internship unpaid?
- Thread starter Jorge
- Start date
I beleive an unpaid internship is still considered work:
Work permit and HRSDC confirmation required:
Work (remunerated or not) in situations that do not fulfil the conditions above.
Any activity which might be considered ‘competitive’ within the Canadian labour market, even if unpaid. For example, if the work might be a valuable work experience for a Canadian student (for example, an internship with a television station or with a high-profile NGO, even if unpaid). For cases which don’t conform to the guidelines allowing for confirmation exemption (above) HRDC is prepared to offer a labour market opinion.
The work is “normal” work in the labour market: i.e. it competes with other jobs in the Canadian labour market. For example, if a foreign student is doing an internship that is not a requirement for the completion of the academic course of study, whether paid or unpaid, that fulfils the definition of “work,” an HRDC confirmation is required.
Work permit and HRSDC confirmation required:
Work (remunerated or not) in situations that do not fulfil the conditions above.
Any activity which might be considered ‘competitive’ within the Canadian labour market, even if unpaid. For example, if the work might be a valuable work experience for a Canadian student (for example, an internship with a television station or with a high-profile NGO, even if unpaid). For cases which don’t conform to the guidelines allowing for confirmation exemption (above) HRDC is prepared to offer a labour market opinion.
The work is “normal” work in the labour market: i.e. it competes with other jobs in the Canadian labour market. For example, if a foreign student is doing an internship that is not a requirement for the completion of the academic course of study, whether paid or unpaid, that fulfils the definition of “work,” an HRDC confirmation is required.
I had to get a work permit to do my internship. It was separate from the off-campus work permit that I had at the time. So there is a specific work permit that is needed to do internships.
You may want to read the manual for foreign workers (FW1) http://www.cic.gc.ca/English//resources/manuals/fw/fw01-eng.pdf - it really depends on what kind of internship you are seeking.
5.17. Work without a work permit R186(p)—Health care students
Foreign students, registered at foreign educational institutions outside Canada, in fields such as
medicine, occupational and physical therapy, nursing and medical technology may do their clinical
clerkships or short-term practicums in Canada. Written permission from the body that regulates
the particular health field is required in order to ensure that Canadian health care students are
placed for clinical practice first. The primary purpose of the practicum must be to acquire training
in the related field; therefore these positions will often be unpaid and should be of no more than
four months’ duration.
Foreign students in residency, extern or fellowship positions in Canadian clinical settings are not
included in this exemption.
Note: Persons entering Canada to perform this type of work are required to pass an immigration
medical exam according to R30.(See section 9 of this manual, see also OP 11 section 11,
and OP 15 section 5).
5.17. Work without a work permit R186(p)—Health care students
Foreign students, registered at foreign educational institutions outside Canada, in fields such as
medicine, occupational and physical therapy, nursing and medical technology may do their clinical
clerkships or short-term practicums in Canada. Written permission from the body that regulates
the particular health field is required in order to ensure that Canadian health care students are
placed for clinical practice first. The primary purpose of the practicum must be to acquire training
in the related field; therefore these positions will often be unpaid and should be of no more than
four months’ duration.
Foreign students in residency, extern or fellowship positions in Canadian clinical settings are not
included in this exemption.
Note: Persons entering Canada to perform this type of work are required to pass an immigration
medical exam according to R30.(See section 9 of this manual, see also OP 11 section 11,
and OP 15 section 5).