Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
Declaration of Custody of a Child in Quebec for International Students: Understanding Form D-09a-A
For international students planning to study in Quebec, the education and immigration process can involve additional requirements when a minor child will be travelling to Quebec or studying there without a parent accompanying them. One important document in this situation is Form D-09a-A, Declaration of Custody of a Child – Temporary stay for the purpose of studying for an unaccompanied foreign national minor.
Form D-09a-A is a Québec immigration document designed for situations involving a foreign national minor who will be studying in Quebec without a parent accompanying the child. The form establishes a declaration by the person responsible for the minor and confirms that this person accepts responsibility for the child's care and well-being during the child's stay in Quebec.
The current form is identified as D-09a-A (2025-12). According to the form instructions, it is completed by the person responsible for a foreign national who is a minor, meaning a person who is 16 years of age or under at the time the application for temporary selection for studies is submitted.
This distinction is important because D-09a-A should not simply be treated as a general custody declaration for every international student who has a child. It is a specific immigration document connected with an unaccompanied foreign national minor who intends to study in Quebec.
What Is Form D-09a-A?
Form D-09a-A is a declaration concerning the custody and responsibility of a minor who is coming to Quebec for studies without an accompanying parent.
The purpose of the form is to identify the person who will be responsible for the child during the child's stay and to establish that the responsible person understands and accepts the obligations involved.
The person completing the declaration undertakes to provide truthful information, participate in proceedings required by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration when necessary, and maintain favourable conditions for the minor throughout the child's stay in Quebec, in the child's best interests, until the child reaches adulthood.
This makes the form more than a simple letter confirming where a child will live. It is a formal declaration of responsibility connected with the child's temporary stay in Quebec for educational purposes.
Who Needs to Complete D-09a-A?
The form is intended for the person responsible for the foreign national minor.
The Québec instructions specify that the relevant minor is a foreign national who is 16 or under when the application for temporary selection for studies is submitted.
This means that international students and families should pay close attention to the child's age at the relevant time. The form should not be used simply because a person is an international student with a child. Its purpose is specifically related to an unaccompanied minor coming to Quebec to study.
For example, consider an international student who is already studying at a Quebec university and has a 15-year-old child who intends to come to Quebec to attend secondary school without the student's other parent accompanying the child. The custody and responsibility arrangements may need to be documented as part of the child's immigration and study process. In such a situation, D-09a-A can be an important document.
The exact immigration requirements can depend on the child's circumstances, nationality, study plans, relationship with the responsible person, and other factors.
What Does “Unaccompanied” Mean?
The word “unaccompanied” is particularly important.
D-09a-A is not simply a form for any minor whose parent is an international student. It concerns a foreign national minor who will be studying in Quebec without a parent accompanying the child.
For example, if a parent and minor child are both travelling to Quebec together and the parent will remain in Quebec with the child, the circumstances may be different from those addressed by D-09a-A.
On the other hand, if a minor travels to Quebec independently and will live with another responsible adult while attending school, the declaration of custody becomes particularly relevant.
International families should therefore determine whether their circumstances fall within the specific purpose of the form before completing it.
The Role of the Responsible Person: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The person responsible for the minor has an important role.
By completing and signing D-09a-A, the responsible person makes commitments concerning the minor's care and the information provided to the Quebec immigration authorities.
The form states that the responsible person undertakes to provide truthful answers, participate in proceedings required by the Ministère for the review of the application, and maintain favourable conditions for the minor throughout the stay in Quebec and in the child's best interests until adulthood.
The responsibility therefore extends beyond simply providing accommodation.
A responsible person should be capable of supporting the child's basic needs and maintaining appropriate living conditions. Depending on the child's circumstances, this can involve accommodation, supervision, education, healthcare, transportation, communication with parents, and general well-being.
The responsible person should understand the commitment before signing the form.
Custody Is Different From Immigration Status
International students should understand that a custody declaration and an immigration document are not necessarily the same thing.
Custody concerns the legal and practical relationship between a child and the child's parents or responsible adults. Immigration status determines whether a person is permitted to enter or remain in Canada and under what conditions.
D-09a-A forms part of the Quebec immigration process concerning an unaccompanied foreign national minor studying in Quebec. It does not mean that signing the form automatically grants the child immigration status.
Other immigration documents may still be required.
Similarly, a declaration of responsibility does not necessarily transfer all parental rights from the child's parents to the responsible person.
This distinction can be particularly important when the responsible person is not the child's parent.
