Open Study Permits for Family Members of Foreign Workers and Students

Family members of foreign workers and international students have the opportunity to receive special study permits that are not restricted to a single Designated Learning Institution (DLI). This allows them to choose any school they prefer to attend.

Under certain conditions, spouses and common-law partners can access study permits that are Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)-exempt. This exemption eliminates the need to provide a letter of admission (LOA) with their study permit application and the requirement to pay a deposit to secure a place within a DLI’s student allocation before applying for a study permit.

As a result, these individuals can easily commence their studies in Canada without facing the study permit cap. Moreover, the PAL-exemption grants them the flexibility to enroll in a school in any Canadian province.

Eligibility Criteria for Family Members

Accompanying family members of foreign workers and students must meet specific conditions to qualify for open study permits:

  • They must apply for their study permit before entering Canada.
  • They should be accompanying family members of a foreign national whose work or study permit application has been approved in writing before their entry to Canada.

For instance, if a spouse or common-law partner is an international student with a study permit approved before their arrival in Canada, the accompanying spouse or partner can apply for a study permit from outside Canada without needing an LOA from a DLI.

The open study permit issued to family members does not specify a particular DLI and remains valid until the same expiry date as the principal student’s permit.

Application Process Overview

Here is a step-by-step guide on how this process typically works for an international student couple:

  • The principal student is admitted and applies for a study or work permit. In the case of a study permit:
  • They acquire an LOA from a DLI and, if necessary, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) for their program.
  • They submit their study permit application from outside Canada.