Documents to submit for a minor child

For all minor children age 16 or under, you must submit the following documents with their application for temporary selection for studies.

• Copy of the child’s birth certificate
  • The parents’ names must appear on the birth certificate.
• Copy of an identity document for each parent
  • The parents’ names and signature must appear on the document. This document can be a passport or a national identity cared.

We recommend that you keep the original or the certified true copy of the documents you submit. These may be requested during the review of your application.

The other documents to submit with an application for temporary selection for studies for a minor child vary according to their age and situation. First check if your minor child is in one of the following  situations where the Québec Acceptance Certificate for Studies is not required.

If your minor child age 16 or under is accompanied by one or both parents who are temporary foreign workers or international students, you must, in addition, provide the following document with their application for temporary selection for studies:

Copy of a document indicating the length of the parents’ stay in Québec
This document makes it possible to align the validity date of your child’s CAQ with the length of your stay in Québec. These documents include:  

• The work permit of one of the two parents;
• The letter of introduction to the work permit issued by a Canadian visa office abroad;
• The employment contract specifying the duration of the contract;
• Letter of admission from one of the two parents as a full-time student in an educational institution in Québec;
• The study permit of one of the two parents;
• The letter of invitation under the IMP+ with proof that a work permit application has been submitted to the federal government;
• The letter of support of the early entry application as well as proof that an application for a study permit has been submitted to the federal government.

If your minor child age 16 or under is accompanied by only one parent, you must also submit the following documents with their application for temporary selection for studies:

Declaration of consent  

The Declaration of consent (PDF 219 Kb) authorizes the child to reside with the accompanying parent. It must be signed by the non-accompanying parent. If you have a divorce decree that grants visitation rights to the other parent, you must still send the Declaration of consent. This obligation applies even if the visitation rights are limited. 

If you cannot provide the last two documents, you must provide a copy of an official document that proves that the accompanying parent has sole custody of the child:  

• Death certificate of the non-accompanying parent
• Court order granting sole custody to the accompanying parent with no visiting rights for the non-accompanying parent 
• Court order depriving parental authority of the non-accompanying parent
• Proof, issued by an authorized authority, of the non-accompanying parent’s incapacity to sign the declaration of consent
• A certificate of disappearance;
• Court order of deprivation of parental authority 

If your minor child age 16 or under is coming to study in Québec without being accompanied by their parents, they must be under the responsibility of an adult in Québec who is a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen. 

The adult responsible for the minor child must have the child reside in their home. Moreover, no more than two minor children may reside at the same residence. Only siblings can be exempted from this rule.  

Proof of no criminal record must also be provided for each adult residing in the host residence. This report can be obtained from various police forces in Québec.  

In this situation, it is also necessary to submit the following documents with the application for temporary selection for studies for your child:

Delegation of parental authority 

The document Delegation of parental authority (PDF 233 Kb). Each parent must complete and sign their own declaration.  

Declaration of custody of a child age 16 or under

The Declaration of custody of a child (PDF 281 Kb) must be completed and signed by the person responsible for the child in Québec. 

Copy of proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence  

This proof must show that the person responsible for your child in Québec has Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. This document can be:  

• Birth certificate;
• Citizenship card;
• Passport;
• Permanent resident card.

Copy of the identity card of the person responsible for the child in Québec

The name and signature of the person responsible for the child in Québec must appear on the document. The document may be a driver's license, passport or health insurance card.

Proof of no criminal record

Proof of no criminal record for each adult residing in the host residence must also be provided.  This report can be obtained from the various police forces in Québec.

Declaration of financial support 

If the person responsible for the child in Québec, or any person other than you, assumes financial responsibility for the child, they must submit the Declaration of financial support (PDF 221 Kb). This must be signed by the person who undertakes to cover all of the costs related to the child’s stay for studies in Québec.  

Note that it is no longer mandatory for the person responsible for the child in Québec to also assume financial responsibility related to their stay for studies.

For more information regarding the documents to submit to demonstrate their financial capacity, please consult the page Required documents for an application for the International Student Program. 

You must submit the documents of an adult student if:

• You are 17 years old at the time of submission of your application
• You are 16 years old at the time of submission of your application, but you will turn 17 at least one month before the start of your study program
• You are age 16 or under and you have been granted emancipation by a court. You must submit a copy of the emancipation judgment.