Canada is a top destination to gain initial professional experience. An internship in Canada allows you to explore North America and enhance your English or French, or even both, since Canada is a bilingual country. If you are considering undertaking an internship in Canada, here are some guidelines to help better prepare you.
In Canada, every internship, paid or unpaid, of long or short duration, is considered a job. Therefore, you will need a temporary work permit or an International Co-op Internship permit. In both cases, your internship must be secured before departing for Canada.
Finding an internship in Canada
To find an internship in Canada from your country of residence, start by listing companies whose field matches your field of study. You can use the yellow pages or consult the business directory 411.ca for this purpose.
Feel free to send a spontaneous application to companies that interest you: this practice is very common in Canada. Make sure you are well informed about the requirements for obtaining a work permit or an International Co-op Internship permit, so you can clearly explain them to your future employer.
If your search is unsuccessful or you are pressed for time, you can also pay for the services of a placement agency. Generally, these agencies will also help you complete the various administrative procedures.
The Canadian resume follows Anglo-Saxon rules: it can be two pages long, and it is recommended to include the contact details of two or three people who can vouch for your work qualities. These references can be professors and employers.
Obtaining a work permit in Canada
If your country has an agreement with Canada and you need to complete an internship as part of your studies, you could participate in the International Co-op Internship stream of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. Canada's immigration services regularly organize rounds of invitations during which candidates are invited to submit their permit application.
To be eligible for the International Co-op Internship permit, you must be aged 18 to 30 years, or up to 35 if you are French, provide a signed internship agreement with your employer in Canada, present a letter from your educational institution, have $2,500 CAD, subscribe to a valid health-hospitalization-repatriation insurance for the entire duration of your internship, and have a return plane ticket, or have enough money before departure to purchase one. Other documents, such as a police certificate or a medical examination certificate, may also be required.
Processing an International Co-op Internship permit application takes about eight weeks, according to the IRCC website. The application must be submitted online. This permit will cost you $179.75 CAD in 2025, plus, possibly, biometrics fees of $85 CAD. Your employer will also have to pay $230 CAD for compliance fees.
If your country has not signed an agreement with Canada, you will need to apply for a temporary work permit. Your employer will have to complete several steps before you can submit your application. For more information, you can consult our article Working in Canada, or determine your eligibility for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program on this page.
Living in Canada
Once you have your work permit, you will need to find accommodation in Canada. Waiting until you are on-site to search will allow you to visit different neighborhoods and ensure you are not too far from your workplace. For your first week in Canada, you can book stays in a youth hostel, a hotel, or with a private individual on a platform like Airbnb.
The cost of living in Canada varies by province and city. According to the site Numbeo, Victoria, Vancouver, and Toronto are the most expensive cities in Canada. Cities like Quebec City, Halifax, Winnipeg, and Ottawa are smaller but also more affordable.
In addition to your rent, you will need to budget for transportation, food, entertainment and travel expenses, as well as a phone plan and internet connection. Most of the time, living in shared accommodation in Canada will be cheaper than living alone: you will share various expenses, such as electricity, Internet, etc., with others.
Useful links:
International Experience Canada
Toronto Region Board of Trade (in English)
OFQJ - Franco-Quebec Youth Office
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