Immigration to Canada for Minors

Applying for Study Permits as a Minor

• Minor children who want to study in Canada should apply for a study permit from outside Canada, even if they are accompanying a parent who has a worker or student status.
• Visa offices should consider minor children as students, not visitors, when processing temporary residence applications.

Applying from Overseas

• Minor children should apply for a study permit from outside Canada.
• They should not be considered as visitors, even if they are accompanying a parent with a worker or student status.

Applying at a Port of Entry (POE)

• A minor child coming to Canada to study should have applied and obtained a letter of introduction at a visa office or be entitled to apply for a study permit upon entry.
• Only US nationals and residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon can apply at a POE for their study permits.
• If all requirements are met, officers at a POE may authorize entry of the child as a temporary resident within the visitor class.

Applying Inland

• A minor child studying in Canada at the preschool, primary, or secondary level without a study permit can apply for a study permit from within Canada.
• They must provide proof of their academic status in Canada and proof of their parent's status in Canada, if applicable.

General Requirements

• Minor children of temporary residents (visitors) who are not authorized to work or study require a study permit to study in Canada.
• Minor children already in Canada can study without a study permit at the pre-school, primary, or secondary level if at least one parent is authorized to work or study in Canada.
• Minor children can also study without a study permit pursuant to R188(c) if their course or program of study is less than six months.
• Dependent children intending to study in Canada and who are accompanying a parent who will visit, work, or study in Canada must complete their own IMM 1294 application form.

Exceptions

• A minor child accompanying a parent who has applied and been approved for a work or study permit before entering Canada does not need to provide a letter of acceptance from an educational institution to obtain a study permit.
• Minor children of temporary residents (visitors) who are not authorized to work or study require a study permit to study in Canada.

This quiz covers the process of minors applying for temporary residence in Canada, including applying from overseas, at a port of entry, or inland, and the requirements for minor students.