Applying Study Permit as a Minor: Custodianship Declaration

Published on 2022-11-05

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A minor child may need a custodian appointed before applying for a study permit.

Who needs a custodian

Minor children under the age of 17 must have a custodian in Canada if they do not come with the parents or legal guardians. A custodian is optional for minors 17 years of age and older, but an officer can request one on a case-by-case basis.

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
British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon	19
Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan	18

How to appoint a custodian

A custodian is appointed by filling out the Custodianship Declaration Form (IMM 5646E).

A custodian must

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident,
• be over 19 years of age, and
• reside within a reasonable distance of the students's intended residence and school and will be able to fullfil the obligations as a custodian in the event of an emergency.

References

The summary above is based on the following online resources:

• Study permit: Get the right documents
• Studying in Canada as a minor
• Custodianship Declaration form (PDF)

For the up-to-date information, please refer to the above resources.