Studying in Canada as a minor
Find out what a minor child needs to do to study in Canada if they’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
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On this page
- Who is a minor child
- Caring for a minor child in Canada
- Find out if your child needs a study permit
- Applying for a study permit for a minor
Who is a minor child
Each province and territory decides the age when a person becomes an adult. This is known as the age of majority. A person under the age of majority is a “minor child”.
| Province or territory | Age of majority |
|---|---|
| Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan | 18 |
| British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon | 19 |
Caring for a minor child in Canada
The parents or legal guardians must prove the minor child will have the care and support they need during their stay in Canada. Minor children under the age of 17 must either
- come with their parent or legal guardian or
- have a custodian in Canada
A custodian is a responsible adult, who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, who will take care of and support the minor child. A custodian is optional for minors 17 years of age and older, but an officer can request one on a case-by-case basis.
How to appoint a custodian
To appoint a custodian, send us the Custodianship Declaration form (PDF, 1.02 MB), along with the minor child’s study permit application.
The 2 pages of the form look similar, but
- the first page needs to be signed by the custodian and notarized (certified by a lawyer or notary) in Canada
- the second page needs to be signed by the parents or legal guardians of the minor child and notarized in their home country
Find out if your child needs a study permit
The following table summarizes whether a minor child needs a study permit to enrol in a school. School authorities may also use the table to help determine when school fees apply.
| If the child is… | Documents needed | Study permit required |
|---|---|---|
| a Canadian | Passport, citizenship card or birth certificate | No |
| a permanent resident | Record of Landing (IMM 1000), Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292) or Permanent Resident Card | No |
| a foreign national accompanied by a parent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada | Child’s passport or child listed on the parent’s passport, child’s birth certificate, or Permanent Resident Card | No |
| a foreign national accompanied by a parent in the visitor class | Stamp on the child’s passport or on the parent’s passport on which the child is listed as a son or daughter | Yes |
| alone | Child’s passport. The child may have a visitor record. It’s recommended that the child gets a study permit, even when one is not required. | No |
with a parent who is a temporary resident and has a study or work permit or if neither parent is in Canada |
Child’s passport or child listed on a parent’s passport. The child may have a visitor record. The parent has a study or work permit.Footnote 1 It’s recommended that the child gets a study permit, even when one is not required. | No |
| a refugee claimant whose parents are refugees or refugee claimants | Determination of Eligibility letter from IRCC. Child’s passport or child listed on a parent’s passport, or any available travel or identity documents. May also have an expired IRCC document. | No |
| in Canada without status | Child’s passport or child listed on a parent’s passport, or any available travel or identity documents. May also have an expired IRCC document. | No |
Why get a study permit if the minor doesn’t need one
Having a study permit means, if the minor wants to, they may be able to
- remain in school when they’re no longer a minor
- get a secondary school co-op work permit
- have access to social services in some provinces or territories
Applying for a study permit for a minor
Generally, if you’re applying for a study permit for a minor (even at the primary or secondary school level), you need to provide a letter of acceptance from the educational institution in Canada that the child is going to. You may provide either the original letter of acceptance or an electronic version.
Minor children don’t need a study permit for programs that are 6 months or less, but may still apply for one before entering Canada.
Minor children who want to study for 6 months or more must apply for a study permit before they enter Canada.
Outside of Canada
Minor children who want to study in Canada must apply for a study permit before they enter Canada. This includes minor children who come with parents who already have a valid study or work permit.
Minors coming to Canada with parents who have a valid study or work permit don’t need to provide a letter of acceptance from a school when applying for a study permit.
Apply for a study permit outside Canada
Already in Canada
Minors already in Canada should apply for a study permit. In some provinces or territories, they may need one to receive social services.
Minor children who are already in Canada may study without a study permit if they
- want to go to pre-school, kindergarten, or primary or secondary school and have a parent who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
- are refugees or refugee claimants whose parents are refugees or refugee claimants
- came to Canada as a visitor for a course or program of studies of 6 months or less
- will study in a course or program of 6 months or less
- are in Canada by themselves or on a visitor status
- have a parent (biological or adoptive) who is authorized to work or study in Canada, including temporary residents who are
- work permit holders
- study permit holders
- not physically in Canada
- business visitors and others authorized to work without a work permit
Minors who don’t have a study permit must have valid visitor status during their stay in Canada.
Applying for a study permit in Canada
Minor children need a letter of acceptance if they’re
- in Canada with a family member and
- that family member had a work or study permit approved before they entered Canada
Study permits for primary school students are issued for a period of 1 year and can be renewed.
Study permits for students enrolled in secondary school (grades 9 to 12 in all provinces and territories except Quebec, and grades 9 to 11 in Quebec) can be issued for the full length of the intended period of study at a secondary school in Canada (maximum of 4 years).
Apply for a study permit within Canada
Extending a study permit in Canada
Minor children need a letter of acceptance to extend their study permit inside Canada. The length of a minor’s study permit is based on the letter of acceptance.
Make sure to apply for the new permit at least 90 days before the current permit expires. You can find your permit’s expiry date on the study permit itself.
If their study permit expires
Minor children must keep valid status during their stay in Canada. Usually, this means having a valid study permit. If your minor child is allowed to study in Canada without a study permit, then they must have a valid visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
If you haven’t applied to renew their study permit before it expires, they’ll lose their student status and have 90 days to apply to restore it. They’re allowed to continue studying until a decision is made.
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