eTA for short-term volunteer work?

[CaptainKirk]

Hello,

I am a bit confused concerning the visa type I need. I'm a German student, planning to visit Canada in Summer 2016. To minimize costs for accommodation, I will work for food&accommodation at various hosts, 4/5 hours a day, 5 days/week, staying at each host for a maximum of four weeks.

According to the official CIC website, I do not need a work permit for that:

"There may be other types of unpaid short-term work where the work is really incidental to the main reason that the foreign student is in Canada and is not a competitive activity, even though non-monetary valuable consideration is received. For instance, if a foreign student wishes to stay on a family farm and work part time just for room and board for a short period (i.e., 1-4 weeks), this would not be considered an activity which requires a work permit."

(Source: cic.gc.ca, navigate Home – Immigration and citizenship – About us – Community partners – Educational institutions, sorry I'm not allowed to post links)

Concerning being German, I only need an eTA instead of a visitor's visa to enter Canada. But I'm not too sure if I need a work permit then? I doubt it, but I want to make sure that I don't get send back!


Thanks for any help!

 

[scylla]

You need a work permit to engage in the type of work you are describing.

The rule stating you do not need a work permit does not apply to you. It only applies to international students studying at a university or college IN Canada. If you attempt to work/volunteer in Canada as a visitor - you will be engaging in illegal activity.

Your only option for getting a work permit to allow you to do the kind of work you want to do is the IEC / Working Holiday Visa program. You can find out how to apply and if you qualify here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/

 

[CaptainKirk]

Thanks for your reply.

 

[PMM]

Hi

You need a work permit to engage in the type of work you are describing.

The rule stating you do not need a work permit does not apply to you. It only applies to international students studying at a university or college IN Canada. If you attempt to work/volunteer in Canada as a visitor - you will be engaging in illegal activity.

Your only option for getting a work permit to allow you to do the kind of work you want to do is the IEC / Working Holiday Visa program. You can find out how to apply and if you qualify here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/

1. Actually the OP could do it without a work permit, if he was only working on farms. S/he should google "woofing" Operational Bulletin 503 (expired) outlines it : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob503.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/permit/farm.asp

 

[CaptainKirk]

Dear PMM,

thanks for your post. That was actually also what I have read so far. I don't have the source atm, but I've come across the information that these voluntary farm stays are fine as long as the farm is family owned and not profit-oriented, e.g. that it would be a difference if there's a 200 acre sheep farm or a 20 acre family-lead farm for purposes of self-supply.