Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada: Who Can Apply

Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada refers to open work permit options that may be available to certain children accompanying a parent who is working in Canada, applying for permanent residence or being sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

A child does not automatically receive permission to work because a parent holds a work permit, study permit or permanent residence application.

The child must qualify under a specific immigration program and submit a separate work permit application.

Eligibility has become more limited since January 21, 2025. Dependent children of ordinary temporary foreign workers are generally no longer eligible for a new family open work permit unless the principal applicant is connected to an eligible permanent residence program, sponsorship application or another special public policy.

Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada: Quick Overview

Who Is Considered a Dependent Child?

For most current immigration applications, a child generally qualifies as a dependant if the child:

• Is under 22 years old; and
• Does not have a spouse or common-law partner

A child who is 22 or older may still meet the immigration definition when the child:

• Has depended on their parents for financial support since before turning 22; and
• Cannot financially support themselves because of a physical or mental condition

Meeting the dependent-child definition does not guarantee work permit approval.

The child must also qualify under the specific open work permit program being used.

Does a Dependent Child Need a Separate Work Permit?

Yes. A parent’s work permit does not automatically authorize a child to work.

Each child who wants to work must have their own:

• Valid open work permit
• Employer-specific work permit; or
• Other legal authorization to work without a permit

A visitor record or study permit does not automatically provide unrestricted work authorization.

For basic permit differences, read Work Permit Canada Explained: Open vs Employer-Specific Work Permit.

Main Dependent Child Open Work Permit Routes

There is no single open work permit available to every dependent child.

Dependent Children of Economic Permanent Residence Applicants

A dependent child may qualify when the principal applicant is a temporary foreign worker who applied under an eligible economic permanent residence program.

The principal applicant generally must:

• Hold or be approved for a valid Canadian work permit
• Have at least six months of work authorization remaining after IRCC receives the child’s application
• Live and work, or plan to live and work, in Canada
• Have a work permit issued or approved because of the eligible PR application

Eligible economic programs can include certain applications under:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Rural or Francophone community immigration programs
• Start-up Visa Program
• Certain Quebec-selected programs
• Certain caregiver or legacy pilot applications

The child must have been included as a dependant in the principal applicant’s permanent residence application before the open work permit application is submitted.

A dependent child cannot use this family-member measure as the principal PR applicant.

Dependent Children of Workers on a Pathway to Permanent Residence

Some workers can support a family open work permit before formally submitting their permanent residence application.

The principal worker generally must:

• Hold a valid work permit, work permit approval or qualifying authorization to work without a permit
• Have at least six months of authorized work remaining
• Be working or expected to work in the occupation required by the pathway
• Be participating in an eligible pathway to permanent residence
• Live or plan to live in Canada while working

Examples of eligible pathways can include:

• Provincial Nominee Program
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Start-up Visa Program
• Certain Quebec programs
• Agri-Food Pilot cases
• Yukon Community Pilot

This pathway can be important for children of some TEER 4 or TEER 5 workers who would not qualify under the ordinary family open work permit rules.

Read Provincial Nominee Program Canada Explained.

Dependent Children of RCIP and FCIP Applicants

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot have special family-member instructions.

Under the general family-member work permit measure, only the following family members of RCIP or FCIP applicants use this dependent-child route:

• The principal applicant’s dependent children
• Dependent children of those dependent children

Spouses and common-law partners of RCIP and FCIP applicants follow the separate open work permit rules provided for those pilots.

Accompanying Child of a Sponsored Spouse or Partner

An accompanying dependent child may qualify under the public policy for spouses and partners being sponsored from inside Canada.

The sponsored principal applicant must:

• Be in a genuine relationship with the sponsor
• Be included in a spouse or partner permanent residence application
• Have an AOR confirming that the PR application is being processed
• Live in Canada with the sponsor

The dependent child must:

• Be accompanying the principal applicant
• Live in Canada with the principal applicant and sponsor
• Meet the dependent-child definition
• Meet the general requirements for a Canadian work permit

The child normally needs the AOR received for the parent’s PR application. The application number generally begins with the letter F.

Read Sponsored Spouse Open Work Permit Canada: How to Apply.

Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway

A separate temporary public policy remains available to some applicants who submitted permanent residence applications in 2021 under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway.

The current deadline to apply for the related open work permit is December 31, 2026.

A dependent child may qualify when the child:

• Is 18 years of age or older
• Is an accompanying family member included in the principal applicant’s PR application
• Applies online
• Has valid temporary status, maintained status or restoration eligibility when applying from Canada
• Has a principal applicant who applied and qualifies for the public-policy open work permit

The child’s application may be refused if the principal applicant does not apply for the open work permit under the same policy.

