Internships for international students

Internships for International Students: US, UK, France, Canada, Germany Compared (2027)

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Sources checked 10 October 2026 · Visa rules change — confirm on each official page
Written by Christian Chinonso, founder of LearnViaHub
Last updated: 10 October 2026

Can international students do internships?

Yes — but the route you need depends on three things: your host country, whether the internship is required by your degree, and where you are physically located when you work. Every country we cover requires some form of authorization: a CPT or OPT in the US, a convention de stage in France, a Student or Graduate visa in the UK, a study permit or PGWP in Canada, a student residence permit in Germany.

The rules changed in two important places in 2026. Canada eliminated the co-op work permit for most post-secondary students on 1 April 2026. And the UK Graduate Route drops from 2 years to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates whose applications are submitted on or after 1 January 2027 — apply by 31 December 2026 to keep the full two years.

This page gives you the country comparison and the decision framework. Each country’s full visa walkthrough is linked below.

Country comparison — the one table that matters

Which country to intern in depends on four things: how much you can work during study, what happens after graduation, whether you need employer sponsorship, and where you’ll be taxed. This table shows the difference.

Country Term-time work Post-study work Sponsor needed? Return obligation 5-year stay rate
US 20 hrs/week on-campus only. Off-campus requires CPT or OPT. OPT 12 months; +24 for STEM (36 total) No for OPT; H-1B later F-1: none. J-1: 2 years for some. Not published
UK 20 hrs/week (degree), 10 hrs (below degree); full-time in holidays Graduate Route 18 months (from 1 Jan 2027); 3 years for PhD No None for Student/Graduate routes 16% (OECD)
France 964 hrs/year (60% of full-time) 12-month job-search permit (not renewable) No None 33% (OECD)
Canada 24 hrs/week off-campus (2026 rule); full-time in scheduled breaks PGWP up to 3 years No — PGWP is open None 52% (OECD)
Germany 140 full days / 280 half days per year, or 20 hrs/week 18-month job-search permit (not renewable) No for job-search; EU Blue Card later None 52% (OECD)

Sources: gov.uk/graduate-visa; UKCISA; make-it-in-germany.com; IRCC notice 9 Apr 2026; OECD International Students in Higher Education (5-year in-country retention, first-time study permit holders).

Which country fits you?

Five profiles, five countries. Match your situation to the closest one.

Your situation Best fit Why
STEM degree, want long post-study work rights US OPT + STEM extension gives 36 months post-graduation, the longest single-country runway.
Want the shortest legal path to work after graduation UK Graduate Route requires no sponsor, no job offer, and lets you work any role — 18 months post-2027.
EU student, want free movement and a formal internship France Legal framework is the most structured in Europe — every internship needs a convention de stage, and gratification is mandatory above 308 hours.
Want a straightforward post-study work permit with no sponsor Canada PGWP is an open work permit, up to 3 years. No sponsorship required at any point.
Non-EU student, low tuition, want a strong engineering/manufacturing market Germany Public universities charge minimal tuition, 140-day work allowance is generous, and the job-search permit covers 18 months.

United States — CPT and OPT

F-1 students cannot accept an internship without work authorization. Two pathways: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for internships required by your degree, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) for pre- or post-graduation work related to your field.

Factor CPT OPT
Timing Before graduation Before or after graduation
Programme requirement Must be curricular/integral Must relate to major field
Full-time limit 12 months of full-time CPT removes OPT 12 months standard; STEM 24-month extension
Approval DSO authorizes on Form I-20 USCIS Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Best for Required academic internships Post-graduation work or flexible internships

📘 Full walkthrough: CPT vs OPT for F-1 students

France — convention de stage

Every internship in France, whatever its length, needs a convention de stage — a three-party agreement between you, your host organisation, and your educational institution. Without it, the placement isn’t legally a stage and both you and the employer can face penalties. Gratification (minimum stipend) is mandatory once the internship exceeds 308 hours or 2 months, whichever comes first.

Feature Stage Alternance
Status Student intern, not an employee Employee with a labour contract
Governing document Convention de stage Contrat d’apprentissage
Pay Gratification only if >308 hrs / 2 months: €4.50/hr in 2026 Salary tied to age/level
First-year internationals Accessible on a standard student visa Usually not in first year

📘 Full walkthrough: France internship visa and convention de stage

United Kingdom — Student, Graduate Route, GAE

Three routes depending on where you are in your studies. Student visa: 20 hrs/week during term for degree-level students. Graduate Route: post-study work without a sponsor. GAE visa: for internships via approved exchange schemes, up to 12 months for work-experience programmes.

Confirmed 2027 change: From 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route duration drops from 2 years to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates. Apply by 31 December 2026 to keep the full 2 years. PhD graduates keep 3 years regardless.

GAE visa corrections: The maximum stay is 12 months for work-experience schemes (not 24). The GAE route has no English language test requirement in the Immigration Rules. Sponsors include AIESEC, BUNAC, BAE Systems, Chatham House, and the Chevening/Marshall Sherfield Fellowships (the last is a fellowship scheme, not a general internship route). The GAE visa is not a route to settlement.

Current fees: Graduate Route application £937, IHS £1,035/year. Student IHS £776/year. GAE application £340, IHS £1,035/year.

📘 Full walkthrough: UK internship visa, Graduate Route, and GAE

Canada — study permit, co-op, PGWP

Two changes matter. Since 1 April 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for mandatory placements — the study permit covers them. And after graduation, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) gives up to 3 years of open work rights.

