Why Choose the Canada Student Dependent Visa?

• Bring your family to Canada while you study
• Spouses can study or work full-time in Canada
• Dependent children can pursue education at Canadian schools
• Opportunity to get Canada PR
• The best route to settle in Canada along with your family

Canada Student  Dependant Visa

Married immigrants, who are interested in pursuing studies in Canada and those also having dependent children, may want to bring their family members to the country to stay with them. Canada’s visa officials may consider applicants holding study permits including dependent family members.

Applicants need to show adequate financial resources to cover themselves during their first year of education. Those who wish that their family members accompany them should be prepared to prove that they have additional resources to support them.

Bring Your Spouse

Foreign nationals can always include their spouses on their applications to apply for Canadian study permits, considering the impacts mentioned above may have on their study permit’s approval. Foreign nationals approved for study permit in Canada accompanied by their spouses are eligible to apply for open work permits for spouses. With this work permit, spouses will be authorized to work full-time for any Canada-based employer during the same period until their partner’s study permit is valid. If both partners want to pursue studies in Canada, they must apply for study permits separately.

Bring Your Dependent Children

Overseas citizens can include their dependent children on their applications for a Canadian study permit, considering the impacts mentioned above will have on the approval of the study permits’. If foreigners are sanctioned study permits in Canada accompanied by their dependent children, then the children will be issued visas allowing their stay in Canada for the same duration as the primary applicants’ permit. All dependent children can pursue education at a preschool, primary, or secondary level of study if one of their parents is permitted to work or study in Canada.

As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a ‘dependent child’ is a person below the age of 22 without a partner or a spouse. Persons aged over 22 may still be considered dependent if they are not able to support themselves financially owing to a mental or physical disorder.

Spouse or Common-Law Partner Work Permit

Common-law partners or accompanying spouses of full-time foreign students may be eligible for an open work permit, implying that they do not require from Service Canada either a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Spouses or common-law partners are qualified for work permits if:

• They are full-time students studying at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• They are undertaking a work permit-eligible study program post-graduation and
• They are valid study permit holders.

Entire details of the open work permit eligibility conditions for spouses/common-law partners of foreign students in Canada are available on the IRCC website.

Their spouses or common-law partners are eligible to submit applications for open work permits along with their study permit applications.  Alternatively, those who are already in Canada as students and their spouses wishing to join them here can apply for work permits before they decide to travel to Canada.

US citizens and other individuals who are visa-exempt are qualified to apply for a work permit once they enter Canada at its border or through its Consulate. Get in touch with International Student Advisors or Immigration Specialists if you do not know how to apply.

If spouses or common-law partners have entered Canada already as visitors and wish now to extend their stay in Canada and/or apply for work permits, they could refer to extend your family members’ documents.

If spouses or common-law partners already have entered the country as visitors, they can apply for open work permits online from within Canada if they meet the eligibility criteria.

For further details on the application processes and documents needed, please visit the “Work Permits for Spouses/Common-Law Partners” on our website.

As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, common-law partners are people of the same or opposite sex who have entered into conjugal relationships for a minimum of one year. Common-law partners, in Canada, are treated on par with legal spouses. Check the IRCC website for more information.

Permits for Dependent Children

School-aged children (5-18 years of age) must also apply for study permits, enabling the immigration processes to run more efficiently, particularly if children come to Canada without their parents. They must bring official school records of two years, in English or with an authorized English translation. Children under five do not require visitor records.

To get more information on education and childcare for dependent children, visit ‘Support for your family.

Documents Required

If a dependent family is joining you later, they will need from you some or all of the following documents as part of their applications for temporary residence in Canada (besides their supporting documents, as stated by the visa post):

Required application forms are available here

Your Confirmation of Enrolment letter or SFU admission letter in addition to your official SFU transcript (if children have already begun their studies)

• An invitation letter
• Proof of funds: They could be a letter(s) from a bank, scholarship provider, employer, or SFU
• Proof of relationship: A copy of your marriage certificate or evidence of common-law status
• A copy of your study permit (if relevant) and passport
• Biometrics and/or a health examination may also be needed
• Make sure to save copies of all the documents your family members submit with their applications.

How Long Can Family Stay on a Canada Student Dependent Visa?

If your family members arrive in Canada without you and have not applied for study permits or work permits, they may be allowed in Canada on visitor status for six months or fewer. As visitors admitted to staying for six months or fewer are not entitled to BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP), they should apply immediately to extend or modify their immigration documents.

An undated customs stamp usually allows visitors to stay in Canada for six months. Your family members should make sure their passports are stamped once they enter Canada.

To make sure that your family members traveling without you are allowed to stay in Canada for your study permits’ duration, ensure to post to copies of the documents mentioned above for them to display at the Canadian border crossing.

Complete Guide to Canadian Visa Options for Dependents

All About Canada Dependent Visa	Information/Details
Visa Types for Dependents	Work Permits for Spouses or Common-Law Partners: If you're married to or living with a Canadian student or worker, you can apply for a work permit. This also applies to those on post-graduation work permits. Study Permits for Children: Dependent children, aged 5 to 18, can obtain a study permit if they intend to attend school in Canada. In 2022, Canada issued a record number of 645,000 work permits, a significant increase compared to 163,000 in 2021.
Eligibility for Spouse Work Permits	If you are a spouse or common-law partner of a full-time student or a skilled worker in Canada, you can apply for an open work permit. This is especially common among international students and post-graduates. New rules introduced in 2023 extend work permits to spouses and children aged 16 and above of foreign workers, regardless of skill level, in sectors like healthcare, trades, and hospitality. This could help up to 200,000 families join the workforce.
Documents Required for Spouse Visa	To apply for a spouse visa, you'll need to provide key documents such as application forms, proof of your relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, or common-law evidence), the main applicant's study or work permit, proof of financial support, and possibly a medical exam or biometrics depending on your situation. Requirements might vary depending on where you are applying from.
Spouse Work Permit Application Process	To apply for a spouse work permit, you can either apply online or, if already in Canada, at the border. The application process can take from 2 to 6 months depending on the applicant's country of origin. You may also need to apply through the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy if applying from abroad.
Visa Extension Information	If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for an extension. This includes changing your status if you initially entered as a visitor, transitioning into a work or study permit. The process usually takes 2 to 3 months to complete.

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