Student Dependent Visa For Canada
Student Dependent Visas for Canada are a long-term dependency status for international students who have dependent children.
Canadians love to travel, and when it comes to traveling, all of us want to take our family members along with us. However, students who are currently in Canada and want to bring their partners or dependent children with them need first to consider whether they are eligible for the Canadian Student Dependent Visa or not. There are many restrictions imposed by the government which may make it impossible or difficult for students who want to bring their families to Canada while they study.
Canada is among the world’s greatest nations and has one of the most acceptable living conditions, particularly through its neighborly condition so that foreigners are attracted to come here to study via different visa program. The student dependent visa is a Canadian visa according to which you can immigrate to Canada in case you have a dependent relative i.e. spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada, who can act as your sponsor and assurances that you will be able to support yourself financially while you study.
Student Dependent Visa For Canada
A student dependent visa is a temporary visa which allows the spouse or children of a Canadian citizen or a person with Canadian permanent resident status to live and attend school in Canada. The duration of your stay on this visa depends on the length of the course you are attending. Most students can study on a dependent visa for up to 5 years as long as they can prove that they will be able to support themselves financially (more details about financial requirements below). You must also ensure that there is another adult in Canada who can act as your guarantor and confirm address, phone number and information about you.
Applying for your dependents to join you in Canada
It may be possible for your dependents to come live with you in Canada during your studies as a visitor, student, or worker.
Dependents include:
- Spouses
- Common-law partners
- Dependent children
They can apply when you make your initial study permit application from outside Canada or apply separately to join you after you’ve arrived. Typically, their study permit, work permit, or visitor record will be issued for the same length as your study permit.
If their passport expires soon, they should extend it well in advance since documents cannot be issued beyond the expiry date of a passport.
Each family member, even infants, will have their own Canadian immigration document. It is important that each family member maintains valid status in Canada by either leaving Canada or applying to extend their stay before their status in Canada ends.
Common-law partners
Canadian immigration policy considers a common-law partner in the same manner as a legal spouse. Common-law partners are people of the same or opposite sex who have lived together continuously in a conjugal, marriage-like relationship for at least one year.
Be sure to attach proof of your common-law relationship as supporting documentation, along with a notarized Statutory Declaration of Common Law Union [IMM 5409] (pdf) form.
Travel documents for your family
Depending on their country of citizenship, each family member may need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV, or “entry visa”) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) which allows them to travel to Canada. US citizens and permanent residents are exempt. TRVs and eTAs are travel documents only and do not provide status in Canada.
If your family members apply for a study permit or work permit from outside of Canada, the TRV or eTA is provided automatically. Find out if your family needs a TRV or eTA.
Learn about how to apply for their TRV if required.
Status in Canada
Depending on your dependents’ situation, they could come to Canada as a visitor, student, or worker.
Visitor status
Visitor documents may include any of the following:
- A stamp in the passport (rare)
- A printed document called a Visitor Record
Whether or not a passport is stamped, visitors can remain in Canada for six months from the date of entry. However, if the officer writes a date under the stamp or issues a Visitor Record, the visitor must leave or extend their stay before the date provided.
Unless your dependents are coming for a short visit, they should request a Visitor Record upon entry to Canada with an expiry date that matches your study permit.
If your dependents enter Canada with you, they will typically be issued Visitor Records for the same length as your study permit.
If your dependents enter Canada without you, they may be admitted as visitors for up to six months. To improve the likelihood that their visitor record is issued for the same length as your study permit, send them copies of your study permit, Temporary Resident Visa (if you have one), passport and a current UBC letter of enrollment indicating the expected completion date of your studies (from the Student Service Centre or your advising or graduate program staff) for them to present to the Officer on arrival.
Visitors admitted for six months or less are not eligible for the BC Medical Services Plan, BC’s provincial health insurance plan. If your family plans to stay longer than six months, you should apply to extend their stay as soon as possible and before their visitor status expires.
Study permits for your children
A child under the age of 19 in British Columbia is considered a minor child. Minor children applying from outside Canada to accompany a parent who will work or study in Canada for 6 months or longer must apply for a study permit. They do not need to provide a letter of acceptance from an educational institution.
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. In general, having a study permit rather than a visitor record can make the immigration process run more smoothly for accompanying minor children.
You should also bring the following documents for your children:
- 2 years of your child’s official school records, in English or with a certified English translation
- Your child’s immunization records since birth
- Your child’s original birth certificate
Read more information on what a minor child needs to study in Canada if they’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Children usually start elementary school in the year they turn 5 years old. If your child is not yet school aged, they do not require a study permit and should apply for a Temporary Resident Visa or electronic travel authorization, if required. You should request a Visitor Record for them when entering Canada.
If your child is 19 or older, they will need to apply for their study permit independently. If they meet the definition of a dependent child, you can submit their Visitor Record application together with your study/work permit application.
Work permit for your spouse or partner
A spouse/partner work permit is an open work permit which allows your spouse or common-law partner to work full-time while you study. Your spouse or partner does not need a job offer to apply for the work permit.
If you’re an international student studying full-time with a valid study permit in a program which is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit, your spouse or common-law partner can apply for a spouse/partner work permit.
If you’ve finished studies and are applying for the Post-Graduation Work Permit, there are additional requirements you must meet for your spouse or partner to be eligible for a work permit.
The spouse/partner work permit will usually be issued for the same length of time as your study or work permit.
There are a few options for your spouse or partner to apply for a work permit. Contact International Student Advising to discuss your spouse or partner’s circumstances and options to apply for a TRV or work permit.
From outside Canada
Upon arrival in Canada: for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) holders and US citizens and permanent residents only
After they arrive in Canada
Health insurance for your dependents
You will need to purchase private temporary health insurance for at least their first 3 months in Canada, such as iMED, then apply for the Medical Services Plan once they’ve arrived in British Columbia, if eligible. You might also be eligible to enroll your dependents in the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan. For iMED and AMS/GSS Health and Dental, check the dates by which you can add dependents.
Learn about health insurance for international students.
Extending documents for dependents
When you extend your documents, you will likely need to extend each dependent’s status in Canada as well. You can extend their stay at the same time you extend your study permit or apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Be sure to extend the documents for each individual (even infants) before their status in Canada expires. Applications must be submitted before 11:59 pm UTC (not local time) on the date their status expires to remain in Canada under maintained status.
Follow the links for more information on how to:
- Extend their stay as a visitor
- Extend their stay as a student
- Extend their stay as a worker
- Extend their Temporary Resident Visa in Canada (for study or work permit holders only)
Visitors are not eligible to apply for a TRV in Canada, and will need to apply through the visa office serving their country of citizenship. Contact International Student Advising for support.
Inviting your family to visit you in Canada
If a family member such as a parent requires a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and wants to come visit you in Canada temporarily—for example, to attend your graduation ceremony—you can provide documents to help them with their TRV application.
