Unpaid internship from outside Canada

[Faustn]

Dear everyone,
I am an international student doing an exchange in Toronto for the Fall semester. I will go back to my country (in France) in January, but I wish to do a remote internship with my teacher during the winter semester. This internship will thus be
- Unpaid
- Remote, from outside Canada
If I understand well, even though unpaid internship are considered as work, since I'll be outside Canada I don't need a Work permit (and I can't apply for one since I won't come...). However, immigration advisors in my university are not sure. Where can I find the precise information whether I need a work permit or not, and if not to convince them ?

Thank you,
Best

 

[scylla]

Dear everyone,
I am an international student doing an exchange in Toronto for the Fall semester. I will go back to my country (in France) in January, but I wish to do a remote internship with my teacher during the winter semester. This internship will thus be
- Unpaid
- Remote, from outside Canada
If I understand well, even though unpaid internship are considered as work, since I'll be outside Canada I don't need a Work permit (and I can't apply for one since I won't come...). However, immigration advisors in my university are not sure. Where can I find the precise information whether I need a work permit or not, and if not to convince them ?

Thank you,
Best

You are right. No work permit is needed since you will be outside of Canada.

I'm not aware of anywhere on the IRCC website where this is addressed. Logically a Canadian work permit is only needed if someone is physically in Canada. Canada can't dictate what someone does if they are in another country. Canada's immigration rules don't apply there.

 

[Faustn]

Thank you for your answer. I logically agree with you, but I think the preoccupation of the university is whether it is legal for them to "employ" me instead of a Canadian Citizen (event though it's not like there will be anyone instead of me if I don't do it...). Thus, it would be good if I can come with a proof they don't need me to have a work permit

 

[Faustn]

Hi again
Do someone have an idea of how I could obtain the proof that I don't need a Visa ? The IRCC won't answer me since my request is not "urgent"
Thank you