Obtaining permits for family members

For your partner to be able to apply for Canadian immigration status linked to yours, you must be in a conjugal relationship, and you must be married or common-law partners. The relationship, which may be opposite sex or same sex, must be genuine and not primarily aimed at acquiring immigration status in Canada. 

Spouse

To be a spouse, your marriage must be recognized in the country where it took place and under Canadian law. For example, long-distance marriages (proxy, over the internet, etc.), traditional marriages without legal status, and polygamous marriages are not recognized in Canada.

Common-law partner

To be a common-law partner, you must have lived with your partner in a conjugal relationship continuously for at least one year. Short periods of temporary separation are acceptable, for professional reasons or family obligations, for example. 

Documents to provide in an application

Here are some examples of documents you can provide to prove your relationship. The list is not exhaustive, and you are not required to provide all of the documents on it; do what your situation allows:

• Marriage certificate
• Sworn Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
• Joint lease or joint ownership of property
• Documents in each partner’s name received at the same address (ID; insurance contracts; electricity, telephone, or other utility bills; pay stubs; tax notices; bank statements; etc.)
• Joint bank account or credit cards
• Life insurance policy with your partner as beneficiary
• In France, Civil Solidarity Pact (pacte civil de solidarité [Pacs])
• Photos as a couple (weddings, outings, trips, etc.) or with family members or loved ones; each photo must indicate the date, location, context, and people present
• Proof of regular contact (WhatsApp, phone calls, plane tickets, etc.); only relevant if you are not living together at the time of application
• If you have joint children, birth or adoption certificates showing the names of both parents

For your partner to potentially be eligible for an open work permit linked to your study permit, you must be admitted to or studying full-time in one of the following programs:

• Master’s program lasting over 16 months or doctoral program
• One of the following professional programs: 
  • Bachelor of Law (LLB)
  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BASc)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
  • Undergraduate Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

If your partner is already in Canada on an open work permit linked to your study permit that was obtained before March 19, 2024, they may be eligible to renew their open work permit even if you are not studying in one of the programs listed above. However, you must be studying in a program that makes you eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit.

While it is possible to apply for an open work permit for your partner, there is no guarantee that the application will be approved.

If it is approved, the duration of your partner’s open work permit will usually be the same as that of your study permit, unless your partner’s passport expires earlier. Once the work permit has been issued, it is no longer dependent on your own authorization to study. For example, if you need to take a leave of absence during a compulsory semester of study, your partner’s work permit remains valid.

A work permit application made outside Canada automatically includes a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) at no additional cost.

The processing fee for a work permit application is $155. Also, expect to pay $100 for an open work permit, as well as $85 for biometric data, if required.

To apply for an open work permit, your partner does not need to obtain authorization from Québec (Québec Acceptance Certificate [CAQ] or other).

You can apply for your partner’s first open work permit at different times:

• When you first apply for a study permit. 
• Once you have arrived in Canada and begun your program of study. In that case, you must still declare that you have a partner when you apply for your initial study permit.  
• People from visa-exempt countries who are eligible for an eTA may also apply for an open work permit at the first airport of arrival in Canada. In that case, you must either travel with your partner or arrive in Canada before your partner. When your partner arrives, they must have all the relevant documents in hand (your study permit or permit approval, offer of admission or proof of enrolment and official transcript, valid eTA, proof of relationship with you, etc.). Please note that there is no guarantee that a work permit will be issued, and in the event that the application is rejected, entry into Canada may be refused as well. Therefore, it may be preferable to obtain the work permit letter of introduction before travelling to Canada.

Open work permit application made at the same time as your initial study permit application

If you are submitting an open work permit application for your partner at the same time as your initial study permit application, you must apply using an IRCC secure account (see the specifics on how to create, prepare, and submit an application in an IRCC secure account), not the IRCC portal. A family application may take longer than the processing time for a single study permit.

