time student in a recognized program, the placement is mandatory for graduation, the duration and dates, and that work stays within 50% of program length.
The detail most students overlook: even though you no longer need a separate co-op work permit, your institution still has to provide written confirmation that your placement is mandatory for graduation.
That letter, often called a co-op letter, work placement letter, or program confirmation letter, is the evidence your placement qualifies under the new rules. Without it, your legal status during the placement can be questioned.
Your institution's international student office or co-op office issues the letter. It should state clearly that:
- You are a full-time student enrolled in a recognized program.
- The placement is mandatory for graduation.
- The placement duration and dates.
- The placement does not exceed 50% of your total program length.
Some institutions issue this letter routinely. Others require you to request it. Do not assume your institution has sent it automatically. Contact your co-op office or international student services now and request the letter in writing. If the wording is vague ("the student may complete a placement" instead of "the placement is mandatory"), push back and ask the institution to fix it. Vague language can compromise your legal status.
Keep a copy of the co-op letter with your study permit documents. If IRCC or border officials audit you, this letter is your proof the work was authorized.
