International references are completely acceptable — employers care that they're real and reachable, not where they live. List each person's name, title, company, email, and phone with country code, and warn them they may be contacted so they respond quickly despite time zones. Don't put references on the resume itself; provide them when asked. As soon as you can, add one Canadian reference from volunteering, a survival job, or a course instructor. Never invent a reference — companies do check, and getting caught ends everything.
Updated July 2026