Canada Visa for Children Under 18
For children under the age of 18, the application process for a Canadian visa is the same as for a Canadian visitor or tourist visa; the only difference between the processes is that children need parental consent to obtain a visa. Children under the age of 18 who will apply for a Canadian visa must submit a commitment signed by their mother and father or legal guardian during their visa application.
Children under the age of 18 who will apply for a Canadian visa must be proven by their parents or legal guardian that the child will receive the necessary care and support during their stay or education in Canada; it must also be proven that the child’s financial needs in Canada will be met.
Children under the age of 17 must enter Canada with a parent or legal guardian or have a parent present in Canada.
What is the Age Limit for Traveling to Canada Alone?
Each province in Canada determines the age at which a person becomes an adult. Anyone under these specified ages is considered a child.
Below are the legal age limits by state.
| State | Age of Majority |
|---|---|
| Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan | 18 |
| British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon | 19 |
Are There Vaccination Requirements for Children Traveling to Canada?
Vaccination requirements for children traveling to Canada vary by state.
Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children under 12 years of age must be tested prior to entry to Canada, upon arrival and on the 8th day of their stay; there is no triple test requirement if the child is under 5 years of age or if the child can prove they have had a positive COVID-19 test between 11 and 180 days prior to their arrival in Canada.
Children between the ages of 12 and 17 who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated and entering Canada are subject to a 14-day quarantine and testing before entering Canada, upon arrival in Canada and on the 8th day as a vaccination requirement for a Canadian visa. Covid-19 practices are applied regardless of whether a fully vaccinated person accompanies children between the ages of 12 and 17.
Can People Under the Age of 18 Apply for Their Own Canadian Visa?
No, people under the age of 18 cannot apply for a Canadian visa on their own. A child Canadian visa application must be made with the accompaniment of a parent or legal guardian.
In cases where the parents or legal guardian of the child under the age of 18 cannot be present during the application to be made with the Canadian visa application centre and a proxy is appointed, the visa application form and power of attorney document must be signed by both parents and added to the visa application documents; if one of the parents is not present at the application, it is sufficient for the power of attorney to be prepared and signed by the parent who will not attend the application.
What Documents Are Required for a Canadian Child Visa?
The documents required for a Canadian child visa are listed below.
- Passport : The child must have a valid passport; if the child’s information is recorded on the passport of one of the parents, the application is made with the passport of the mother or father.
- Birth certificate : A copy of the birth certificate of the child who will apply for a visa must be attached to the application documents.
- Power of Attorney : A document indicating that the child for whom the visa application will be made is allowed to obtain a visa must be signed by the mother and father and submitted.
In Canada child visa applications, it is mandatory to submit the documents required for the Canada V1 visa, also called the visitor visa, along with the documents requested for the child; if there are missing documents, the visa application may be rejected.
What Documents Are Required for Children Coming to Canada with a Single Parent?
The documents required for Canadian visa applications for children traveling to Canada with a single parent are listed below.
- Passport : A valid passport must be submitted for the child who will apply for a Canadian visa.
- Birth certificate : The child’s birth certificate is added to the application documents.
- Document showing custody status : If the mother and father of the child who will apply for a visa are separated or divorced, a document showing who has legal custody of the child must be submitted.
- Death certificate : If one or both of the child’s parents are deceased, the death certificate of the deceased parent is one of the documents requested during the visa application.
- Power of Attorney : For children traveling to Canada with only one parent, a consent form signed by the parent who will not be traveling is required.
- Documentation proving adoption or legal guardianship : If the child applying for a Canadian visa is adopted or has a legal guardian appointed to the child, documents proving this relationship must be submitted in the application.
- Consent : A written consent form signed by the child’s parents or legal guardian must be submitted if the child will be traveling with an adult other than a single parent or parents and legal guardian.
How Should a Canadian Visa Consent Be for Children?
A consent form for a Canadian visa for children is a permission document given by the child’s parents or legal guardians. The consent form is a mandatory document for the child to travel without their parents or legal guardians and must be prepared or translated in English or French, if possible.
For minors traveling to Canada, the consent form must include the address and telephone number of the parent or legal guardian; it must also include the name, address and telephone number of the adult who will accompany the child during their stay in Canada.
If children are travelling to Canada with only one parent, a consent form signed by the parent who will not be travelling is required.
Do Under 18s Need to Provide Fingerprints for a Canadian Visa?
The requirement for people under the age of 18 to provide fingerprints for a Canadian visa varies depending on the age range they are in. Children under the age of 14 who will apply for a Canadian visa are exempt from biometric procedures and providing fingerprints.
For those over the age of 14 but under the age of 18, fingerprints and biometrics are required for Canadian visa applications.
All biometric procedures, including fingerprints, for Canadian visas for children under the age of 18 are carried out at the visa application centers of the authorized intermediary institution in Ankara and Istanbul.
Do Babies Need a Canadian Visa?
Yes, infants require a Canadian visa. All foreign nationals who wish to travel to Canada and whose country of citizenship does not allow visa-free travel between Canada and Canada are required to obtain a visa, regardless of age; Canada does not exempt infants from visas.
What Canadian Visa Do Students Under 18 Need?
Students under the age of 18 must apply for a Canadian study permit to study in Canada; the Canadian study permit application is made in the country where the student has permanent residence. Children under the age of 18 are granted a visitor visa along with a study permit.
For foreign primary school students who will study in Canada, a Canadian study permit is issued for a period of 1 year and can be extended later.
Canadian study permits are granted to international students enrolled in a high school program in Canada for a maximum of four years; this period covers grades 9 to 12 in the provinces other than Quebec and grades 9 to 11 in the province of Quebec.
Children in kindergarten and preschool do not need a study permit in Canada.
Students who will attend associate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Canada for more than 180 days must apply for a Canadian S1 visa in addition to a study permit.