This route is not available at a port of entry.

Who Is Generally Not Eligible?

A dependent child is generally not eligible for a new family open work permit solely because the parent:

• Is a high-skilled worker who is not on an eligible permanent residence pathway
• Is a low-skilled worker who is not on an eligible permanent residence pathway
• Holds only a study permit
• Works on or off campus as an international student without a separate work permit
• Holds a spousal open work permit
• Has not included the child in the relevant permanent residence application

Since January 21, 2025, ordinary high-skilled worker family permits are generally limited to eligible spouses and common-law partners rather than dependent children.

A child who is not eligible for an open permit may need an employer-specific work permit supported by an LMIA or another work permit category.

Minimum Age to Work in Canada

Receiving an open work permit does not override Canadian employment laws.

Minimum working ages and restrictions vary according to:

• Province or territory
• Type of occupation
• Hours of work
• Whether the work is considered hazardous
• Whether parental consent is required
• Whether employment interferes with school attendance

The employer is responsible for following federal, provincial and territorial employment requirements.

Check the labour standards for the province or territory before the child begins working.

Documents You May Need

The personalized IRCC checklist controls. Common documents may include:

• Child’s valid passport
• Digital photograph
• Birth certificate showing the parents’ names
• Adoption documents, where applicable
• Proof that the child meets the dependent-child definition
• Principal applicant’s work permit or approval letter
• Proof of at least six months of remaining work authorization where required
• Permanent residence AOR where required
• Copy of the PR application showing the child was included
• PNP nomination or pathway support documents
• Proof of the child’s current Canadian status
• Proof that the family lives together in Canada where required
• Medical examination evidence where required
• Letter of explanation
• Fee payment receipt

Proof of Relationship

A birth certificate is normally used to prove the relationship between the child and parent.

For an adopted child, IRCC may request:

• Birth information where available
• Final adoption documents
• Certified translations when documents are not in English or French

Proof the Child Was Included in the PR Application

Possible evidence can include a copy of the principal applicant’s IMM 0008 form or another PR document identifying the child as an accompanying dependant.

How to Apply

The correct application method depends on the program and where the child is located.

The general online process is:

1. Confirm that the child meets the dependent-child definition.
2. Identify the exact family open work permit route.
3. Confirm that the principal applicant meets all work permit or PR pathway requirements.
4. Gather birth, status and principal-applicant documents.
5. Create or sign in to an IRCC secure account.
6. Start a work permit application for the child.
7. Select the applicable family-member open work permit option.
8. Complete the appropriate inside-Canada or outside-Canada form.
9. Upload every document on the personalized checklist.
10. Pay the applicable fees.
11. Electronically sign and submit the application.
12. Save the submission confirmation and receipt.

When applying together with the principal applicant, answer Yes when asked whether an application will be submitted for a family member, and select Work with an Open Work Permit as the child’s purpose.

When the child applies separately, follow the current IRCC questionnaire instructions for family members of workers or permanent residence applicants.

For account help, read IRCC Secure Account: GCKey and Sign-In Partner.

Dependent Child Open Work Permit Fees

Biometrics, restoration, medical examination and translation costs may apply separately.

Check the current IRCC fee list before paying because fee exemptions depend on the specific program.

Can the Child Work While Waiting?

Submitting an open work permit application does not automatically provide permission to begin working.

The Child Is a Visitor or Student Without Work Authorization

The child must wait until the open work permit is approved before beginning employment.

The Child Already Holds a Valid Work Permit

The child can continue working while the permit remains valid and all conditions are followed.

The Child Applied Before the Existing Permit Expired

Maintained status may allow the child to continue working under the conditions of the previous permit while IRCC processes the extension.

Read Maintained Status in Canada Explained.

Open Work Permit Restrictions

An open work permit generally allows employment with most Canadian employers, but restrictions can still apply.

The permit holder generally cannot work for an employer that:

• Is listed as ineligible for immigration non-compliance
• Regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages

A medical examination may be required before working in:

• Health care
• Child care
• Primary or secondary education
• Certain agricultural occupations

The child must also follow restrictions printed in the Conditions, Remarks or Additional Information sections of the permit.

Extending an Existing Dependent Child Open Work Permit

Some family members already in Canada can extend an initial family open work permit even though dependent children are no longer eligible for a new permit under the ordinary high-skilled-worker measure.

