Who is a minor child
Each province and territory decides the age when a person becomes an adult. This is known as the age of majority. A person under the age of majority is a “minor child”.
Province or territory | Age of majority |
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Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan | 18 |
British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon | 19 |
Find out if your child needs a study permit
The following table summarizes whether a minor child at the primary and secondary school level needs a study permit to enrol in a school. School authorities may also use the table to help determine when school fees apply.
If the child is… | Documents needed | Study permit required |
---|
a Canadian | Passport, citizenship card or birth certificate | No |
a permanent resident | Record of Landing (IMM 1000), Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292) or Permanent Resident Card | No |
a foreign national (either inside or coming to Canada) accompanied by a parent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada | Child’s passport, child’s birth certificate, or Permanent Resident Card | No |
a foreign national coming to Canada with a parent who
- will have temporary resident status as a visitor once they’re in Canada
- does not have a work or study permit
| Child’s passport | Yes |
already in Canada with a parent who
- has temporary resident status as a visitor
- does not have a work or study permit
| Child’s passport | Yes |
a foreign national coming to Canada and is accompanied by a parent with a study or work permit | Child’s passport | Yes |
a foreign national coming to Canada and is not accompanied by a parent | Child’s passport | Yes |
already in Canada with a parent who has a study or work permit
or
already in Canada but neither parent is in Canada | Child’s passport. The child may have a visitor record. The parent has a study or work permit.Footnote1 It’s recommended that the child get a study permit, even though it’s not required. | No |
a refugee claimant or their parents are refugees or refugee claimants | Determination of Eligibility letter from IRCC. Child’s passport, or any available travel or identity documents. May also have an expired IRCC document. | No |
in Canada without status | Child’s passport or child listed on a parent’s passport, or any available travel or identity documents. May also have an expired IRCC document. | No |