IRCC Program Delivery Updates has published an item titled “Study permits – Guidelines on minor children.” The supplied source record does not include the revised study permit guidance for minor children, an effective date or details about affected applications.
Who is considered a minor in Canada?
The age of majority depends on the province or territory where the child is located.
The age of majority is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. It is 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
Anyone under the applicable age of majority when they arrive in Canada is considered a minor child for these purposes.
When can a minor study without a study permit?
IRCC’s guidance confirms that certain minor children who are already in Canada may study at the preschool, primary or secondary level without a study permit under subsection 30(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
This can include minors who are accompanying parents claiming refugee protection, have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident parent, or have a parent who is authorized to work or study in Canada.
The exemption may also apply where a parent holds visitor status but is authorized to work without a work permit or study without a study permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Minor children already in Canada may also qualify where neither parent is physically in Canada.
However, a minor child of a temporary resident who is only a visitor and is not authorized to work or study generally requires a study permit to study in Canada.
Minors applying from outside Canada generally need a study permit
IRCC distinguishes between children who are already in Canada and those applying from abroad.
A minor child intending to come to Canada to study generally must apply for a study permit before entering Canada. Visa offices processing applications from minor children outside Canada are instructed to treat them as students rather than visitors, including when they accompany a parent who is authorized to work or study in Canada, unless another study permit exemption applies.
A minor arriving at a port of entry to study should normally already have obtained a letter of introduction approving the study permit or be eligible to apply for the permit at the port of entry.
Applying for a study permit from inside Canada
A minor who is already studying in Canada without a study permit under subsection 30(2) may apply for a study permit from within Canada.
IRCC says the applicant must provide evidence of their academic status in Canada, such as confirmation of enrolment, as well as evidence of the parent’s immigration status where applicable.
When extending their stay, an eligible minor may apply either to extend a study permit, where one is required, or to extend their temporary resident status if they remain authorized to study without a permit.
A letter of acceptance is required when a minor applies to extend a study permit.
IRCC also instructs officers assessing these applications to consider whether appropriate custodianship arrangements are in place, whether the child has health coverage, whether sufficient funds are available for the child’s stay and, where applicable, whether the student has made academic progress.
Custodianship is mandatory for applicants under 17
The updated instructions provide specific guidance on when a custodian in Canada is required.
For a study permit applicant who is under 17 years old at the time of application, a custodian in Canada continues to be required.
The application must include notarized declarations from the parent or legal guardian in the country of origin and from the custodian in Canada confirming that arrangements have been made for the custodian to act in place of a parent.
IRCC also states that the parent or legal guardian and the custodian must acknowledge that the custodian will live within a reasonable distance of the student’s intended residence and school.
Where applicable, the custodianship declaration should contain the information and signatures of both parents.
Different rules apply when a parent accompanies the child
A custodianship declaration is not required when the minor is accompanied by at least one parent for the duration of their studies.
However, when only one parent accompanies the child, IRCC instructs officers to request a signed Parent Consent Letter or Travel Authorization Form from the non-accompanying parent if it has not already been provided.
The instructions also require officers to record and link information about custodians and accompanying parents in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).
Custodianship may be discretionary for older minors
For applicants who are 17 years old but have not yet reached the age of majority in their province or territory, custodianship is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Officers may request additional documents or an interview and must consider whether the applicant is capable of providing for their own care and support while in Canada.
IRCC identifies several factors that may be relevant to this assessment, including:
- the applicant’s level of study, with secondary-school students normally expected to require a custodian;
- previous living arrangements and level of independence;
- financial capacity;
- previous travel or international exchange experience;
- accessibility of the applicant’s parents or guardians;
- informal arrangements for care and support; and
- risks relating to the student’s safety and well-being, including indicators of irregular child migration, exploitation or trafficking.
What this means for families and representatives
The guidance makes the applicant’s age at the time of application particularly important when assessing custodianship requirements.
Applicants under 17 should generally prepare the required custodianship documentation unless they will be accompanied by a parent throughout their studies. For applicants aged 17 who remain minors under the law of the destination province or territory, the need for a custodian is not automatic and should be assessed against the factors identified by IRCC.
Families should also distinguish between a minor who is already in Canada and one who is applying from outside Canada. The ability of some minors already in Canada to study without a study permit does not generally remove the requirement for a child coming from abroad to obtain a study permit before travelling to Canada for studies.
The updated IRCC instructions are dated September 22, 2026.
Source: IRCC Program Delivery Updates