A work permit for dependent children of high-skilled workers
Daniela is a Venezuelan citizen who lives in Canada as a foreign worker. She holds a valid work permit and works as a store manager in Halifax. Moreover, Daniela’s seventeen-year-old daughter lives with her in Canada as a high-school student. She wonders if her daughter could also work in Canada. Of course, Daniela, like many others, has heard of the new public policy that issues a work permit for dependent children of high-skilled workers.
Table of contents
Who is a high-skilled worker in Canada?
Before discussing the work permit for dependent children, let’s discuss who is a high-skilled worker. Canada classifies jobs into different categories under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. The current categories based on NOC 2021 include the following:
| TEER | Occupation types |
| 0 | Management occupations |
| 1 | Occupations that usually require a university degree |
| 2 | Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of 2 or more years, or supervisory occupations |
| 3 | Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of fewer than two years, or more than six months of on-the-job training |
| 4 | Occupations that usually require a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training |
| 5 | Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education |
IRCC considers TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 high-skilled jobs. However, the old NOC system considered Type 0 and Level A and B jobs high-skilled.
Who is a dependent child for a work permit or other immigration-related matters?
A typical dependent child is a single child under 22 years old. Of course, they must be the biological or adopted children of the primary work permit holder. Sometimes older children could also be dependent. However, they must show significant financial dependency on their parents because of mental or physical conditions. Moreover, their dependence must begin before the age of 22 and extend to the time of application. I have another article that explores this matter in detail.
Who qualifies for the dependent child work permit?
The eligibility for this program includes the following criteria. Of course, these could change in the future.
- You are the dependent child of a high-skilled work permit holder.
- The primary work permit holder, or rather your parent, must
- Hold a work permit that is valid for at least six months.
- Work as a high-skilled worker.
- Reside in Canada or intend to reside in Canada.
- You are admissible to Canada.
IRCC will issue an open work permit under IMP C46, which has branched out from the old IMP C41. Moreover, the new policy has not mentioned age restrictions for children. However, in another article, I discuss the minimum age for working in Canada.
Let us help!
If you seek a work permit for your dependent child, please fill out the following form and express your intention. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session with me. To explore your other options, you may fill out our assessment form.
Read this in Spanish
Share it!
Would you please fill out our free assessment form if you wish to visit or move to Canada? We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal immigration advice from a licensed practitioner.
Al ParsaiAl Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!