You must provide the following documents in addition to the documents required for your study permit application. Even if these documents do not all appear on the personalized list you received, we encourage you to provide all of them to maximize your chances of getting a positive response:

• Use of a Family Member Representative for Online Applications [IMM 5713], to be completed by the person admitted to a program of study.
• Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1295], to be completed by your partner.
• Family Information Form [IMM 5645], to be completed by your partner.
• Copy of your partner’s passport.
• Photograph of your partner.
• Proof of your relationship with your partner (see the list above, to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field or enclosed along with the marriage certificate or Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]).

• Signed and dated explanatory letter from your partner, to be uploaded to the “Purpose of Travel – Other” field, stating:

  • The reason and duration of their visit to Canada
  • Their current activity in the country
  • Their degrees obtained or studies in progress
  • Their ties to their country of origin (house, job, etc.)
  • Their motivation and ability to return after a temporary stay in Canada
     

  If you or your partner come from a country for which a visa is required, your ties and motivation to return are very important. Although you may wish to extend your stay in Canada at a later date, and it is appropriate to mention this, there is no guarantee that it will be possible. As such, you will need to convince IRCC that if extending your stay is not possible, you are willing and able to return to your country of origin to lead a comfortable life. See the “Ties and returning home” section for more details. 

• Proof of your partner’s activity in the country (letter from employer, proof of studies, etc.), to be uploaded to the “Purpose of Travel – Other” field with the explanatory letter, or the “Client Information” field.
• If you provide a study plan or explanatory letter for your study permit application, it must also state that you want your partner to accompany you to Canada for your studies.
• Proof of financial capacity: you will need to prove that you have the funds needed to support yourself during your first year in Canada and that you will realistically continue to have sufficient funds during subsequent years, without having to work in Canada while you study. The amount proven (savings, income from salary, scholarship, etc.) must be sufficient to cover expenses for you and the members of your family who are included in your application
• Medical exam: May be required, for example if your partner has resided in certain countries for more than 6 months in the past year, or if they wish to work with certain groups (such as children or the elderly) or in certain settings (such as elementary and high schools, day care centres, health care environments, clinical laboratories, or hospitals).
• Biometric data.
• The visa office where you apply may have additional guidelines and requirements specific to that office. Consult the visa office guidelines available in your country-specific application packet, which can be found in the paper applications section of the “Application to work in Canada — work permits including open work permits” page. These visa office guidelines are not available for all countries.

Once your study and work permit applications have been approved, you can travel to Canada together or your partner can join you later, but the student must be the first to travel to Canada. Your partner must enter Canada before their approval letter expires. If your partner arrives in Canada several months after you, it is best for them to have proof that you are actively studying (proof of enrolment or official transcript), as well as recent proof of financial capacity. 

Open work permit application made during your studies in Canada

If you have decided to make your initial application for a study permit without including your partner’s application for an open work permit, your partner can apply for an open work permit at a time that works better for you. However, your study permit must be valid for at least 6 more months from that time, and the work permit will not remain valid beyond the end of your study permit.

Your partner must apply in their IRCC secure account (see the specifics on how to create, prepare, and submit an application in an IRCC secure account). 

Processing times vary from one Canadian visa office to another. Check processing times by office on the IRCC website.

Here are the documents to provide to support your application. Even if these documents do not all appear on the personalized list you received, we encourage you to provide all of them to maximize your chances of getting a positive response:

• Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1295], to be completed by your partner.
• Copy of your partner’s passport.
• Photograph of your partner.
• Proof of your relationship with your partner (see the list above), to be uploaded to the “Proof of Relationship” field.

• Signed and dated explanatory letter from your partner, to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field, stating:

  • The reason and duration of their visit to Canada
  • Their current activity in the country
  • Their degrees obtained or studies in progress
  • Their ties to their country of origin (house, job, etc.)
  • Their motivation and ability to return after a temporary stay in Canada
     

  If you or your partner come from a country for which a visa is required, your ties and motivation to return are very important. Although you may wish to extend your stay in Canada at a later date, and it is appropriate to mention this, there is no guarantee that it will be possible. As such, you will need to convince IRCC that if extending your stay is not possible, you are willing and able to return to your country of origin to lead a comfortable life. See the “Ties and returning home” section for more details. 

