A parent whose spouse was applying for a study permit asked how to complete the DLI and employment fields on a study permit form for their 6-year-old. The thread offered two approaches:
- Option A — child's study permit using the parent's DLI details. A member who had recently submitted a family application said the common guidance is to enter the studying parent's university/DLI details on the minor child's form, since a young child accompanying a student parent typically has no DLI of their own at application time. Employment fields for a small child are simply not applicable. Another member noted their agent wanted an admission letter from a school for the kids before filing — so practice varies.
- Option B — apply for a visitor visa for the child instead. One member's clear recommendation: get the child a visitor visa rather than a study permit, calling it "much easier and better." Minor children of a study/work permit holder can generally attend school in Canada, and the child's status can be sorted after arrival.
- Family applications can go together. A member asked (and the thread's shared experience suggests) that spouse SP + SOWP + child applications are commonly filed at the same time as one linked family application.
The thread leaned toward Option B for simplicity, but both routes were used by members. If unsure, confirm the current IRCC guidance on minor children studying in Canada — rules for minors accompanying permit holders are more forgiving than the form suggests.