Programme length PGWP duration
Less than 8 months Not eligible
8 months to less than 2 years Same length as the programme
2 years or more Up to 3 years
Master’s degree, 8 months+ Up to 3 years

Apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving your completion letter or final transcript. The study permit must have been valid at some point during that window.

📘 Full walkthrough: Canada internship work permit, co-op, and PGWP

Germany — 140/280-day rule

Non-EU students on a German student residence permit can work 140 full days or 280 half days per year (or up to 20 hours/week during lectures) without Federal Employment Agency approval. Full-time work is unlimited during official university holidays. Mandatory internships required by the study programme do not count against the 140-day allowance; voluntary internships do.

Internship type Minimum wage Counts toward 140 days?
Mandatory (Pflichtpraktikum) Exempt No
Voluntary, ≤3 months May be exempt in specific cases Yes
Voluntary, >3 months €13.90/hr (2026 rate) Yes

Germany’s minimum wage rises to €14.60/hr on 1 January 2027. After graduation, non-EU students can apply for an 18-month job-search permit (not renewable).

📘 Full walkthrough: Germany internship visa and work rules

Remote internships — the rule that surprises people

If you are physically in a country, that country’s work authorization rules apply to any work you do there — even if the employer is abroad and the work is 100% remote. An F-1 student in the US working remotely for a German company still needs CPT or OPT. A student in the UK working remotely for a foreign employer still counts against the 20-hour weekly cap.

If you are physically outside a country, that country generally cannot require its work authorization. This is the only case where CPT/OPT doesn’t apply for a US-based internship.

📘 Full walkthrough: Remote internships for international students — visas, tax, and work authorization

Unpaid internships are legal only under strict conditions, and the test differs by country. Some unpaid roles are illegal unpaid labour.

Country Legal test Unpaid rule
US FLSA “primary beneficiary” 7-factor test Legal only if the intern is the primary beneficiary
France Convention de stage required for all lengths Gratification mandatory above 308 hrs; €4.50/hr floor
UK NMW “worker” test Must pay NMW unless a narrow exemption applies
Canada Provincial employment standards Heavily restricted; school-approved placements or specific trainee exemptions
Germany MiLoG §22 Mandatory exempt; voluntary over 3 months must pay minimum wage

📘 Full walkthrough: Paid vs unpaid internships — legality by country

Application timeline — what to do, when

Exact dates depend on your country, programme, and target employer. This is the sequence that works.

When Action
12–18 months before Research your target country and work authorization. Confirm whether your degree includes an internship component.
9–12 months before Prepare CV, portfolio, academic documents. If your programme requires CPT or a work placement, contact your international student office.
6–9 months before Search and apply. Use university career portals, academic supervisors, and official industry networks. Avoid unverified job boards.
3–6 months before Finalize the offer. Request documents: convention de stage, CPT I-20, work permit letter, or visa sponsorship.
1–3 months before Submit visa application, attend biometrics. Confirm housing, insurance, and financial support.
Start date Begin work only after receiving official authorization. Never start before your visa or permit is approved.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students apply for an internship?
Yes. Every country requires some form of authorization — CPT or OPT in the US, a convention de stage in France, a Student or Graduate visa in the UK, a study permit or PGWP in Canada, a student residence permit in Germany. The route depends on your nationality, host country, and whether the internship is required by your degree.
Do international students need a visa for an internship?
Usually yes — unless you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen interning in the EU/EEA/Switzerland, or you already hold a student visa whose work authorization covers the internship. Non-EU students in any of the five countries covered here typically need a student residence permit or a dedicated work authorization.
Can international students do unpaid internships?
It depends on the country and the legal test. In the US, unpaid internships are legal only if the intern is the “primary beneficiary” under a 7-factor FLSA test. In France, gratification is mandatory above 308 hours. In the UK, most interns must be paid National Minimum Wage. In Canada, unpaid internships are heavily restricted. In Germany, voluntary internships over 3 months must be paid.
Do remote internships require work authorization?
Yes — if you are physically in a country, that country’s work authorization rules apply to any work you do there, even if the employer is abroad. An F-1 student in the US working remotely for a foreign company still needs CPT or OPT. A UK student working remotely for a non-UK employer still counts against the 20-hour weekly cap. Only if you are physically outside the country does that country’s work authorization stop applying.
How do international students find internships?
Start with your university’s career centre and international student office. They can verify employer legitimacy and check whether the internship meets visa requirements. Official government-backed programmes worth knowing: DAAD RISE (Germany, for undergraduates in the US/UK/Canada/Ireland), Mitacs Globalink (Canada, for undergraduates in listed countries), BUNAC Intern UK, AIESEC, and IAESTE. Avoid any listing that asks for payment upfront — legitimate internship sponsors never charge the student.
What are the biggest signs of an internship scam?
Upfront payment requests (for training, equipment, or visa processing), vague job descriptions with no deliverables, hiring without a real interview, communication only through messaging apps rather than company email, unrealistic pay, and requests for passport, bank details, or SSN before a written contract. Report to the FTC in the US, Action Fraud in the UK, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, France Travail, or Polizei-Beratung in Germany.

Sources

Disclaimer: Visa rules, work authorisation thresholds, and minimum wage rates change between cycles. Every figure in this guide was checked against official government sources on 10 October 2026, with individual links in each section. Always verify on the provider’s own page before applying. LearnViaHub is an independent educational site and is not affiliated with any government or institution named.


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