• Proof of your partner’s activity in the country (letter from employer, proof of studies, etc.), to be uploaded to the “Client information” field.
• Signed and dated letter of invitation from you, to be uploaded to the “Proof of Student’s Enrolment” field, stating:
  • Your relationship with your partner
  • Your status and activity in Canada
  • The length and purpose of your partner’s stay
  • The (financial) spousal support you will provide
• If your partner is planning to live in the home you currently occupy, mention this and provide proof.  
• Proof of your status in Canada, to be uploaded to the “Proof of Student’s Enrolment” field:   
  • Study permit
  • Official transcript
• Proof of enrolment for the current or next semester
• Proof of financial capacity: Your partner must demonstrate that they have the funds needed to cover the entirety of your plans, i.e., your studies and them coming to Canada. Financial proof can combine proof from you and your partner. The amount proven (savings, income from salary, scholarship, etc.) must be sufficient to cover the following expenses for all family members coming to Canada: living expenses for one year, health and hospitalization insurance, transportation costs, and your tuition fees. 
• Medical exam: May be required, for example if your partner has resided in certain countries for more than 6 months in the past year, or if they wish to work with certain groups (such as children or the elderly) or in certain settings (such as elementary and high schools, day care centres, health care environments, clinical laboratories, or hospitals).
• Biometric data.
• The visa office where you apply may have additional guidelines and requirements specific to that office. Consult the visa office guidelines available in your country-specific application packet, which can be found in the paper applications section of the “Application to work in Canada — work permits including open work permits” page. These visa office guidelines are not available for all countries.  

Renewals

When you renew your study permit, if your partner is with you in Canada, you can renew their open work permit at the same time using an IRCC secure account (see the specifics on how to create, prepare, and submit an application in an IRCC secure account). A family application may take longer to process than renewing a single study permit.

You must provide the following documents in addition to the documents required for your study permit renewal:

• Marriage certificate or Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]. If IRCC has already recognized the relationship between the two of you, and your conjugal situation has not changed, it is not necessary to provide further proof of your relationship with your partner.
• Use of a Family Member Representative for Online Applications [IMM 5713], to be completed by the student.
• Proof of financial capacity: Your partner must demonstrate that they have the funds needed to cover the entirety of your plans, i.e., your studies and them coming to Canada. Financial proof can combine proof from you and your partner. The amount proven (savings, income from salary, scholarship, etc.) must be sufficient to cover the following expenses for all of your family members: living expenses for one year, health and hospitalization insurance, transportation costs, and your tuition fees. 
• Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710], to be completed by your partner.
• Copy of your partner’s passport. 

Please note that if your partner does not have valid temporary resident status in Canada, we strongly advise against applying for their initial work permit at the same time as you renew your study permit, as this may result in a rejection and additional processing times. If this is the case, you must renew your study permit first. Once you have obtained your new study permit, your partner can apply for an open work permit using the instructions found above in the “Open work permit application made during your studies in Canada” section.

For your partner to potentially be eligible for an open work permit linked to your post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you must have a skilled job. The job must be in TEER 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) or in TEER 2 or 3 in one of the sectors targeted by the government. Furthermore, your PGWP must be valid for at least another 16 months when your partner applies for their open work permit.

To apply for an open work permit, your partner does not need to obtain authorization from Québec (Québec Acceptance Certificate [CAQ] or other).

Since your PGWP must be valid for at least 16 months for your partner to be eligible for an open work permit and the PGWP cannot remain valid once your passport or biometric data expires, make sure to renew your passport beforehand and provide your biometric data again when applying, if necessary.

Your partner is with you in Canada and you apply for their open work permit at the same time as your PGWP

You can apply for an open work permit for your partner at the same time as your PGWP using an IRCC secure account (see the specifics on how to create, prepare, and submit an application in an IRCC secure account) if you have a skilled job (NOC TEER 0 or 1 or TEER 2 or 3 in one of the targeted sectors) and are eligible for a PGWP that lasts at least 16 months.

