Can I get a work permit based on my kid’s study visa?

If you enter Canada on a visitor visa and later change your status to a study permit, your ability to apply for a work permit based on your daughter’s study permit is not automatic or guaranteed. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Work Permit for Parents of Minor Students

• Parents of minor children (like your 10-year-old daughter) who are studying in Canada can apply for an open work permit, which allows them to work in Canada.

• This open work permit can only be issued if your daughter is enrolled in a primary or secondary school in Canada.

• Post-secondary students do not qualify their parents for an open work permit.

2. Conditions to Apply for a Work Permit Based on Your Daughter’s Study Permit

• Your daughter must have a valid study permit, and she must be enrolled in a primary or secondary school (not post-secondary).

• The application for an open work permit can be made while your daughter is in Canada with her study permit, but you need to show that you are legally allowed to stay in Canada (such as changing your status from a visitor to a study permit holder first).

3. Process for Changing Visitor Visa to Study Permit

• If you're on a visitor visa, you cannot directly switch to a study permit while inside Canada unless you apply for a study permit and get it approved.

• Once you have a study permit for yourself (and assuming your daughter is also on a valid study permit), you can apply for an open work permit based on her enrollment in school.

4. Work Permit Application Process

• To apply for an open work permit, you will need to provide evidence that your daughter is a full-time student in a primary or secondary school in Canada.

• You will also need to show proof of your relationship (e.g., a marriage certificate if applying as a spouse or proof of guardianship).

Conclusion:

You cannot apply for a work permit solely based on your daughter’s study permit unless she is studying at a primary or secondary school in Canada. You must first ensure that your status in Canada is valid (such as switching to a study permit), and then you can apply for a work permit if you meet the other eligibility criteria.