A family where the spouse had a study permit and the kids arrived on visitor visas realized they'd forgotten to apply for the children's study permits, and asked whether this could be corrected while already living in Canada.
What the thread clarified:- Depending on the child's age, a visitor record with a study notation can be issued at the airport, alongside the spouse's work permit — this notation allows the child to study without needing a separate, formal study permit.
- If the children were only given a short entry period (e.g. 3 months) that doesn't cover the full length of the parent's course (e.g. 2 years), their status can be extended. You can request this at entry, or if you've already landed, apply online for the extension.
- If already landed without having requested it initially, the family may need to apply online for the extension and then visit a nearby land border to complete the process — this was raised as a follow-up question in the thread, with some uncertainty about whether this specifically requires physically leaving and re-entering, or whether the land border visit is simply where the extended documentation gets finalized/stamped.
The practical takeaway: if you forgot to apply for your children's study permits, ask for a visitor record with a study notation at the airport (or apply online plus visit a nearby land border if already landed) — this notation lets kids study without a formal, separate study permit, and their entry period can be extended to match the parent's full course length if needed.