A member over 35 with a 10+ year study gap, applying for a certificate/diploma program, asked whether to apply for a spousal open work permit and children's visas simultaneously with the study permit, or to go to Canada as a student first and bring the family afterward.
What the thread recommended:- Apply for your own study permit first, then bring your spouse and children afterward, rather than filing everything simultaneously — especially given the study gap. This was framed as the safer approach when a significant gap is already a risk factor in your file.
- Family (spousal work permit, etc.) applications generally didn't take that long once your own study permit was approved — members estimated a few months, not a lengthy separate ordeal.
- Even a study gap as large as 15+ years can still work, as long as it's properly justified in your SOP. Members were clear that filling the gap with relevant work experience connected to your intended NOC and field of study, and explaining it clearly in the SOP, is what makes a large gap defensible — the length of the gap alone isn't automatically disqualifying.
The practical takeaway: with a significant study gap, apply for your own study permit first and bring your family afterward (typically a few months' additional wait) rather than filing everything together — and make sure your SOP explicitly connects your work history to your intended studies and NOC to justify even a very large gap.