Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the York Region District School Board. The Admissions Office receives, reviews, and processes all applications submitted by parents or agencies on behalf of international students.
Enrolment Timelines - New Students
Semester | Registration Opens | *Registration Closes |
---|---|---|
September (Semester/Term 1) |
December 1 | May 15 |
February (Semester/Term 2) |
July 1 | November 15 |
* all required documents and registration fee are required
Guidelines
At any time during the application process, the Admissions Office may request verification of submitted documents and/or the information contained therein.
Placement in a YRDSB elementary and/or secondary school is based on the evaluation of the student's academic standing and the availability of space in the selected school.
International students must demonstrate an academic average of 65% and must maintain this minimum average while attending YRDSB schools.
Secondary students who have graduated from high school (or equivalent) in their homeland are not eligible to apply to YRDSB.
Only students who are 18 years old and under before December 31 of the school year in which they are applying are eligible to attend YRDSB.
A student applying for admission to Grade 12 must acquire a minimum level IELTS 5.5 English proficiency score. A copy of the official test results is required.
International students are not eligible for specialized programs which include: Special Education, French Immersion, the International Baccalaureate Program and any regional arts and sports programs. All regular, in-school programs, are open to them.
To begin the application process apply online by accessing the TrueNorth Portal and submit the required documents listed below, and the $300 application fee:
- Official copies of school report cards, in English, for the current year and previous year. English translation must be notarized
- Copy Notarized Custodianship Declaration documents (Parent & Custodian), required in all cases, regardless of student's age
- Copy of Passport (photo page)
- Letter of Recommendation - completed and signed by the parent and school official
- Consent for Information Sharing-Students at the Age of Majority Form (secondary students who are 18 at the time of registration)
- Copy of IELTS or TOEFL Official Test Results Report (Grade 12 applicants only - minimum 5.5 score)
- Upon receipt of the above, the Admissions Officer will review the application.
- Once the student is accepted as a student of YRDSB a conditional offer of admissions including an invoice indicating the balance of fees required to complete the process will be sent by email
- Once the student is accepted, the letter of acceptance is issued and forwarded to parents/custodians or the assigned agency.
Please Note:
- The Letter of Acceptance will only be issued when the living arrangements of the student have been met, as outlined in the Terms & Conditions of Participation, and the homestay details have been submitted to the Admissions Officer.
- The school assigned to the student cannot be changed once the Letter of Acceptance is issued. No transfer of school will be allowed once the student arrives in Canada. The school assigned to the student cannot be changed once the Letter of Acceptance is issued. No transfer of school will be allowed once the student arrives in Canada.
- Original documents received by YRDSB will not be returned.
- Official Immunization Record, in English, must accompany the student upon arrival English translation must be notarized.
All fees are payable in Canadian currency.
International Payments
- Login to the appropriate TrueNorth Portal to view the invoice and pay directly by clicking the Flywire button. Flywire is a secure online payment portal offering many ways to make your payments safely from overseas.
- Visit the Flywire (International) payment portal, directly, to make a payment.
Domestic Payments
- Visit the Flywire (Domestic) secure online payment portal to make a payment by bill payment, wire transfer debit card or credit card.
- Visit your bank to prepare a bank draft payable to York Region District School Board. Arrange delivery by priority mail or courier to International Education Services, 36 Regatta Ave., Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4R1. Write the student's name, date of birth and school on the back of the bank draft.
- When the acceptance package is received, apply to the Canadian Embassy serving the home country for a Study Permit. The acceptance letter should accompany the application and submitted to the Canadian Embassy as proof of acceptance to an educational institution in Canada.
- Upon receipt of a study permit, make arrangements to travel to Canada.
Elementary Students: It is recommended that the student arrives in Canada at least one week prior to the start of the semester. Once arrived, contact the Reception Centre to book an appointment for an educational assessment.
Secondary Students: Plan to arrive before the start of orientation which begins two weeks prior to the start of the semester (mid August for September semester, mid January for February semester).
Inquiries can be directed to the Admissions Office by email: admissions@yrdsb.ca
Enrolment Timelines - Returning Students
Returning semester | Application processing begins | Deadline to submit application package |
---|---|---|
September (Semester/Term 1) | February | April 30 |
February (Semester/Term 2) | September | October 31 |
Once turning 18 students must complete the Academic Student (age 18) - Consent for Information Sharing form.
New International Students - Apply Online!
Apply online by using the TrueNorth Portal.
Agent Portal - Authorized agencies of YRDSB must be registered and have a valid email address before beginning an application.
Parent Portal - Individuals (parents/custodians), create an account and begin the application process.
Returning International Students
Follow the guidelines and information below:
Instructions, including a link to a Google Form, will be sent to each parent outlining the steps to extend their child's enrolment. If you prefer to use a fillable, paper form, please complete and return the Renewal Form to admissions@yrdsb.ca.
If the custodian has changed, copies of the updated Custodian Declaration forms, both Custodian and Parent will be required and sent by email to admissions@yrdsb.ca.
All fees are payable in Canadian currency.
International Payments
- Login to the appropriate TrueNorth Portal to view the invoice and pay directly by clicking the Flywire button. Flywire is a secure online payment portal offering many ways to make your payments safely from overseas.
- Visit the Flywire (International) payment portal, directly, to make a payment.
Domestic Payments
- Visit the Flywire (Domestic) secure online payment portal to make a payment by bill payment, wire transfer debit card or credit card.
- Visit your bank to prepare a bank draft payable to York Region District School Board. Arrange delivery by priority mail or courier to International Education Services, 36 Regatta Ave., Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4R1. Write the student's name, date of birth and school on the back of the bank draft.
Once the renewal is approved and processed by the Admissions Office, the Letter of Acceptance can be retrieved from the TrueNorth Portal. Students and parents can login to the Parent Portal to retrieve the document.
Questions can be directed to: admissions@yrdsb.ca
Contact Us
International Education Services
Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning
36 Regatta Avenue
Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4R1
Canada