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Can a visitor visa convert to a work visa, and can kids attend school on it?

Canada • Visitor Visa • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • LMIA-backed job offer

    Required from an employer before you can apply for a work permit from visitor status — there's no automatic conversion.

Step-by-Step

Two common myths came up in this thread, and members were clear on both.

1. "Converting" a visitor visa to a work visa: there is no automatic conversion process. A visitor visa doesn't turn into a work permit on its own. To work, you need to separately apply for a work permit, which generally requires an employer's LMIA-approved job offer to sponsor you as a foreign worker (or another qualifying pathway). Ask yourself what skills you bring that justify an employer going through the LMIA process for you.

2. Kids attending school on a visitor visa: if the parents are in Canada on visitor status, their children cannot enroll in school under that same visitor status. School attendance generally requires the appropriate study permit or other authorized status for the child.

Takeaway: don't plan around "switching" status informally — each authorization (visit, work, study) requires its own application and eligibility criteria.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Don't: Don't assume a visitor visa can be converted into a work visa without a separate work permit application and LMIA job offer.
  • Don't: Don't plan to enroll children in school while the family is on visitor status alone.

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