Children coming to Canada to study

 

Find out if your child needs a study permit

The following table summarizes whether a minor child needs a study permit to enroll 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 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