Parent Versus Responsible Person: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
In some cases, the responsible person may be a parent. In other circumstances, a minor may be living with another adult who is responsible for the child while the child's parents remain outside Canada.
The declaration should accurately reflect the actual relationship.
A person should not state that they have sole custody if that is not legally true.
For example, if a child's parents remain legally responsible for the child but the child will live with an aunt or another adult in Quebec, the documentation should reflect that arrangement accurately.
The purpose of D-09a-A is to establish responsibility for the minor during the relevant stay. It should not be used to create legal rights that do not otherwise exist.
Information Provided in the Declaration: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The person completing D-09a-A should carefully follow the information requested on the current version of the form.
The form should be completed in block letters, according to its instructions. The information should be accurate, complete, and consistent with the other documents submitted as part of the application.
Names, dates of birth, addresses, and other identifying information should be checked carefully before the form is signed.
Errors can create unnecessary questions or delays.
The person responsible should also make sure that the information reflects the actual care arrangement. If the child will live with the responsible person, the living arrangement should be genuine and workable.
Signature Requirements: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The signature requirement is an important part of D-09a-A.
The current instructions state that accepted signatures include a handwritten signature made using a technological accessory such as a stylus, touchscreen, or mouse, as well as a digitized handwritten signature created by signing on paper and then digitizing the signed document. Typed or other digital signatures are not accepted.
This means that an applicant should not simply type their name into the signature field and assume that this satisfies the requirement.
The signature should comply with the form's current instructions.
Applicants should always use the current version of the form and follow the signature instructions applicable at the time of submission.
Identity Document of the Responsible Person: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The D-09a-A instructions also specify that the original version of the declaration must be accompanied by a photocopy of the identity document of the responsible person, and the identity document must bear the person's signature.
This is an important practical requirement.
Before submitting the form, the responsible person should verify that the identity-document copy is included and that the document satisfies the applicable instructions.
A missing identity-document copy could result in the application being considered incomplete or lead to a request for additional documentation.
Translation Requirements: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
International families frequently have documents issued in countries where French or English is not the primary language.
The D-09a-A instructions address this situation. Where documents or portions of documents are submitted in a language other than French or English, the instructions require the original document in the required format together with a full translation prepared by a professional translator. Where a seal or signature is in another language, the seal or signature must also be translated into French or English.
This requirement can be especially important for international students because custody documents, birth certificates, court orders, and other family documents may originate outside Canada.
Applicants should not assume that an informal translation prepared by a friend or family member will satisfy an official requirement.
Existing Custody Arrangements
If the child's parents are separated or divorced, the family should consider whether a custody agreement or court order already exists.
An existing custody order may specify where the child lives, who has decision-making authority, and whether international travel is permitted.
D-09a-A should not be used to contradict an existing court order.
For example, if a court order states that a child must remain in the home country unless both parents consent or a court authorizes travel, the responsible person should not simply complete a custody declaration as though that restriction did not exist.
International custody situations can become complicated because the order may have been issued outside Quebec.
Where an international student has a foreign custody order, it may be appropriate to obtain legal advice concerning the document before arranging the child's move to Quebec.
Consent of the Other Parent: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
Where both parents have parental rights, the consent of the other parent may be relevant to the child's travel and study arrangements.
A custody declaration and parental consent letter are not necessarily interchangeable.
A parental consent letter may address permission for the child to travel or reside temporarily in Canada, while D-09a-A addresses the declaration of custody and responsibility required for the Quebec immigration process involving an unaccompanied foreign national minor.
Families should therefore determine whether additional parental-consent documentation is required.
The safest approach is to provide information that accurately reflects the legal and family situation rather than assuming that one document replaces every other document.
Best Interests of the Child: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The welfare of the child should remain central to the arrangement.
The responsible person should be able to maintain favourable conditions for the child during the stay in Quebec. This is expressly part of the commitment made through D-09a-A.
For an international student or other responsible adult, this may involve ensuring that the child has appropriate accommodation, supervision, access to education, appropriate healthcare, food and clothing, transportation, and a stable environment.
The child should also have an appropriate means of maintaining contact with parents or other family members when appropriate.
A custody declaration should therefore be viewed as part of a broader plan for the child's welfare rather than merely as an immigration formality.
Housing and Daily Care: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
The responsible person should consider where the child will live.
The accommodation should be suitable for the child's age and circumstances. If the responsible person is a student, the person should also consider how their academic schedule will affect the child's supervision.
For example, a university student attending classes during the day may need to arrange appropriate childcare or school attendance for a younger child.