You must provide the following documents in addition to the documents required for your PGWP application:

• Marriage certificate or Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]. If IRCC has already recognized the relationship between the two of you, and your conjugal situation has not changed, it is not necessary to provide further proof of your relationship with your partner.
• Use of a Family Member Representative for Online Applications [IMM 5713], to be completed by the graduate.
• Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710], to be completed by your partner.
• Copy of your partner’s passport.
• Proof of the graduate’s employment, i.e., a letter from the employer containing: job details; hiring date; date the contract ends, if applicable; occupation; salary; job description; NOC TEER category or a copy of the job offer letter; company address, etc. This element is essential, even if it is not included in the list of documents to provide. You can upload it to the “Client Information” field. 
• Proof of financial capacity: you must attach financial proof that meets at least the low income cut-off before tax (community size of 500,000 and over) for your family size. Your employment income can be included in this financial proof.
• Medical exam: May be required, for example if your partner has resided in certain countries for more than 6 months in the past year, or if they wish to work with certain groups (such as children or the elderly) or in certain settings (such as elementary and high schools, day care centres, health care environments, clinical laboratories, or hospitals).

Your partner is with you in Canada and you apply for their open work permit after applying for your PGWP

You may not be able to find a skilled job immediately after completing your studies. If that is the case, you will not be able to apply for your partner’s open work permit at the same time as your PGWP.  

Your partner will only be able to apply for an open work permit once you have found a skilled job (NOC TEER 0 or 1 or TEER 2 or 3 in one of the targeted sectors). If your partner’s current status in Canada expires before you find a job, they must either:

• Apply for a different type of status in Canada. Visitor status (visitor record) is most likely, but it could also be a different type of work permit if your partner is eligible for one; see the “Other possible permits and statuses” section. Lastly, it could be a study permit if your partner would like to study. In that case, your partner will need to be admitted to a designated learning institution (DLI), then obtain a CAQ (if the DLI is in Québec) and a study permit;
• Leave Canada.

Once you have a qualified job, your partner can apply for an open work permit in their IRCC secure account. If your partner is still in Canada, we also recommend that you wait until you have obtained your PGWP. If your partner applies for an open work permit while your PGWP application is being processed, their application could be rejected if your application is not processed before theirs. When you apply, make sure to provide all relevant documents, including proof of employment and proof of financial capacity.

Your partner is not with you in Canada 

If your partner is not with you in Canada and does not have valid status in Canada, you must obtain a PGWP that is valid for at least 16 months and find a skilled job (NOC TEER 0 or 1 or TEER 2 or 3 in one of the targeted sectors) before they can apply for an open work permit.

Once those two conditions are met, your partner must apply in their IRCC secure account (see the specifics on how to create, prepare, and submit an application in an IRCC secure account).  

Processing times vary from one Canadian visa office to another. Check processing times by office on the IRCC website.

Here are the documents to provide to support your application:

• Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1295], to be completed by your partner.
• Copy of your partner’s passport.
• Photograph of your partner.
• Family Information Form [IMM 5707], to be completed by your partner.
• Proof of your relationship with your partner (see the list above), to be uploaded to the “Proof of Relationship” field.
• Signed and dated letter of invitation from you, to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field, stating:
  • Your relationship with your partner
  • Your status and activity in Canada
  • The length and purpose of your partner’s stay
  • The (financial) spousal support you will provide
    If your partner is planning to live in the home you currently occupy, mention this and provide proof.  
• Copy of your PGWP, to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field.  
• Proof of employment, i.e., a copy of the job offer letter or a letter from the employer containing the job details, occupation, job description, and the NOC TEER classification category. This element is essential, even if it is not included in the list of documents to provide. You can upload it to the “Client Information” field; If available, you can attach other proof of employment, such as pay slips, to the letter.

