IEC permit to Canada: Travelling as a couple and/or with kids

Tackling the IEC Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op permit adventure in Canada with your significant other and/or with kids? Read on for answers to all your questions!

First things first: there’s one important rule to know. All travellers to Canada must have their own passport and immigration status. This means that:

• There’s no “fiancé visa ” or “get one Working Holiday permit, bring the whole family for free.”
• An “immigration status” can be “visitor,” “permanent resident,” “work permit holder,” “study permit holder,” etc.
• Your significant other and/or kids cannot be “included” in your own IEC permit application.

Most of the time, partners/spouses apply for their own permit. There are several options if their profile isn’t drawn from the IEC pools (read Chapter 2 for more info). You can also check out our Spouse or common-law partner open work permit 101.

Young children usually enter Canada as “visitors” (you may need to apply for a visitor visa) and are allowed to stay until your IEC permit expires. Older children may need a study permit, so apply for it before travelling to Canada (for more info, read Chapter 3).

Pro tip to complete form IMM5707 – Family Information

If your profile is drawn from the IEC pool, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The next step will be accepting the ITA and submitting your application for your IEC permit to Canada. As part of your application, you will have to complete form Imm5707 – Family Information. If you need assistance with opening the form, see our guide to opening Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada PDF forms.

You must answer “yes” or “no” to the question “Accompanying you to Canada?” for each family member you list (spouse, common-law partner, kid[s]).

How should you answer this question?

• If your spouse or common-law partner will not travel to Canada with you, answer “no.”
• If your kid(s) will not travel to Canada with you, answer “no.”
• If your spouse or common-law partner and/or kid(s) will travel to Canada with you, answer “yes.”

Keep in mind that answering “yes” isn’t a shortcut for your spouse, common-law partner and/or kid(s) to get a work/study permit. As explained above, “one person, one application” and every traveller to Canada must have their own immigration status.