Open study permits for family members: what spouses and dependants of students and foreign workers need to know
Accompanying family members of international students and temporary foreign workers can apply for special open study permits that are not tied to a single Designated Learning Institution (DLI). When eligible, spouses, common-law partners and dependent children can receive a study permit without first attaching a letter of acceptance from a specific school — a change that removes several common barriers to beginning study in Canada and gives families greater flexibility about where and when to enroll.
This report explains who qualifies for the exemption, how the application pathway works in practice, what it means for tuition deposits and provincial study-cap allocations, and what applicants should expect when they later renew or change their studies.
Who counts as an “accompanying family member”?
Immigration authorities consider an “accompanying family member” to be a person included in the principal applicant’s permit application who will travel to Canada with the principal applicant. This includes:
- the spouse of the principal applicant;
- the common-law partner of the principal applicant; and
- dependent children of the principal applicant or of the spouse/common-law partner.
Only those family members who are listed on the principal applicant’s permit application and who will accompany them to Canada are eligible for the PAL-exempt open study permit under this pathway.
What is the PAL exemption and why it matters
Normally, many international students must include a letter of acceptance (LOA) from a specific DLI and sometimes a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) when applying for a study permit. Those requirements can create friction: applicants often have to secure a spot, pay a deposit, and wait for provincial allocation confirmation before they can submit a permit application.
The PAL-exempt open study permit for accompanying family members removes two key hurdles at application time:
- no LOA is required with the initial study permit application; and
- there is no need to pay an upfront deposit solely to obtain a PAL before applying for the permit.
Because these family members are not counted against a DLI’s study-permit allocation, they can accept an open study permit that does not specify a single school — permitting them to choose a DLI later or to study at an institution in any Canadian province.
Who is eligible — the two must-have conditions
An accompanying family member may apply for a PAL-exempt open study permit from outside Canada only if both of the following are true:
- the family member applies for the study permit before entering Canada, and
- the principal applicant’s work or study permit application has already been approved in writing prior to the family member’s entry.
If both conditions are met, the family member does not need to include an LOA when submitting their initial study permit application. The permit, if issued, is valid until the same expiry date as the principal applicant’s permit and does not list a specific DLI.
Practical step-by-step example
A common scenario helps illustrate how the pathway operates:
- A student (the principal applicant) receives an LOA from a DLI and applies for a study permit from abroad; the study permit application is approved in writing by immigration authorities.
- Before travelling, the student’s spouse (the accompanying family member) submits a study permit application from outside Canada and includes: proof of the spousal relationship (e.g., marriage certificate) and a copy of the principal applicant’s written permit approval. No LOA is attached.
- If the spouse’s application is approved, immigration issues an open study permit without a DLI listed. The spouse can then apply to schools in Canada after arrival or apply in advance to programs they prefer.
This streamlined approach reduces upfront costs, administrative waiting and the need to secure a place under a DLI’s capped allocations before applying for a permit.
Financial and administrative advantages for families
Because accompanying family members holding these open study permits do not count toward each DLI’s provincial allocation under the study permit cap, many of the administrative steps that normally apply to international students are relaxed at the application stage. In practice this can lead to:
- Lower upfront costs: family members may not have to pay a deposit to a DLI just to secure a PAL for their permit application; whether a deposit is required later depends on the chosen school’s policies.
- Greater choice of schools and provinces: the open permit lets family members enroll at any eligible DLI across Canada without being locked to the one used for the permit application.
- Faster initial access to study: removing the LOA/PAL requirement can let family members proceed with a study permit application more quickly while the principal applicant’s status is established.
Limits of the exemption: renewals, extensions and changes after arrival
The PAL exemption is specific and time-limited. It applies only to the initial study permit application submitted from outside Canada as an accompanying family member whose principal’s permit was approved before entry. If the family member later needs to extend their permit, change DLIs, change level of study in a way that requires a new permit, or otherwise apply from inside Canada, the exemption no longer applies.
At that point the family member will be treated like other in-Canada students and must supply the standard documentation for a new or extended study permit, which typically includes:
- a valid LOA from a chosen DLI; and
- any required PAL/TAL attestation unless another specific exemption applies.
Because the PAL exemption is not permanent, families should plan their academic and administrative steps with the expectation that a future application may require the usual LOA and attestation processes.
Practical advice for applicants
- Apply from outside Canada if you want to use the PAL-exempt route; applying after arrival removes the exemption.
- Prepare relationship documents (marriage or common-law evidence) and a copy of the principal applicant’s written permit approval to include with your application.
- Confirm the principal applicant’s approval in writing before filing your study permit application — the exemption depends on this timing.
- Check DLI deposit policies: although the permit does not require a deposit, the chosen school may still request one to confirm admission or initiate a PAL process for its internal records.
- Plan ahead for renewals: if you expect to extend your studies or switch institutions while in Canada, be ready to provide an LOA and, if needed, PAL/TAL documentation in future applications.
- Seek clarification when unsure: consult your school’s international student office or an immigration professional to avoid errors that could affect your status.
Bottom line
The PAL-exempt open study permit for accompanying spouses, partners and dependent children offers a meaningful simplification for families joining international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada. It reduces early administrative barriers, lowers upfront costs in many cases, and gives family members the freedom to choose where to study after arrival. However, it is a one-time, entry-stage exemption: renewals, changes of institution and other in-Canada permit actions will typically require the standard LOA and attestation processes. Careful planning and proper documentation are essential to make the most of this pathway while protecting your status in Canada.
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