About
Once your child's registration at a Canadian school is confirmed, we help you explore the immigration options that may be available to you as a parent. Depending on your circumstances and objectives, these may include a Visit, Study, Economic Immigration, or Regional Immigration pathway. Each pathway has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Parents Visit Pathway
What is it?
The Parents Visit Pathway is an option for parents who wish to visit or accompany their minor child while the child studies in Canada. It is generally a temporary-residence option and is assessed based on the parent's purpose of travel, financial circumstances, family situation, and ability to satisfy the applicable visitor requirements.
How does it work?
After the child's school registration is confirmed, the parent's circumstances can be assessed, the appropriate visitor documentation prepared, and the application submitted for consideration by the Canadian authorities.
The Challenge: Genuine Purpose for the Visit
For parents accompanying a minor child studying in Canada, one of the key challenges is demonstrating that the child's education is the genuine and central purpose of the family's plans, rather than using the child's studies simply as a means for the parent to enter Canada. The parent's application may need to clearly demonstrate the family's educational plans, including where the child will study, the cost of tuition and education, how the child's education will be funded, the family's available financial resources, and whether the family can support the child's education without relying on income from Canada. The overall circumstances must also be consistent with the temporary nature and purpose of the parent's visit.
Parents Study Pathway
What is it?
The Parents Study Pathway is an option for a parent who wishes to pursue their own education in Canada while their child studies at a Canadian K–12 school. The parent's study plan is separate from the child's education pathway and must meet the requirements applicable to the parent's proposed program and study permit.
How does it work?
Following confirmation of the child's school registration, we assess the parent's educational background, interests and objectives and help identify an appropriate college or university in Canada. We connect the parent with suitable Canadian educational institutions and facilitate the process of exploring available programs and pursuing admission. Once admission is obtained, the parent can proceed with the applicable study permit process.
Challenge: Parent a Genuine Student?
When a parent applies to study in Canada while their minor child is already studying at a Canadian K–12 school, an important consideration is whether the parent's primary purpose is genuinely to study or whether the study plan is being used primarily as a means to enter or remain in Canada with the family. The application may therefore need to establish why the parent has chosen the particular program, college or university, how the program relates to their previous education, professional experience or future plans, and why studying in Canada makes sense at this stage of their life. The financial side is also important: the parent must demonstrate the ability to pay for their own education and living expenses as well as the family's relevant costs, without relying improperly on employment in Canada. The officer may also consider the family's circumstances, the child's education, the overall study plan, and whether the application is consistent with the temporary nature of the study permit.
Parents Economic Immigration Pathway
What is it?
The Parents Economic Immigration Pathway refers to immigration options based on the parent's own economic qualifications, such as education, work experience, language ability and other program-specific requirements. The child's school admission does not by itself qualify the parent for economic immigration.
How does it work?
Once the child's school registration is confirmed, the parent's profile can be assessed against available economic immigration programs, potentially suitable options identified, and the parent can proceed through the applicable application, nomination or immigration process.
The Challenge: Economic Immigration
For parents exploring economic immigration after their child has been accepted into a Canadian K–12 school, the main challenge is determining whether the parent's own profile can genuinely qualify for an economic immigration pathway. The child's education does not itself create eligibility for economic immigration. From an immigration perspective, the parent may need to demonstrate that their education, work experience, language ability, occupation, age, financial capacity and other relevant factors meet the requirements of a particular program. The challenge is also finding a pathway that realistically matches the parent's profile rather than selecting a program simply because the family wants to move to Canada.
Parents Regional Immigration Pathway
What is it?
The Parents Regional Immigration Pathway refers to immigration options connected to a particular Canadian province, territory or participating community. These pathways may be appropriate where a parent's background, employment, business plans or other circumstances align with the requirements and needs of a particular region.
How does it work?
After the child's school registration is confirmed, the parent's profile and family objectives can be assessed together with potential communities or regional programs, followed by the applicable regional application or nomination process.
The Challenge: Regional Immigration
For parents exploring regional immigration after their child has been accepted into a Canadian K–12 school, the challenge is finding a Canadian community and immigration pathway that genuinely fits the parent's profile and the family's education plans. Regional immigration is not simply about choosing a smaller community; many programs have specific requirements related to the parent's occupation, work experience, employment, business plans, language ability, community connection and other eligibility factors.
From an immigration perspective, the parent needs to demonstrate a credible reason and ability to establish themselves in the selected community. At the same time, the community must work for the family—particularly in terms of the child's school, education options, housing, services and overall family needs.