Closed
Source verified August 10, 2026
Venture for Canada — Internship Program
Wage support for student internships
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Latest source updateLast Update: July 6, 2026Latest change: The Internship Program now shows a Fall 2026 intake, revised hiring-request rules, and a lower wage subsidy of up to $5,000.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 6, 2026
Latest change: The Internship Program now shows a Fall 2026 intake, revised hiring-request rules, and a lower wage subsidy of up to $5,000.
VFC Internship Program updates
The Internship Program content now shows Fall 2026 hiring requests open, with the password sent to business-verified eligible employers by email on June 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM PST, and hiring requests for Fall 2026 opening on June 22. The hiring-request step now requires the student to have already verbally accepted the job offer, and employer verification has shifted from a knowledge assessment to third-party business verification. Funding terms were also revised: the wage subsidy changed from up to $7,000 to up to $5,000, while the current program copy still states a 50-70% wage subsidy capped at $7,000 in one section, indicating a material terms update across the program pages. Scope signals changed as well, including Ontario restriction language being removed and the internship-facing page being replaced with broad site navigation, while the training content moved from points-based eligibility to a self-paced virtual training library.
Funding available
$ 7,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Small or medium-sized businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, charities, and band councils can apply as employers.
See full eligibility
Overview
Venture for Canada Internship Program offers eligible Canadian employers a 50% to 70% wage subsidy, capped at $7,000, to hire student interns in Canada. It supports small and medium-sized businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, charities, and band councils for safe internships focused on innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building, including hourly wages and contributions.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-profit
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Safe and supportive internships that develop innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities.
- Full-time or part-time internships, including remote or work-from-home placements.
Documents Needed
- Proof of enrolment.
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Small or medium-sized businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, charities, and band councils can apply as employers.
- Full-time or part-time post-secondary students enrolled in an accredited Canadian college or university can apply as interns.
- Student applicants must hold Canadian citizenship, Permanent Residency, or refugee status and remain enrolled for at least the first 30 days of the internship.
Who is not eligible
- International students.
- Recent graduates.
- Employers based exclusively in Ontario.
- Government departments and crown corporations.
- Credit unions and post-secondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and polytechnics.
Eligible expenses
- Hourly wages and contributions for eligible internships.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Applications are evaluated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
How to apply
- Complete the interest form to make sure the program is a good fit.
- Receive the link to the full application and submit it.
- New employers must watch the pre-recorded Onboarding Webinar and complete a Knowledge Assessment.
- Once you have a fit, submit the Hiring Request form.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed within 5 business days.
- Funding can only be allocated to employers who are fully eligible and have completed the application, the onboarding webinar, and third-party business verification.
- To submit a Hiring Request and secure a place in the funding queue, the student must have already verbally accepted the job offer.
- Once the Hiring Request is submitted, the program provides the next steps within 15 business days.
Additional information
- Students who self-identify in underrepresented categories may qualify for a 70% subsidy, subject to availability.
- The 70% subsidy level cannot be disclosed to the employer until the student has been hired.
- The same student-employer match can be funded for a maximum of two consecutive terms, up to a total of 8 months.
- The same student can be hired by the same employer for a maximum of four cohorts in total, whether consecutive or not.
Contacts
Availability timeline
2026
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Venture for Canada — Internship Program Program
What is the Venture for Canada — Internship Program?
Venture for Canada Internship Program offers eligible Canadian employers a 50% to 70% wage subsidy, capped at $7,000, to hire student interns in Canada. It supports small and medium-sized businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, charities, and band councils for safe internships focused on innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building, including hourly wages and contributions.
How much funding can be received?
Venture for Canada — Internship Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $7,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program?
To be eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program, you must:
The employer must be a small or medium-sized business, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, charity, or band council.
The employer must have fewer than 500 employees.
The internship must be safe and supportive and build innovation or entrepreneurial skills.
What expenses are eligible under Venture for Canada — Internship Program?
Safe and supportive internships that develop innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities.
Full-time or part-time internships, including remote or work-from-home placements.
Who can I contact for more information about the Venture for Canada — Internship Program?
You can contact Venture for Canada (VFC) by email at internemployers@ventureforcanada.ca.
Where is the Venture for Canada — Internship Program available?
The Venture for Canada — Internship Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Venture for Canada — Internship Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Venture for Canada — Internship Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns