Documents for your family

If you would like to invite your family member to visit you in Canada, and they're citizens of a visa-required country, you will need to prepare and send the following documents to them for their overseas temporary resident visa (TRV) application:

• An invitation letter signed by you that outlines who you are, who you are inviting to Canada, and the reason for your family's trip.
  • Read the requirements for the letter of invitation and review our invitation letter template (PDF)  for assistance writing your own letter. This template is for general guidance. Additional information about your family's trip may be required depending on the personal circumstances of the person(s) you are inviting.
• A proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date. 
  • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest which will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date. 
  • If you receive a message directing you to order a modified proof of enrolment letter, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Note there is a fee for students who require a modified proof of enrolment letter.
• An official transcript from the University
  • Request an official transcript — now processed online through MyCreds^TM. Follow these steps to email yourself a link to download your official transcript. The purchased official transcript PDF file is then used for the application. 
    • In Quest, go to ‘academics’.
    • Select ‘official transcript request’ in the menu.
    • Read the page, and select ‘submit’.
    • You will receive an email within 1-2 business days from the University with a link for MyCreds^TM to register using your WatIAM.
    • You then pay in MyCreds^TM by adding a share credit by clicking on ‘add more’.
    • Once you add a share credit, you can then click ‘share’. (You can watch MyCreds^TM how-to videos for help).
    • Select ‘generate a link to my documents’.
    • Only ‘purpose of share’ and ‘recipient email’ are required.
    • You will receive an email with a link to download your official transcript.
  • You can also go in person to the Student Service Centre on the first floor of Needles Hall to request a physical official transcript or submit the official transcript – paper copy form and pick it up there.
• A copy of your study permit (both sides).
• A copy of your biographical page in your passport.
• Proof of funds if you're sponsoring their trip.

Your family will be required to provide additional documents in their application. A document checklist will be generated in their online application. It is important they also reference the supporting documents for TRV applicants. They will also want to pay attention to country-specific instructions as well as eligibility considerations for visitors. 

Please note: IRCC announced on November 6, 2024, that they are moving away from the standard of issuing multiple-entry visas for overseas TRV applications. Moving forward, the new standard will focus on officers exercising their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. For a list of factors that officers will consider, please refer to the following IRCC operation manual.

When a visitor enters Canada, the Border Services Officer will stamp their passport. The date written on the passport is the date the visitor can stay in Canada until. If no date is specified, the visitor can stay in Canada for six months. The expiry date of a temporary resident visa (TRV) is not the amount of time a person can stay in Canada on one trip. A TRV only gives the holder the ability to enter Canada.

If your spouse/common-law partner and/or children want to apply to extend their visitor status in Canada, they can do so online through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada while they have valid status within Canada.

To apply for a TRV within Canada online through the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa, the applicant must hold a valid study or work permit and be in Canada. A visitor record holder is not eligible to apply for a TRV from within Canada. If they would like the ability to do this, your spouse/common-law partner must hold a valid work permit or study permit and your children must hold a valid study permit. As your dependants, your spouse or child can apply to change their status from within Canada.

In all of these cases, the applicant should include a letter of explanation indicating the purpose of their stay in Canada. For a minor child's study permit, an official letter from the school board is required. Also, as the spouse or parent, you will need to provide additional supporting documents proving your international student's status in Canada. This includes:

• Scans of your study permit (both sides) and biographical page of your passport
• A proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date. 
  • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest which will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date. 
  • If you receive a message directing you to order a modified proof of enrolment letter, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Note there is a fee for students who require a modified proof of enrolment letter.
• An official transcript from the University
  • Request an official transcript — now processed online through MyCreds^TM. Follow these steps to email yourself a link to download your official transcript. The purchased official transcript PDF file is then used for the application. 
    • In Quest, go to ‘academics’.
    • Select ‘official transcript request’ in the menu.
    • Read the page, and select ‘submit’.
    • You will receive an email within 1-2 business days from the University with a link for MyCreds^TM to register using your WatIAM.
    • You then pay in MyCreds^TM by adding a share credit by clicking on ‘add more’.
    • Once you add a share credit, you can then click ‘share’. (You can watch MyCreds^TM how-to videos for help).
    • Select ‘generate a link to my documents’.
    • Only ‘purpose of share’ and ‘recipient email’ are required.
    • You will receive an email with a link to download your official transcript.
  • You can also go in person to the Student Service Centre on the first floor of Needles Hall to request a physical official transcript or submit the official transcript – paper copy form and pick it up there.

If you're a full-time international student on a valid study permit, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit for spouses.  

Please note the following:

• As of April 30, 2024, your spouse or common-law partner may only apply for an open work permit if you are studying in a Masters, PhD, or Professional Degree program. 
• Starting later this year, an additional restriction will be added specific to Masters students.  To apply for an open work permit as the spouse of a Masters student, the Masters degree program will have to be at least 16 months (4 terms) in duration.

Open work permits for a spouse or common-law partner are usually issued for the duration of your study permit and allows on and off-campus work. If your spouse or common-law partner changes their status to student, or are already a student, they can review the requirements to work as a student.

If you complete your degree and you decide to apply for the PGWP in Canada, the eligibility requirements for your spouse change when they apply to extend their open work permit. In order for your spouse to apply for an extension of their open work permit, you must have:

• An approval on your PGWP application, and
• A job in a TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 skill level [Note temporary policy includes TEER 4, 5 in effect until January 2024]
• Starting later this year, additional restrictions will be added for spouses of PGWP holders. The PGWP holder will need to be a worker in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages. 

If your spouse or common-law partner is already in Canada with you on an open work permit, they can continue to work using that work permit until it expires, unless the conditions on the work permit state otherwise. If you're unable to receive an approval on your PGWP application and secure employment before their current open work permit expires, then they'll need to change their status to visitor if they want to remain in Canada, or leave Canada and apply for a new work permit from outside of Canada before returning. Please see one of our immigration consultants for support with these application processes if necessary.

There is also an option to apply for this work permit from outside of Canada.

Online application instructions for your spouse or common-law partner in Canada

1. If your spouse is applying, but you aren't applying for a document at the time, then they need to create their own IRCC account. Your spouse can watch our video on creating a GCKey and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account.
2. Under 'start an application' in the online account, select 'apply to come to Canada'.
3. Under 'determine your eligibility and apply online', select work permit to answer the eligibility questions.
4. Upload the application form and your supporting documents. Please note: 
   • The application form does not need to be signed when applying online. Make sure you re-validate and re-save the form after making any changes.
   • If your marriage certificate/license is not written in English or French, you must get it officially translated into English or French by an official certified translator. If you're claiming common-law status, you need to include proof and complete the Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409) form.
5. Your spouse will need to provide additional supporting documents proving your international student status. This includes:
   • Scans of the student’s study permit (both sides) and the biographical page of your passport.
   • A proof of enrolment letter from the University of Waterloo confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date.  
     • Get your free proof of enrolment letter in Quest which will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date. 
     • If you receive a message directing you to order a custom proof of enrolment, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Note there is a fee for students who require a custom letter.  
   • An official transcript from the University
     • Request an official transcript — now processed online through MyCreds^TM. Follow these steps to email yourself a link to download your official transcript. The purchased official transcript PDF file is then used for the application. 
       • In Quest, go to ‘academics’.
       • Select ‘official transcript request’ in the menu.
       • Read the page, and select ‘submit’.
       • You will receive an email within 1-2 business days from the University with a link for MyCreds^TM to register using your WatIAM.
       • You then pay in MyCreds^TM by adding a share credit by clicking on ‘add more’.
       • Once you add a share credit, you can then click ‘share’. (You can watch MyCreds^TM how-to videos for help).
       • Select ‘generate a link to my documents’.
       • Only ‘purpose of share’ and ‘recipient email’ are required.
       • You will receive an email with a link to download your official transcript.
     • You can also go in person to the Student Service Centre on the first floor of Needles Hall to request a physical official transcript or submit the official transcript – paper copy form and pick it up there.
6. Your spouse will click 'next' to start the submission process and pay the fee.
7. Keep all files used in the application for your records.
8. Approved work permits are mailed to the Canadian mailing address that was provided in the application form.

You can check estimated application processing times on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. The IRCC Client Support Centre is available from within Canada to answer questions by phone or web form.

There is also an option to apply for this work permit from outside of Canada.

As an international student at the University of Waterloo, you and your spouse/common-law partner and/or children have two health plans that cover different health-related issues. Learn how to enrol your dependants in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and the WUSA/GSA Health and Dental Plan.