Program guide · Canada
How to apply for Canada Summer Jobs 2027
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) pays part of the wage when employers hire young people for summer jobs. Applications for summer 2027 are open now and close December 3, 2026.
By Sameena Velshi · Updated October 30, 2026 · Checked against the official program pages that day
The short answer: register your organization in the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal with your CRA payroll account, describe each job (wage, weeks, supervision and mentoring), and submit by December 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Non-profits can get up to 100% of the provincial minimum wage; public and small private employers up to 50%.
At a glance
| Run by | Employment and Social Development Canada, through Service Canada |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Non-profits, public-sector employers, and private businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees |
| Wage funding | Non-profits: up to 100% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum wage, plus mandatory employment costs. Public and private: up to 50%, without employment costs |
| The jobs | Youth aged 15–30, full-time (30–40 hours a week), 6–16 consecutive weeks between Apr 19 and Aug 28, 2027 |
| Deadline | December 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific |
| How to apply | GCOS portal (recommended), online fillable form, or paper form by mail or in person |
| Decisions | From early April 2027; everyone hears by the end of June. No appeals |
How to apply, step by step
Check you're eligible
You need your own CRA business number and a payroll (RP) account. New for 2027: your organization must have operated for at least 2 years by Dec 31, 2026, unless you held a CSJ 2026 agreement and were reimbursed for at least one job.
Set up GCOS early
Register in the Grants and Contributions Online Services portal with your payroll business number and complete identity verification. Don't leave this to deadline week.
Find your riding
You need one application per federal riding where jobs are located. Look up the riding by postal code: boundaries changed in 2025.
Describe each job
Use National Occupational Classification job titles, and give the wage, weeks, hours, supervision plan and mentoring plan. Say which national and local priorities each job supports.
Request the funding and sign the attestation
Say how much you're asking for and whether you want an advance. An authorized representative must sign the attestation, or the application isn't considered.
Submit by December 3
In GCOS you get a tracking number and confirmation email right away. If you don't, it wasn't submitted. If Service Canada asks for missing information, reply within 5 business days.
Who can apply, and who can be hired
Employers
- Non-profits, charities, faith-based and Indigenous organizations, unions and associations
- Public-sector employers such as municipalities and school boards
- Private businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada
- Not eligible: federal and provincial departments, MPs and senators, partisan organizations
Young people
- Aged 15 to 30 when the job starts
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- Legally entitled to work in Canada, with a valid SIN
- International students aren't eligible
How applications are scored
Eligible applications are scored out of 100:
| Objective | What earns points | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Quality work experience | Wage above minimum (10), plan to keep the youth on (5), supervision plan (15) | 30 |
| Skill development | Mentoring plan (13), transferable skills (27) | 40 |
| Access for youth facing barriers | Recruiting youth facing barriers (10), national priority (10), local priority (10) | 30 |
The 2027 national priorities are jobs in construction, environmental and climate work, jobs building digital skills or exposure to AI, and jobs with non-profits serving underserved and equity-deserving communities (non-profits only). Each MP can also set local priorities for their riding.
What to have ready
- CRA business number (15 digits) and payroll (RP) account
- Legal and operating names, year established, number of full-time employees
- Two contacts (neither can be a youth participant)
- Civic address of each job location
- Health and safety, harassment and discrimination policies, and workers' compensation status
- For each job: NOC title, wage, start date, weeks, hours, supervision and mentoring plans
- Any other wage funding for the same jobs, and any amounts owed to the Government of Canada
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing the attestation. Without it, the application isn't considered.
- Submitting more than once for the same riding. Duplicates get merged; contact CSJ to make changes instead.
- Jobs outside the rules: under 30 hours a week, shorter than 6 weeks, or outside Apr 19 – Aug 28, 2027.
- Hiring before approval. Costs before a signed agreement aren't reimbursed.
- Assuming last year's funding means a yes. The program is oversubscribed and employers may get fewer jobs or weeks than asked.
Want help?
Let Grant Desk draft your Canada Summer Jobs application
Grant Desk drafts each job description, supervision plan and mentoring plan with AI against the scoring criteria and this year's priorities, and keeps your organization's answers ready for next year. You review and submit everything yourself, and funders make their own decisions. Free for Fractional COO clients, non-profits and artists.
Common questions
When is the Canada Summer Jobs 2027 deadline?
December 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Applications opened October 27, 2026.
Can a small business apply for Canada Summer Jobs?
Yes, if it has 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada. Private employers can get up to 50% of the minimum wage.
Can I hire an international student through Canada Summer Jobs?
No. Participants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons aged 15 to 30.
How long must a Canada Summer Jobs job be?
6 to 16 consecutive weeks, 30 to 40 hours a week, between April 19 and August 28, 2027.
When will I hear back about Canada Summer Jobs?
Notifications start in early April 2027, and all organizations get a decision by the end of June. Decisions are final.
My organization is new. Can it apply?
Only if it has operated for at least 2 years by December 31, 2026, or held a CSJ 2026 agreement and was reimbursed for at least one job.
More guides: Grants in Canada · Grants in Ontario · NRC IRAP · SR&ED tax credit · Ontario Trillium Foundation
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, amounts and dates come from the official program pages on October 30, 2026 and can change without notice. Always confirm on the official page before you apply. Ravel Strategy Group is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government department, agency or funder named on this page.