A minor child study permit may be needed when your child comes to Canada for elementary or secondary school. The answer depends on their circumstances, including whether they are applying from abroad or already living in Canada.
A parent’s work or study permit does not automatically settle the question. Before arranging travel or paying school fees, check the rules that apply to your child.
Children coming from abroad for school programmes lasting more than six months generally need a study permit before travelling, unless an exemption applies.
Some minors already in Canada can attend preschool, elementary or secondary school without one. This can include children with a parent authorised to work or study in Canada.
A child staying with a parent who is only a visitor generally needs a study permit for longer school studies. A short programme of six months or less may qualify for an exemption if it can be completed within the authorised stay.
School admission and immigration permission are separate checks. A place at a school does not, by itself, establish that your child can enter Canada or study there.
Before committing to a start date, check:
Understanding the Canadian school system can help you choose the appropriate school level. The immigration assessment then needs to match your family’s circumstances.
The age of majority depends on the province or territory where your child will live.
This means an 18-year-old can still be a minor in one province while being an adult in another.
Check the child’s age at the intended arrival date and consider whether they will reach adulthood during the planned programme.
If your child is outside Canada and plans to attend a longer school programme, assess their study permit requirements before travelling.
This includes children travelling with a parent who is applying for a work or study permit. Do not assume the child can simply enter as a visitor because the parent has permission to work or study.
There are exceptions, including qualifying short programmes. Children who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents do not need study permits.
The safest planning approach is to identify the applicable rule first, then prepare the correct application. Do not build the travel plan around obtaining an exception at the border.
Some exemptions apply specifically to minors already in Canada.
At preschool, elementary or secondary level, examples include a child who:
These examples are not a complete eligibility assessment. Check the child’s circumstances against the current rules.
If a parent is in Canada only as a visitor and has no authorisation to work or study, their presence does not normally give the child an exemption for longer school studies.
Permission to study and immigration status also need separate attention. An exemption does not extend the child’s authorised stay.
Use the application checklist and any instructions for the country where you apply. Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include:
Organise the application documents around the child’s actual checklist. A general document guide cannot replace case-specific instructions.
A school acceptance letter is normally required. However, an exception can apply when a child accompanies a parent whose work or study permit application has been approved in writing before travel.
Do not assume that exception applies to every later application. A child applying to extend a study permit inside Canada needs an acceptance letter.
All Canadian primary and secondary schools are designated learning institutions. They do not appear on the post-secondary DLI list.
Prepare evidence showing who has authority to make decisions for the child.
For shared custody, IRCC’s guidance calls for a notarised consent letter and identification from the non-accompanying parent, together with proof of parentage.
If one parent has sole custody, include the relevant court order or other legal documentation. If the other parent has died, a death certificate may be required.
Explain the actual arrangement and provide the corresponding evidence. A missing signature should not be treated as a minor administrative detail.
Applicants studying at preschool, primary or secondary school, up to Grade 12, are exempt from the provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter requirement.
This exemption relates to the level of study. Being under 18 or 19 does not automatically exempt a student entering a post-secondary programme.
For studies in Quebec, check the Quebec Acceptance Certificate, or CAQ, requirements separately. A PAL/TAL exemption does not automatically mean a CAQ exemption.
The application must show suitable care arrangements. If your child needs a custodian, include the required custodianship declaration; our dedicated guide explains eligibility, signatures and notarisation.
If you will stay with your child, check the separate entry and stay requirements for accompanying parents.
Most applicants must apply online. Limited paper application exceptions exist.
The main preparation steps are:
For the broader process, review the general study permit requirements alongside the instructions for minors.
A study permit is not a travel document. Check whether your child also needs a visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation to travel to Canada.
As checked in November 2026, the standard study permit application fee is CAD 150 per child.
If biometrics are required, the individual fee is CAD 85. Children under 14 are generally exempt from giving biometrics for temporary residence applications.
Other costs may include tuition, medical examinations, translations and notarisation. Check whether any fee exemption applies before paying.
Processing times vary by application location and circumstances. Use IRCC’s current estimate when planning, and leave room for additional document requests.
Keep school dates, passport validity and immigration deadlines together in one calendar.
If your child is applying from abroad for longer school studies, they generally need a study permit. A minor already in Canada with a parent authorised to work may qualify for an exemption at preschool, elementary or secondary level.
Your visitor status alone does not normally exempt your child from needing a study permit for longer school studies. A qualifying short programme may be exempt.
Normally, yes. An exception can apply when a child accompanies a parent whose work or study permit application has been approved in writing before travel. Check the instructions for the child’s application rather than assuming the exception applies.
No. Ask the school board or school to confirm the applicable tuition rules. Immigration permission and eligibility for publicly funded education are separate questions.
An exemption based on being a minor will no longer apply. Review their permission to continue studying before that birthday and arrange a study permit where required.
A minor child study permit may be required depending on your child’s location, study plans and family circumstances. Some children already in Canada qualify for exemptions, but those rules should not automatically be applied to applications made before travel.
Before applying, check the school documents, financial evidence, parental consent and care arrangements relevant to your child. Since immigration requirements and procedures can change, always check the latest guidance on the official Government of Canada website.
If you need support checking whether your child needs a study permit or preparing their Canadian immigration application, book a consultation with Canada GMC.
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