• Signed and dated explanatory letter from your partner, to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field, stating:

  • The reason and duration of their visit to Canada
  • Their current activity in the country
  • Their degrees obtained or studies in progress
  • Their ties to their country of origin (house, job, etc.)
  • Their motivation and ability to return after a temporary stay in Canada
     

  If you or your partner come from a country for which a visa is required, your ties and motivation to return are very important. Although you may wish to extend your stay in Canada at a later date, and it is appropriate to mention this, there is no guarantee that it will be possible. As such, you will need to convince IRCC that if extending your stay is not possible, you are willing and able to return to your country of origin to lead a comfortable life.

• Proof of your partner’s activity in the country (letter from employer, proof of studies, etc.), to be uploaded to the “Client Information” field.
• Proof of financial capacity: must meet at least the low income cut-off before tax (community size of 500,000 and over) for your family size. Your employment income can be included in this financial proof.
• Medical exam: May be required, for example if your partner has resided in certain countries for more than 6 months in the past year, or if they wish to work with certain groups (such as children or the elderly) or in certain settings (such as elementary and high schools, day care centres, health care environments, clinical laboratories, or hospitals).
• Biometric data.
• The visa office where you apply may have additional guidelines and requirements specific to that office. Consult the visa office guidelines available in your country-specific application packet, which can be found in the paper applications section of the “Application to work in Canada — work permits including open work permits” page. These visa office guidelines are not available for all countries.  

When you apply for a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) or permanent residence, you can include your partner, whether or not they are in Canada.

Also note that your partner living in Canada can become the principal applicant for CSQ and permanent residence applications. For example, if your partner has an open work permit during your studies, has a job, and meets the criteria for the Québec Experience Program (PEQ) for workers, the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP), or another program, your partner can apply for the CSQ under one of these programs and include you in their application.

If your partner is not eligible for an open work permit, here are some other options:

If your partner wants to work

Other types of work permits are available; we have listed some of them below. The “Work in Canada” and “Find out if you need a work permit” pages on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website can also help you explore the options for obtaining a work permit.

Closed work permit with Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

For this type of permit, your partner must first find a potential employer who has already obtained an LMIA for the position they are applying for or who is willing to apply for one. For an employer, obtaining an LMIA involves demonstrating that despite diligent searches, they have been unable to find a person with Canadian citizenship or permanent residence who is qualified for the job.

Closed work permit without Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) 

This type of permit allows a person to work in a specific position with a specific employer; the employer does not need to prove the lack of qualified workers, and therefore does not need to obtain an LMIA. International Experience Canada’s (IEC) Young Professionals pool is one example. The International Mobility Program (IMP) also allows you to obtain LMIA-exempt work permits through, for example, international free trade agreements and the Francophone Mobility program. Before applying to a specific program, make sure you fully meet the program’s criteria.

Open work permit

This type of permit allows a person to work anywhere in Canada for almost any employer. The programs for obtaining an open work permit are quite limited. International Experience Canada’s (IEC) Working Holiday Pool (WHP) is one such program.  

If your partner wants to study

If your partner wants to study, they will need to apply for immigration independently, without any direct link to your status here. Your partner will need to be admitted to a designated learning institution (DLI), then obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if the DLI is in Québec) and a study permit.

If your partner wants to visit you

If your partner’s goal is to visit you occasionally during your studies, they can obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), depending on their nationality.

Normally, each time someone enters Canada, their authorized stay is 6 months, even if their eTA or TRV is valid for longer.

As part of its efforts to attract tech talent to Canada, the government has determined that digital nomads do not need work permits. This would allow your partner to work remotely for a foreign employer while having visitor status in Canada.

If your partner needs a TRV, here are some documents to include in the application:

• Signed and dated explanatory letter from your partner, stating:

  • The reason and duration of their visit to Canada
  • Their current activity in the country
  • Their degrees obtained or studies in progress
  • Their ties to their country of origin (house, job, etc.)
  • Their motivation and ability to return after a temporary stay in Canada
     

  The ties to the home country and motivation to return are very important, as is the proof of financial capacity.

