Newcomer Students to YRDSB
The Reception Centre staff is responsible for registering and assessing newcomer children to Canada who are not fee-paying students. For information about what is required to register your child to attend school if you are a newcomer to Canada, contact them by email at reception.centre@yrdsb.ca.
Visitors to Canada
All children who are visitors to Canada must have a valid study permit to attend a YRDSB school as an international student. The admissions process and procedures must be followed, and fees will apply.
International Fee-paying Students Changing Immigration Status
Requests for status change from international fee-paying students must be made before October 15 for enrolments beginning September, or March 15, for enrolments beginning February.
Parents of international fee-paying students must complete the online form to request an appointment to change or update the status of their child. In certain circumstances, students may become fee-exempt if they and/or their parents meet the required eligibility. Parents are responsible for ensuring that immigration documents are up-to-date with YRDSB.
Eligibility for fee-exempt status is based on immigration status in Canada, Ministry of Education guidelines and supporting regulations.
No refunds will be issued if the student and/or parent changes immigration status after tuition is paid and the Letter of Acceptance is issued.
Please refer to the Refund Policy for additional information.
Children under the age of 18 may be eligible for fee-exempt status if a parent has a valid Work Permit and the child lives with the parent. Visiting scholars are often included in this category.
Required documents for Parent with Work Permit:
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Parent’s Work Permit (Please submit the primary parent Work Permit, not the spousal permit.)
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Parent’s passport
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Child’s passport
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Child’s birth certificate establishing relationship to parent
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Child’s visitor record or study permit
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Proof of address in (See the list of acceptable proof of address documents below.
Children under the age of 18 may be eligible for fee-exempt status if they live with the parent. A parent with a Study Permit must meet all of the following conditions:
- The parent must have a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that receives operating grants from the Government of Ontario. This includes Ontario Universities and approved Ontario Colleges;
- The parent must be accepted into a full time program leading to a post-secondary Degree, Diploma, or Certificate program. Certificate programs must be at least 2 semesters long;
- The parent must maintain their status as a full-time student;
- The child must live with the parent who is studying in Ontario.
Required documents for Parent with Study Permit:
- Parent’s Study Permit (Note: The Study Permit is received upon arrival in Canada.) The study permit approval letter is not accepted
- Official Letter of Acceptance from the post-secondary institution that receives operating grants from the Government of Ontario. This includes Ontario Universities and approved Ontario Colleges
- Tuition Receipt issued by the post-secondary institution showing that tuition fees are paid in full for the current or upcoming semester
- If the parent has started their program, we require a current enrolment letter issued by the post-secondary institution, or timetable
- Child’s passport
- Child’s birth certificate establishing relationship to parent
- Child’s visitor record or study permit
- Proof of address in York Region (See the list of acceptable proof of address documents below.)
- Note: The parent must provide an enrolment letter/timetable each semester to demonstrate full-time student status to continue fee-exemption status for their child/ren
Students under the age of 18 with a valid Refugee Claimant Document may be eligible for fee-exempt status.
Required documents for Student with Refugee Claimant Document:
- Student’s Refugee Claimant Document
- If available, a copy of student’s passport that has been stamped and signed by Immigration Canada
- Proof of address in York Region (See the list of acceptable proof of address documents below.) Submit as Supplementary Document)
Students under the age of 18 who are In Application for Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status may be eligible for fee-exempt status.
- Please contact the International Admissions Office at admissions@yrdsb.ca for information.
Children under the age of 18 may be eligible for fee-exempt status if the parent is a religious worker authorized to work in Canada.
Required documents for Clergy:
- A valid visitor record and passport for the parent who is the religious worker
- Children’s passports
- Letter from the religious organization indicating the duties fulfilled by the parent
- Proof of address in York Region (See the list of acceptable proof of address documents below.)
Proof of Address Documents
We are able to accept two original documents as proof of your child’s permanent address in York Region, one from each of the categories below showing the home address, and must include the name of a parent.
Note: Driver’s license, health card, or cell phone bills are not accepted.
- Proof of your child’s address - two documents, one from each of the categories below showing the home address:
- Category A
- Property Tax Bill / MPAC Notice of Assessment
- Current Rental / Lease Agreement
- Agreement of Purchase and Sale, including proof of purchase provided before the pupil attends the school, and;
- Category B
- Utility Bill / e-Bill (i.e. Hydro, Water, Residential Phone/Cable/Internet Bill, Enbridge, Insurance Policy – Home, Tenant or Auto)
- Other official/government documents (i.e. CRA Notice of Assessment, Statement of Old Age, Security T4 (OAS) or Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits, etc.)
Family living with relatives or friends must provide a letter of residency from the friend/relative, a property tax bill and one utility bill in the name of the friend/relative.