BRING YOUR FAMILY
On January 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced a number of updates and measures to the International Student Program. The complete details can be found on the IRCC website on our News & Updates page.
If your spouse or common-law partner and/or any dependent children would like to accompany you to Canada, they are advised to apply for a work permit, study permit, or visitor visa at the same time that you apply for your study permit.
Spouse or common-law partner work permit
Accompanying spouses or common-law partners of full-time international students may be eligible for an open work permit, which means they do not need a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Service Canada.
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for a work permit if:
- you are a full-time student at attending a designated learning institution (DLI) like SFU
- you are pursuing a post-graduation work permit-eligible study program and
- you hold a valid study permit.
Full details of the open work permit eligibilty criteria for spouses and common-law partners of international students in Canada can be found on the IRCC website.
Your spouse or common-law partner may submit an application for an open work permit together with your study permit application. Alternatively, if you are already in Canada as a student and your spouse now wishes to join you here, they may apply for a work permit before travelling to Canada.
US citizens and other temporary resident visa exempt individuals are eligible to apply for a work permit upon entering Canada at the border or through a Canadian Consulate. Please contact an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist if you have questions about how to apply.
If your spouse or common-law partner has already entered Canada as a visitor and now wishes to extend their stay in Canada and/or apply for a work permit, please refer to Extend your family members' documents.
If your spouse or common-law partner has already entered Canada as a visitor, they may apply for an open work permit online from inside Canada, providing eligibility criteria are met. For details of the application process and documents required, please review our "Work Permits for Spouses/Common-Law Partners" available on our website.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada defines common-law partners as people of the same or opposite sex who are cohabitating and have cohabitated in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. In Canada, a common-law partner is regarded in the same manner as a legal spouse. Visit the IRCC website for more information.
Permits for dependent children
- Your school-aged children (5-18 years of age) should also apply for study permits. These make the immigration process run more smoothly, especially if your child enters Canada without a parent. You should bring two years of official school records for your children, in English or with a certified English translation. Children under 5 will just require a visitor record.
- For information on schooling and childcare for your dependent children, please see Support for your family.
Documents Required
If your dependent family will be joining you later, they will require some or all of the following documents from you as part of their application for temporary residence in Canada (in addition to their own supporting documents, as specified by the responsible visa office):
- Required application forms, available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website
- Your SFU letter of acceptance (also referred to as your admission offer/letter) or Confirmation of Enrollment letter plus your official SFU transcript (if you have begun your studies)
- An invitation letter from you
- Proof of funds: This could include letter(s) from a bank, employer, scholarship provider, or SFU
- Proof of relationship: A copy of your marriage certificate or proof of common-law status
- A copy of your study permit (if applicable) and passport
- Biometrics and/or an immigration medical exam may also be required
Make sure to keep copies of all the documents your family member submits with their application.
Length of Stay
If your family members enter Canada without you and they have not applied for a study permit or work permit, they may be admitted on visitor status for six months or less. As per the IRCC website, visitors in Canada are permitted to stay for up to 6 months. The officer at the border will determine the approved length of stay.
If your family members travelling to Canada after you have travelled, we recommend that you send them copies of the documents listed above for them to present at the Canadian border crossing.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) no longer stamps all passports at airports with Primary Inspection Kiosks or eGates. This includes Vancouver International Airport/YVR. If you and/or your family member(s) need a stamp in your passport as proof of entry into Canada, request a stamp from a border services officer after completing the kiosk or the eGate transaction.
Visitors admitted for six months or less are not eligible for BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP), so they should apply right away to extend or change their immigration document.