• Proof of their activity in the country: letter from employer, proof of studies, etc.

• Signed and dated letter of invitation from you, stating:

  • Your relationship with your partner
  • Your status and activity in Canada
  • The length and purpose of your partner’s stay
  • The (financial) spousal support you will provide
     

  If your partner is planning to live in the home you currently occupy, mention this and provide proof.  

• Proof of your status in Canada:
  • Study permit
  • Official transcript
  • Proof of enrolment for the current or next semester
• Proof of financial capacity.

Dependent children

In general, a dependent child is a child who, at the time of application, is less than 22 years old and is not married or in a common-law relationship. They may be a biological or adopted child. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to find out if your child is a dependant.

Dependent children aged 5 and under

Your dependent children aged 5 and under only need visitor status to accompany you to Canada. Depending on their nationality, your children will need a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada.

When they arrive in Canada, they should be given a visitor record with the same expiry date as your study permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) as they pass through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint. Make sure they receive it. If your child does not receive a visitor record, they will only be authorized to stay in Canada for 6 months.

Minor dependent children who will be attending elementary or high school

If your dependent children who will be staying with you in Canada are between the ages of 6 and 17, they can study at the elementary or high school level for free.

If your children are not in Canada , you will need to obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), study permit approval, and temporary resident visa (TRV) or eTA. Their CAQ and study permit will have the same expiry date as your study permit or PGWP.

Children from visa-exempt countries who qualify for an eTA can also travel to Canada with an eTA only. Once on Canadian soil, children can benefit from the CAQ and study permit exemption.

When they arrive in Canada, they should be given a visitor record with the same expiry date as your study permit or PGWP as they pass through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint. Make sure they receive it.  

Please note, however, that entry into Canada is not guaranteed and may be denied. Therefore, it may be preferable to obtain the CAQ and work permit letter of introduction before travelling to Canada. 

If your children are in Canada , they may have either visitor status (visitor record) or a study permit (without a CAQ and PAL), at your discretion.

Children preparing for post-secondary education

If your dependent children are planning post-secondary studies (Diploma of Vocational Studies [DVS], college, or university), they will need a CAQ and a study permit, regardless of whether they are in or outside Canada. Their applications will need to be submitted independently, without any direct link to your status here. Your children will need to be admitted to a designated learning institution (DLI), then obtain a CAQ (if the DLI is in Québec) and a study permit.

Note that if your children are 21 years old or younger and you or their other parent hold a closed work permit or PGWP, your children may qualify for the supplemental tuition fee exemption.

Children born in Canada

Anyone born in Canada is a Canadian citizen. You do not need to apply for an immigration permit (study permit or visitor record) for children born in Canada.

Documents to provide in an application

To prove your relationship with your children, you will need to provide one of the following documents showing the parents’ names:

• Birth certificate
• Baptismal certificate
• Adoption documents

If the child is accompanied by only one parent, one or more of the following documents will be required:

• Declaration of consent – Child accompanied by one parent
• Declaration from Non-accompanying Parent/Guardian for Minors Immigrating to Canada [IMM 5604]
• Copy of one of the non-accompanying parent’s identity documents

If the accompanying parent has sole custody of the child:  

• Death certificate of the other parent
• Certificate of disappearance
• Divorce decree granting sole custody to the accompanying parent

When applying for CAQs and study permits for children who will be attending elementary or high school, you can indicate that tuition fees are zero ($0). Furthermore, you do not need an admission letter to a learning institution for the child. Instead, you will need to provide the following documents, depending on your situation. Note that you will not need to provide the same document twice in an application.

• Birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or adoption papers.
• Signed and dated explanatory letter from you stating that you want your children to accompany you during your stay in Canada and that, in this case, your children do not need to provide a letter of admission.
• Your offer of admission to Université Laval or your official transcript and proof of enrolment for the current or next semester.
• Proof of your status in Canada or of your current applications: CAQ application or letter of issuance, study permit application, valid study permit, PGWP application, or valid PGWP.

