Traveling to Canada for whatsoever reason isn’t limited to adults alone. Children are also allowed entry into Canada as long as they meet up with the Canadian traveling requirements.
On this page, we’re going to discuss how to move to Canada for children or minors. This content will center mainly on their visa application. How to apply, the documents required, and other additional information.
To further widen your understanding of child visa application to Canada, we’ll also answer some finely asked questions. Kindly exercise patience and read through everything
How to apply for a Canadian visa for a child
Children who are below the age of 18 are usually referred to as minors in Canada. Most of the policies usually give an exception or special treatment for these groups of people. The application process is largely the same except for a few differences.
While adult visa applications are tasty, minors can be a little more complicated as they require a few more documents to apply.
A minor may not be able to apply for a visa on their own, so we believe a guardian is always available to do that. The first thing you’ve to do is check the document requirements for minors and begin sourcing them.
Documents required for Canadian child’s visa application
Case 1 (if the minor is traveling alone)
- The minor is expected to apply, and get a passport of his/her own. You’ll be required to present this to the immigration officer upon your arrival in the country.
Understand; Of no condition will you be allowed into Canada without a passport (even if you’re a minor). The only bend rule is the one regulated by the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA). This particular agency is on the look for children who are runaway or missing and can accept them into the country. Depending on the circumstances, such children will be asked a series of questions and a verifiable lead will be taken into consideration.
Apart from this, a minor who is on a legal trip to Canada must have their passport in their possession to be allowed entry to Canada.
- A copy of a birth certificate, or a written, stamped declaration of age certificate from any recognized magistrate court
- An authorization letter signed by the minor’s both parents, or legal guardians. This will certify that the minor is traveling with the consent and knowledge of his/her parents/guardians.
This letter will contain virtually all the information of the parents or guardians. It’ll specify their home address, telephone number, names, and everything. The number and address of the host will also be specified in the written letter.
Case 2 (When the minor is traveling with a parent). In this case, the parent is expected to take possession of all his/her documents. The following are the required documents;
- The minor’s passport
- Certificate of birth, or written declaration of age from any recognized magistrate court
- A well-written letter, signed by the minor’s parent who’s not traveling with him/her. In this case, the name of the parent, address, and phone number should be specified. In addition to that, he/she is supposed to present a photocopy of their international passport or national identity card.
Case 3 (If the minor’s parents aren’t together, probably divorced, but shared the custody of the child). In this case, the traveling parent is expected to present the following documents;
- The minor’s passport
- A birth certificate, or declaration of age
- A legible copy of legal custody documents, to certify that he/she has the minor in custody
Case 4 (If the parents are divorced, and only one parent has full custody of the child). The parent is expected to have the following documents in possession;
- Minor’s passport
- Birth certificate or declaration of age
- An authorization letter, signed by the minor’s parent (the one who’s in the custody of the child). However, he/she is expected to present a copy of the legal custody degree for verification.
Other circumstances
- In case one of the minor’s parents is deceased, the traveling parent must provide the death certificate of the deceased
- If the minor is moving to Canada with a guardian, a copy of the guardian’s paper is required
- For some instances where the minor is traveling with an adoption parent, the adoption papers are required.
How much is a Canadian visa for children?
To sponsor your child to Canada, you’re required to pay a certain amount of money. This payment is independent of your miscellaneous expenses, and it’s also different from air tickets.
Generally, to sponsor a child who’s below the age of 22 to Canada, you’re required to pay the sum of $150 cad. This includes a one-time payment of $75 for the processing fee and $75 for the visa sponsorship fee.
How long does it take to get a visa for a child?
For some people, the visa processing time may take a longer or shorter time. However, on average, the visa processing time for a child visa to Canada is about 18 months.
The process is highly dependent on the mode of application, either online or offline. It also depends on how quickly you respond during your application process. Ensure you make things right, and avoid silly mistakes as much as possible.
In summary
Traveling to Canada for minors is the same thing for adults. There’s no special mode of visa application or special task to perform. If there’s any special thing you’ve to do, then it’s the presentation of the documents mentioned above.
They’re different pathways for both adults and minors. In some cases, such minors may only be traveling as dependent children who are moving to Canada with their parents. In some cases, they may be traveling to Canada for studies, or he/she is attending programs in the country.
In all these instances, a visa application is necessary. If you want a complete guide on how to apply for a Canadian visa, you can click here. Every information you need is readily available. Good luck!
