Bringing a Spouse to Canada

Bringing a Spouse, a Common-Law Partner, or Family Members to Canada

Do you know what is one of the greatest things about studying in Canada? You can invite your spouse, your common-law partner, or other family members to join you. Canada has a generous immigration policy and allows certain members of your family to come to the country to work and study too.

Before considering the question of bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada in more detail, it is reasonable to define who can be considered a family member. The Government of Canada determines a spouse, a common-law or conjugal partner, and dependent children as family members of the international students.

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you have to be aware of the fact that citizens of some countries and territories need to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter the country. Moreover, your family members cannot apply for a visa at a Canadian Port of Entry. It means that when you consider bringing your spouse, common-law partner, or family members to Canada, they need to have enough time to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. In some cases, your family members can be required to submit a medical examination report, applying for the visa. If you want to learn more about a TRV, please visit the official web page of the Government of Canada.

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you should remember that citizens of the most visa-exempt countries need to have an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You can learn more about an eTA online, including whether you or your family members need to have a TRV or an eTA when traveling to Canada. It is worth mentioning, that the citizens of the United States of America are required to have neither a TRV nor an eTA. 

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you can also help your spouse or common-law partner to apply for an open work permit. The open work permit allows them to work in Canada officially, and it is valid for the same period as the duration of the study permit of the international student.

If you wish to help your spouse or common-law partner to get a work permit in Canada, you need to have a valid study permit and study full-time at one of these schools:

• A public post-secondary institution in Canada
• A private school, which has the license to award degrees in Canada
• A private post-secondary institution that complies with the same regulations and rules as a public school in Canada

It is vital to highlight that the open work permit allows your spouse or common-law partner to work for any employer in Canada. Moreover, the work permit holder does not need to have a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment to be eligible to apply for a work permit. However, your spouse or common-law partner cannot occupy certain jobs in schools or hospitals without a medical examination report.

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you have to know that Canadian visa offices can process an application for a work permit and the study permit application at the same time. In this case, the applicant(s) should include the processing fees for both permits.

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you should also know that your spouse or common-law partner can arrive in Canada as a visitor and then apply for an open work permit. Citizens of the visa-exempt countries can apply for a work permit at a Canadian Port of Entry. Sometimes, citizens of visa-required countries can also apply for an open work permit in a Port of Entry in Canada.

Your spouse or common-law partner has to apply for a work permit online and there are at least five benefits of it. First, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) instantly gets the application. Second, it helps to be sure that you submit a complete application. Third, the application can be processed quickly. Fourth, if needed, the applicant can quickly submit extra documents online. And the last benefit is the ability to check the status of the application in the online account.

Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you should know everything about the process of applying for a work permit. In this case, you will be able to help your spouse to apply online. The first step is to prepare a valid debit (credit) card and a scanner (camera) to make electronic copies of documents. The second step is to read the guide since it explains how to complete each field on the application form. The third step is to answer the necessary questions before uploading the form since the immigration officers create a personalized document checklist based on these answers. The fourth step is to pay the fees at the end of the application process. Usually, the fees include processing fees for all people included in the application. The fifth step is to sign in or create an online account. Your spouse or common-law partner can use this account to submit an application, pay the fees, and check the application status.

It is worth mentioning, that your spouse or common-law partner also can submit a paper application if they have a problem with the online application or cannot apply online because of a disability. Remember, you can learn more about the open work permit online.

When bringing your spouse, common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you have to know that your minor child can study without a study permit at the preschool, primary, or secondary type of school in Canada. However, when the child reaches the age of majority in the province of residence, they have to apply for a study permit to continue the study in Canada. The application can be completed from inside the country. Bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada, remember to check whether your child needs to get a study permit and what documents you have to prepare. Additionally, when you apply from your country of citizenship, you should apply for a study permit of your child at a Canadian overseas visa office.

Bringing a spouse, common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you should know that your child can have either a study permit or a visitor record when entering Canada. Consequently, your minor child can study in Canada without a study permit if they have either a Canadian entry stamp in the passport or the visitor record. 

If you consider bringing a spouse, a common-law partner, or family members to Canada at the same time as you arrive in the country, you have to fill out one application for the entire family. Moreover, if you have different permit applications, such as your study permit and the work permit of your spouse or common-law partner, you need to include extra documents and additional fees, for example, the additional fee for the work permit. Bringing a spouse, common-law partner, or family members to Canada, you have to be sure that you have a valid study permit. If you need to extend or change it while you are staying in Canada, you have to complete a separate application. Additionally, you have to apply for the extension of your study permit at least 30 days before the expiry date of your current study permit.

Many international students wonder whether they can invite parents to Canada on a study permit. According to the definition of the family member, the parents are not included in this term. However, your parents can travel to the country on a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

 

If you need help with bringing a spouse to Canada or any other relatives, please contact us or fill in application below.