Accompanying Spouses

Applying together

This is valid when you include your spouse or common-law partner in your Study Permit application.

1. If you will be entering Canada together, your spouse or common-law partner should request a visitor record, when passing through customs, valid until the expiration of your Study Permit. 
2. If your spouse or common-law partner will not be applying for an open work permit before travelling to Canada, they will enter Canada as a visitor. Depending on their country of citizenship, your spouse/common-law partner may need one of the following in order to fly to and/or enter Canada:
   1. a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV/Visitor Visa) or
   2. eTA
3. The border officer at the port of entry (e.g. airport or land border) will decide how long your spouse or common-law partner can stay in Canada.
4. The officer will use one of three ways, as described on Immigration Canada’s website, to note how long your spouse or common-law partner can stay in Canada.

Applying separately

This case applies when you did not include your spouse or common-law partner in your Study Permit application and your spouse or common-law partner is now applying separately for a visitor visa/TRV.

1. Your spouse/common-law partner should answer “Other” to the question What is the main purpose of your visit? on the online questionnaire.
2. Your spouse/common-law partner should upload a copy of your Study Permit, along with your Letter of Invitation, in the “Invitation Letter” section of the document checklist
3. Your spouse/common-law partner may wish to include, in the “Optional” section of the document checklist:
   1. An explanatory letter explaining the purpose of their visit to Canada, their ties to their country of citizenship or residence, and their intention to leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay
   2. Documents that support explanations provided in the explanatory letter
4. It is important that your spouse or common-law partner leaves Canada or applies to extend their stay by or before the expiry date of their authorized stay.
5. Your spouse or common-law partner can always apply for an open work permit after they enter Canada, but before their visitor status expires, by applying for a work permit from inside Canada (IMM 5710 form, Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker).

Your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if you have a valid study permit, are a full-time student and you are studying in either:

• a master’s degree program that is 16 months or longer;
• a doctoral degree program in a university or polytechnic institution, or
• one of the following professional degree programs at a university:
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
  • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)

1. As a visitor or worker in Canada, your spouse or common-law partner may enrol in a short-term course without needing to apply for a CAQ or Study Permit. A short-term course is completed in 6 months or less and is not part of a longer program.
2. If your spouse/common-law partner wishes to take a course or study in a program that is more than 6 months or that otherwise does not meet the definition of a short-term course, or wishes to continue their studies after completing a short-term course they will need to apply for both a CAQ and Study Permit. Your spouse/common-law partner:
   1. Must first apply for their CAQ from Immigration Quebec; and then
   2. Apply online for their Study Permit, and include a copy of your valid Study Permit with their application.
   3. U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. can apply for their Study Permits at their Port of Entry (e.g. airport or land border)

Your spouse/common-law partner may hold an open work permit and a Study Permit at the same time.

General Tips:

1. Apply together!
   1. If possible, we suggest that you include your spouse or common-law partner in your initial Study Permit application. This simplifies the application process.
   2. However, first, we suggest that you verify the processing times for a work permit and/or visitor visa in your region.
   3. If you apply together, long processing times for a work permit or visitor visa for your spouse can delay the processing of your study permit.
2. Prove your common-law relationship!
   1. If your common-law partner will be accompanying you to Canada, it will be important to demonstrate that you have been together for at least 12 months.
   2. You can read more on the Government of Canada website about how to prove your common-law relationship.
3. If your spouse or common-law partner will be applying for their temporary resident documents separately from your own application, they should demonstrate their ties to their country of residency or citizenship in order to satisfy the Visa Officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay.