There are many moving parts to consider when it comes to applying to have your family join you as an international student in Canada, but it is possible with careful planning.
You can choose to apply to have your family join you for either a short visit or to stay for the entire length of your studies. If approved, your family can either come to Canada at the same time as you or after you arrive.
Before applying to bring your family with you to Canada as an international student, there are three main things to consider.
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1. Choose a Canadian status
The first step is to decide which status best fits each family member’s needs:
Visitor
- Short-term - This allows family members to visit for a short time (less than six months). For example, your parent may come for your graduation ceremony.
- Long-term - Some dependant family members may wish to accompany you as a visitor for longer than six months – for example, your young child not yet attending school, or your spouse or common-law partner. In this case, a border officer will typically print a “visitor record” for them upon entry to Canada. If they do not receive a visitor record, they can apply for one by extending their status in Canada as a visitor. Your spouse or common-law partner is not permitted to work under visitor status.
Student
- A study permit is typically held by your minor children (aged up to 18 or 19, depending on your province or territory) who study in Canada, for example in primary or secondary school. Minor children outside Canada need to apply for a study permit before entering Canada. Although some minor children already in Canada may study without a study permit, holding a study permit is recommended and may be required to receive social services.
Worker
If your spouse or partner hopes to work in Canada, they may be eligible for a work permit if you are studying full-time at an eligible institution. There are two ways to apply:
- Before entering Canada - In this scenario, your spouse or partner must apply for a work permit from outside Canada either together with your study permit application, or after your study permit is approved.
- After entering Canada - If your spouse or partner first entered Canada as a visitor, they can then apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
You need to choose your family’s status carefully because there are some important differences. Visitors, for example, generally cannot extend temporary resident visas (TRVs) from inside Canada.
When applying for any of these categories, your family will also need to show proof of adequate funds to support their stay in Canada. In addition to the minimum funds you need as a student, family members should generally show at least C$4,000 for the first family member and C$3,000 for each additional family member, and slightly more in Quebec.
Family members will also need to show proof of your student status (eg an admission letter, current enrolment letter or transcript) and an invitation letter, written by you, outlining your family’s reasons for visiting Canada.
Remember, just because your family is eligible to apply for a status does not necessarily mean that they will be approved. If your family is issued with a visitor record, or a study or work permit, it will generally expire on the same date as your study permit. If you need to extend your study permit, you can extend their documents at the same time.
2. General entry requirements
In addition to having a valid status while in Canada at the time of entry, all foreign nationals must either:
- Have a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) sticker in their passport, or
- Have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or
- Qualify for an exemption (eg, US citizens).
To check whether you need a TRV or an eTA to enter Canada, you can take this quiz. You can also check if a previous eTA is still valid.
If your family member applies for a study or work permit from outside Canada, a TRV or eTA will be issued automatically as part of their application. If they want to come to Canada as a visitor, they must apply for a TRV or eTA directly.
Some family members may also need to take a medical exam or give biometrics, so make sure you’re aware of how long this may take when considering timings.
Note that this guide is accurate at the time of publication; however, check for updates with Application to study in Canada. Originally published on 23 July 2021 and updated by Grace McCabe on 9 October 2023.
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