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Canada Internship Visa Requirements

To do an internship in Canada, you’ll need to obtain an internship visa, called the International Co-op work permit. Find out if you’re eligible to apply and let’s start planning!

What is International Experience Canada (IEC)?

Canada has a bilateral youth mobility agreement with approximately 35 countries, allowing you to do an internship in Canada as part of your studies back home. This specific internship work permit category is called International Co-op or internship visa, and belongs to the commonly known program International Experience Canada (IEC).

Please note that not all countries that hold an agreement with International Experience Canada have access to this work permit category. In these cases, applying for a Working Holiday permit instead could be an alternative. There is one general requirement: you must be registered as a student outside of Canada for the duration of the internship.

Internship Visa Canada Requirements

In order to apply for an international co-op work permit, you will need to be able to prove the following:

Be registered as a student in your home country
Have an internship offer in Canada – we take care of this part!
Hold a valid passport from an eligible IEC country (see the countries participating below)
Be between 18 and 30, or in some cases 35 years old

Participating Countries in the IEC Program

Check the table below to see if your country is participating in the International Experience Canada program. If your country does not have access to the International Co-Op work permit category, you could be eligible to apply under the Working Holiday category.

If your country isn’t on the list, you might still be eligible to enter Canada on one of our other programs. See our FAQs at the bottom of this page for more information.

Andorra

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Australia

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

24 months

Austria*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

6 months

Belgium*

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

Chile

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Costa Rica

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Croatia

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Czechia*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Denmark*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Estonia

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

France

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Germany

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Greece

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Hong Kong*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Ireland

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Italy

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

6 months

Japan*

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

Latvia*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Lithuania

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Luxembourg

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

Netherlands*

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

New Zealand

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

23 months

Norway*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Poland

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Portugal

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

24 months

San Marino

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Slovakia*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Slovenia

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

South Korea*

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

Spain*

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

Sweden*

Age

18-30

Max. Stay

12 months

Taiwan

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

12 months

United Kingdom

Age

18-35

Max. Stay

24 months

Please Note*

Some countries have a “Residence Requirement”, which means you must be resident in your country of citizenship at the time of application. Check to see if your country is included, and the individual requirements for applying for an International Co-op visa.

Let’s Get Started!

You may apply at any time of the year, however the earlier you start planning, the better. Get in touch to start planning your internship in Canada.

Learn More

FAQ

How Do I Apply for the International Co-Op Visa for Canada?

You must have a valid internship offer in Canada in order to apply for this work permit. Participants must have a signed letter of offer, or a signed contract of employment before submitting their profile to the pool.

You not only need the internship offer, but your employer must follow the requirements from International Experience Canada (IEC) and pay the relevant fees, so you become eligible for this work permit.

If you have an internship offer, but your host employer is not willing to follow the process and pay the fees, you will not be able to apply. Our Internship programs guarantee you the internship offer in Canada with employers willing to follow the required steps for you to get your internship, so we’ve got you covered!

How Much Does the International Co-Op Visa Cost?

The total cost of a Canada International Co-Op visa is CAD $241, broken down as follows:

IEC fees: CAD $156
Biometrics fee: CAD $85

Can I Do an Internship in Canada With an ETA or as a Visitor if My Internship Is Unpaid?

Traveling to Canada with an ETA will not allow you to do an internship in Canada. Canada has signed agreements with many countries so international students can do an internship in Canada. It is important to use the right type of internship visa.

My Country Does Not Have an International Co-Op Category, Can I Still Do an Internship in Canada?

Yes, you might still be able to do an internship in Canada if you secure a working holiday permit.

I’m Not Eligible Under IEC, Can I Still Do an Internship in Canada?

Unfortunately, unless your country of nationality has an agreement with Canada, you can not apply for an internship program in Canada under our programs. Yet, that does not mean that you can not travel to Canada to Study and Work through our College Co-Op Diplomas, click here to learn more.

How Long in Advance Should I Start To Get an Internship Visa in Canada?

At least four months before you would like to arrive. This is because the visa application process can take up to eight weeks. And you can only start your visa process once you have an internship offer!

For you to land your internship, our team will work with you to polish your resume, prepare you for Canada-style interviews, and schedule your interviews with Canadian employers.

What Is the Best Time To Apply for an Internship in Canada?

It is important to note that the number of internship visas available to each country is limited. There is a risk that if you wait too long into the year, there will be no permits left.

At the end of each year, the International Experience Canada program opens for the following year. It makes the permits available throughout the spring and closes again by the end of the summer. Therefore, we recommend starting your application process between January and June.

How Do I Activate My International Co-Op Visa?

Upon your arrival into Canada, you will need to have the following:

An internship offer letter
Confirmation of being registered as a student back home
Valid insurance for the complete duration of your stay
Proof of funds of at least CAD$2,500, no older than 7 days before your trip
Flight to return to your home country or extra funds to pay for that flight

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Canada Internship Visa Requirements

What is International Experience Canada (IEC)?

Internship Visa Canada Requirements

Participating Countries in the IEC Program

Andorra

Australia

Austria*

Belgium*

Chile

Costa Rica

Croatia

Czechia*

Denmark*

Estonia

France

Germany

Greece

Hong Kong*

Ireland

Italy

Japan*

Latvia*

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands*

New Zealand

Norway*

Poland

Portugal

San Marino

Slovakia*

Slovenia

South Korea*

Spain*

Sweden*

Taiwan

United Kingdom

Please Note*

Let’s Get Started!

FAQ

How Do I Apply for the International Co-Op Visa for Canada?

How Much Does the International Co-Op Visa Cost?

Can I Do an Internship in Canada With an ETA or as a Visitor if My Internship Is Unpaid?

My Country Does Not Have an International Co-Op Category, Can I Still Do an Internship in Canada?

I’m Not Eligible Under IEC, Can I Still Do an Internship in Canada?

How Long in Advance Should I Start To Get an Internship Visa in Canada?

What Is the Best Time To Apply for an Internship in Canada?

How Do I Activate My International Co-Op Visa?

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