When applying for a study permit to attend elementary or secondary school, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL) is not required. You can provide a short, signed and dated explanatory letter as proof of exception.

For more information on applications for your minor children, see the “Documents to submit for children under the age of 17” page for information on CAQ applications and the “Studying in Canada as a minor” page for information on study permit applications.

Applications made at the same time as your initial study permit application

You can apply for your children to come with you when you prepare your initial applications to study here.

If your children need their study permit to be approved to travel to Canada, you will first need to obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for each child. Each CAQ application will need to be associated with a separate consultation profile, and each application must be made separately by filling out the Online application for temporary selection for studies form. Once you have filled out the application, you will need to make the payment and provide the supporting documents by creating an Arrima account for each child.

The admission letter and proof of health insurance coverage are not required when applying for a CAQ for your children. As for proof of financial capacity, if it is required because of your child’s country of residence, you can provide the same proof you provided for your own CAQ application. Make sure it is sufficient for your family size.

Once you have obtained your CAQ and those of your children (if required), you can apply for a study permit. In your application, you can also include applications for your family members:

• Study permit applications for your children
• TRV applications for your children
• Open work application for your partner

If your children only need electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), you will need to apply for them separately.

For more information on the documents you need to provide, including the proof of financial capacity, please see the “Definitions and required document” and “Open work permit for your partner during your studies” sections.

Applications made during your studies in Canada

If you have chosen to submit your initial application for a study permit without applying for documents for your children, you or your partner can apply when the time is right for you. However, your study permit must be valid for at least 6 more months from that time, and the permit will not remain valid beyond the end of your study permit.

For more information on the documents you need to provide, including the proof of financial capacity, please see the “Definitions and required document” and “Open work permit for your partner during your studies” sections.

Renewals

When you renew your study permit, you can renew your children’s status at the same time if they are with you in Canada.

You can renew your children’s visitor status (visitor record – $100) if they are aged 5 or under.

For children aged 6 to 17 attending elementary or high school, you can apply for visitor status (visitor record – $100) or a study permit ($150), at your discretion. They are exempt from the CAQ and PAL even if you choose to apply for a study permit for them. See the “Minor child accompanying you” section on the “Required authorizations” page on the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) website for more information.

For more information on the documents you need to provide, including the proof of financial capacity, please see the “Definitions and required document” and “Open work permit for your partner during your studies” sections. If you choose to apply for a study permit, you will need to provide proof that the children are attending a school.  

Please note that if your children do not have valid temporary resident status in Canada, we strongly advise against applying for their initial status at the same time as you renew your study permit, as this may result in a rejection and additional processing times. If this is the case, you must renew your study permit first. Then, once you have obtained your new study permit, you or your partner can apply for your children who are outside Canada.

Once you have obtained approval for the visitor records or study permits, if your children are from a country for which a visa is required, you can apply to renew their temporary resident visa (TRV) if necessary. Note that once they are on Canadian soil, they will not need to have a valid visa. Their study permit or visitor record is the document that gives them legal status in Canada. However, if your children wish to leave Canada and then return, they absolutely must have a valid TRV or eTA.

You cannot apply for family TRVs through a single Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) secure account. As an exception, you can therefore mail in paper applications. Make sure to provide all the documents listed in the application packet, as well as a signed and dated explanatory letter stating why you are mailing in a paper application. If your children have a study permit, it is also possible to create a secure IRCC account for each family member so that each TRV application can be submitted separately.  

Visitor records and study permits

When you apply for your post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you can renew your children’s status at the same time if they are with you in Canada. These are the same steps as those described in the “Renewals” section, under “Applications during your studies.”

Please note that if your children do not have valid temporary resident status in Canada, we strongly advise against applying for their initial status at the same time as you apply for your PGWP, as this may result in a rejection and additional processing times. If this is the case, you must apply for your PGWP first. Then, once you have obtained your new permit, you or your partner can apply for your children who are outside Canada.

When you apply for a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) or permanent residence, you can include your dependent children, whether or not they are in Canada.