The family member generally must:

• Be physically in Canada
• Hold a current work permit that expires before the principal applicant’s authorization
• Apply before the current work permit expires

IRCC cannot normally issue the extension beyond:

• The principal applicant’s work authorization
• The child’s passport expiry date
• The child’s biometric validity

Read Work Permit Extension Canada: How to Apply Before Expiry.

Common Application Mistakes

• Assuming every worker’s child qualifies
• Relying on the rules that applied before January 21, 2025
• Assuming a parent’s work permit covers the child
• Failing to include the child in the permanent residence application
• Applying without the required PR AOR
• Failing to prove the biological or legal relationship
• Submitting incomplete adoption documents
• Failing to prove that the family lives together when required
• Paying the wrong fee for a public-policy application
• Starting work before the permit is approved
• Ignoring provincial minimum-age rules
• Applying with a passport that expires soon

Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada Checklist

• □ The applicant meets the dependent-child definition.
• □ I identified the correct open work permit route.
• □ The principal applicant meets the program requirements.
• □ The principal applicant has sufficient work authorization remaining.
• □ The child was included in the PR application where required.
• □ I obtained the required AOR or pathway support letter.
• □ I included the child’s birth certificate.
• □ I included adoption documents where applicable.
• □ I included the child’s passport and current status document.
• □ I included proof that the family lives together where required.
• □ I checked the child’s passport expiry date.
• □ I selected the correct family-member open work permit option.
• □ I paid the correct fee for the applicable program.
• □ I electronically signed and submitted the application.
• □ I saved the submission confirmation and receipt.
• □ I confirmed the provincial minimum age before employment begins.

Related Immigration Guides

• Spousal Open Work Permit Canada: Who May Qualify
• Sponsored Spouse Open Work Permit Canada
• Foreign Worker Spouse Open Work Permit Canada
• Work Permit Canada Explained
• Provincial Nominee Program Canada Explained
• AOR Canada: Acknowledgement of Receipt Explained
• Work Permit Extension Canada
• Maintained Status in Canada Explained
• Restoration of Status Canada

Helpful Official Resources

• IRCC: Open Work Permits for Family Members of Foreign Workers
• IRCC: Family Open Work Permit Eligibility
• IRCC: How Family Members Apply
• IRCC: Sponsored Family Member Open Work Permit
• IRCC: Dependent Child Age and Definition
• IRCC: TR-to-PR Open Work Permit Public Policy
• IRCC: Current Application Fees

FAQ About Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada

Can every foreign worker’s child get an open work permit?

No. Since January 21, 2025, dependent children of ordinary high-skilled or low-skilled workers are generally not eligible unless another PR pathway, sponsorship policy or special measure applies.

What age is considered a dependent child?

A child is generally under 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner. Limited exceptions apply to certain children aged 22 or older.

Does the parent’s work permit allow the child to work?

No. The child needs their own work permit or another legal authorization to work.

Can a sponsored spouse’s child apply?

Possibly. The child generally must live in Canada with the sponsored principal applicant and sponsor, and the PR application must have the required AOR.

Can the child of a PNP applicant apply?

Possibly, if the principal applicant and child meet the applicable economic PR or PR-pathway family open work permit requirements.

Must the child be included in the PR application?

For family-member permits connected to an economic PR application, the child generally must be included as a dependant before the work permit application is submitted.

Can a minor child work in Canada?

Only when the child has legal work authorization and meets the minimum working age and employment rules of the province or territory.

How much does the application cost?

The general total is $255. Some public policies provide an exemption from the $100 open work permit holder fee.

Can the child work immediately after applying?

Not unless the child already has valid or maintained work authorization. A visitor or student without work authorization must wait for approval.

Can an adopted child apply?

Possibly. The applicant should provide the required birth and adoption documents proving the legal parent-child relationship.

Can an existing dependent-child permit be extended?

Possibly. Some in-Canada family members can extend an initial permit when it is shorter than the principal applicant’s authorization and the extension is submitted before expiry.

Does an open work permit allow any type of employment?

No. Employer restrictions, medical conditions, minimum working ages and federal or provincial employment laws may still apply.

Final Thoughts

Dependent Child Open Work Permit Canada eligibility is limited and depends on the immigration situation of the principal applicant.

Children of ordinary temporary workers are generally no longer eligible for a new family open work permit solely because the parent works in Canada.

A child may still qualify when included in an eligible economic permanent residence application, accompanying a worker on a recognized PR pathway or living in Canada as the accompanying child of a sponsored spouse or partner.

Submit clear proof of the parent-child relationship, the principal applicant’s immigration status, permanent residence application and remaining work authorization.

Before employment begins, confirm that the child holds valid work authorization and meets the minimum age and employment standards of the province or territory.

Last updated: July 2026