A responsible person should not sign a declaration without having a realistic plan for the child's daily needs.
Education in Quebec
A minor coming to Quebec for studies will need appropriate educational arrangements.
The family should understand where the child will study, how the child will travel to and from school, and who will communicate with school officials when necessary.
If the child is living with a responsible person other than a parent, that person may have practical responsibilities concerning school communication and day-to-day needs.
The child's educational situation should be compatible with the immigration and study requirements applicable to the child.
Healthcare and Emergency Situations
The responsible person should also have a plan for healthcare and emergencies.
Parents living outside Canada should ensure that the responsible adult knows how to contact them and understands what to do if the child becomes ill or experiences an emergency.
The family should also understand the child's healthcare coverage and any applicable insurance arrangements.
These considerations are particularly important for an unaccompanied minor because the child may not have a parent physically present in Quebec to respond immediately to an emergency.
Common Mistakes With D-09a-A
Several mistakes should be avoided.
Using the Wrong Form: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
Applicants should ensure that they are using the current D-09a-A form applicable to their situation. The current version identified in the Quebec document is D-09a-A (2025-12).
Providing Inconsistent Information
The information in D-09a-A should be consistent with the child's passport, birth certificate, immigration application, custody documents, and other supporting documents.
Incorrect Signature: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
A typed name should not be used where the form requires an accepted handwritten or digitized handwritten signature.
Forgetting the Identity Document
The responsible person's identity-document copy should be included as required by the form instructions.
Ignoring Translation Requirements
Documents in languages other than French or English may require professional translation in accordance with the applicable instructions.
Treating the Form as a General Custody Agreement
D-09a-A is specifically connected to the temporary stay for studies of an unaccompanied foreign national minor. It should not automatically be treated as a general Quebec custody agreement or as a substitute for a court order.
Practical Checklist for International Students: Declaration of Student Custodianship in Quebec
Before submitting D-09a-A, an international student or responsible person should carefully review the following:
- Confirm that the child falls within the age and circumstances covered by the form.
- Confirm that the child is an unaccompanied foreign national minor for the relevant study application.
- Identify the person who will be responsible for the child.
- Confirm that the proposed living arrangement is genuine and suitable.
- Check all names and dates against official identity documents.
- Review any existing custody agreement or court order.
- Determine whether consent from another parent is required.
- Complete the current version of D-09a-A.
- Follow the form's signature requirements.
- Include the required photocopy of the responsible person's identity document.
- Arrange professional translations where required.
- Keep copies of everything submitted.
- Make sure the child has appropriate accommodation, education, supervision, and care arrangements.
- Verify whether additional immigration documents are required for the child's particular situation.
Conclusion
For international students and families, Form D-09a-A is an important Québec immigration document when a foreign national minor is coming to Quebec to study without an accompanying parent.
The form is specifically titled Declaration of custody of a child – Temporary stay for the purpose of studying for an unaccompanied foreign national minor. The current version is identified as D-09a-A (2025-12). It is completed by the person responsible for a foreign national minor who is 16 or under at the time the study application is submitted.
By signing the declaration, the responsible person confirms that the information provided is truthful, agrees to participate in relevant proceedings if required, and undertakes to maintain favourable conditions for the minor throughout the child's stay in Quebec and in the child's best interests until adulthood.
International students should remember that D-09a-A is not simply a standard custody letter. It is a specific document connected with Quebec's immigration process for an unaccompanied foreign national minor studying in the province.
The form should also not be confused with parental consent, a court custody order, immigration status, or other documents that may be required for the child.
Accuracy is particularly important. The responsible person's information, the child's information, the custody arrangement, supporting identity documents, signatures, and translations should all comply with the applicable instructions. The current form also requires the original declaration and a photocopy of the responsible person's identity document, subject to the form's stated requirements.
For families dealing with separation, disputed custody, international relocation, or an existing court order, completing D-09a-A may be only one part of the process. In such circumstances, professional legal advice may be appropriate before submitting the application.
For a straightforward situation, however, the key is to understand the purpose of D-09a-A, identify the person responsible for the minor, provide accurate information, comply with the signature and document requirements, and ensure that the child will have stable and appropriate conditions while studying in Quebec.
Ultimately, the purpose of the declaration is to provide a clear framework of responsibility for the child. For an unaccompanied minor studying in a foreign country, having a clearly identified responsible person and suitable living and care arrangements is an essential part of ensuring the child's safety, stability, education, and well-being during the temporary stay in Quebec.
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