For application purposes, a child’s age is set on an “age lock-in date,” which means their age is considered to be frozen and does not change over time, no matter how long the application takes to process. Age lock-in dates vary by immigration program, but they are usually the date that a complete application is received.

For applications for permanent residence under the Québec-selected skilled workers program, the lock-in date is the date on which the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) receives your complete CSQ application.

Other members of your family (parents, siblings, etc.) may come to visit you during your stay in Canada. Depending on their nationality, they will need to apply for their own temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

To support your family member’s TRV application, you can provide them with the following documents:

• A signed and dated letter of invitation from you, stating:

  • Your relationship with the person, with supporting evidence
  • Your status and activity in Canada
  • The length and purpose of the person’s stay
     

  If the person is planning to live in the home you currently occupy, mention this and provide proof.  

• Proof of your status in Canada:  
   
  • If you are a student: study permit, official transcript, and proof of enrolment
  • If you have completed your studies: post-graduation work permit (PGWP) or study permit and proof of your PGWP application

The person will have to provide all of the required documents for their TRV application and meet all IRCC criteria. Among other things, we recommend that they provide the following documents:

• Signed and dated explanatory letter from them, stating:

  • The reason and duration of their visit to Canada
  • Their current activity in the country
  • Their degrees obtained or studies in progress
  • Their ties to their country of origin (house, job, etc.)
  • Their motivation and ability to return after a temporary stay in Canada 
     

  The ties to the home country and motivation to return are very important. This person must clearly demonstrate that the purpose of their stay in Canada is temporary, and that they will be willing and able to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay to return to their country of origin and lead a comfortable life there. Among other things, the expenses related to their stay in Canada must be considered reasonable in relation to their income and assets.

• Proof of their activity in the country: letter from employer, proof of studies, etc.
• Proof of financial capacity.
• The visa office where you apply may have additional guidelines and requirements specific to that office. Consult the visa office guidelines available in your country-specific application packet, which can be found in the paper applications section of the “Application for a Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa - TRV)” page. These visa office guidelines are not available for all countries.  

Convocations are a time to celebrate and be proud of your hard work. You will likely want to share this moment with your loved ones. You can have up to four guests for the ceremony.

If these people live outside of Canada, depending on their nationality, they will need to apply for their own temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to travel to Canada.

In addition to the documents listed in the “Visits” section, we encourage you to provide your family members with an official letter from the Secretary General’s Office stating that you are participating in convocation as support for their TRV application. As soon as you have enrolled in your last semester and your academic progress report has been completed, you can request this letter by emailing diplomes@sg.ulaval.ca.

As processing times for TRVs can be long, we encourage your loved ones to apply several months in advance.

Your partner and children must have adequate insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in Canada.

Children aged 17 and under may be eligible for RAMQ health and drug insurance (free public plan), provided they are present in Québec for more than 6 months of the year. You can register for this online, on the Government of Québec website. To ensure that the insurance coverage begins as soon as they arrive in Québec, you must contact RAMQ within 15 days of their arrival.

If you are covered by RAMQ during your studies under a reciprocal agreement, your other family members may also be eligible for RAMQ coverage if they have authorization to stay in Canada (work permit, study permit, or visitor record) and are listed on your reciprocal agreement form. Note: This does not apply to spouses of students from Greece. Dependent children aged 18 to 25 may also be eligible if conditions are met. Family members can register online, on the Government of Québec website. An application form must be completed for each family member.

If you are covered by RAMQ because you hold a post-graduation work permit, your family members may be eligible for RAMQ coverage if they are authorized to stay in Québec for more than 6 months. Family members can register online, on the Government of Québec website. An application form must be completed for each family member.

If your family members are not eligible for RAMQ coverage, you will need to take out private health insurance. For more information, see the Student Life Office’s “Private Health Insurance” page. 

Note: You or your partner may have supplemental health insurance through one of your employers. This type of insurance is usually complementary to the RAMQ and does not cover basic care or emergencies. As such, it is not sufficient as primary insurance.