In accordance with the Ontario Tuition and Ancillary Fees Reporting Operating Procedure, some international students are exempt from international student tuition fees in certain very specific circumstances. An international fee exemption allows an eligible international student to pay domestic tuition fees rather than international tuition fees. Regardless of fees paid, all students qualifying for an exemption must have a valid study permit.

Who might qualify for an international fee exemption?

An international student who meets one of the following requirements may be eligible for an exemption:

Canadian citizens/Indigenous Persons and their dependant(s)

  • Someone who qualifies as a Canadian citizen according to the Citizenship Act or someone who is registered as an Indian as defined in the Indian Act

Permanent residents and their dependant(s)

  • An individual who has been given “permanent resident” status as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and has not had that status revoked
  • An individual approved “in principle” for permanent resident status in Canada
  • An individual who has fulfilled all preliminary requirements for permanent resident status and can show a letter confirming that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has accepted their application for permanent resident status

Protected Persons and their dependant(s)

  • An individual who has been determined to be a protected person, which includes convention refugees or a person in need of protection, as defined in subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

An official visitor and their dependant(s)

  • A foreign representative who has official accreditation from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

A foreign worker and their dependant(s)

  • A foreign national who has an employer specific (closed) work permit, and is authorized to work in Canada for that employer.

A foreign clergy member and their dependant(s)

  • Someone who will provide services to a religious congregation for a minimum of six months

A foreign military member and their dependant(s)

  • A member of a foreign military force or a civilian component thereof, admitted to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act

Institutional exchange student

Who qualifies as a dependant?
  • A spouse, common-law partner or dependant child
  • A dependant child is under the age limit of 22 years old and is not married or in a common-law relationship
  • An “over-age” dependant child must have depended on their parents for financial support since before they reached the age limit or cannot financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition
What are the deadlines to apply for international fee exemption?

For fee changes to be approved and take effect, all required documentation must be submitted on or before the 10th day of term for the study period or term. If documents are received partway through a semester, changes can only be made to future terms, not retroactively. Exceptions to deadlines are not permitted. Refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates per term and academic year.

How do you apply for an international fee exemption?

If you are an international student who identifies in one of the categories above, you may apply for an international fee exemption by:

Please note, deadline extensions will not be considered. International-only programs are non-funded and do not have domestic fees – a fee exemption can not be requested for international-only programs. 

What documentation do I need to present to qualify for an international fee exemption?

Canadian Citizen/Indigenous Person

  • One of the following documents from the student:
    • Canadian birth certificate and government-issued photo ID
    • Canadian passport
    • Canadian Citizenship Card
    • Canadian Citizenship Certificate and government-issued photo ID
    • Certificate of Indian Status Card or new Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card

Dependant of Canadian Citizen/Indigenous Person

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • One of the following from the parent, spouse, or common-law partner:
    • Canadian Passport
    • Nexus Card
    • Birth certificate and government-issued photo ID
    • Canadian Citizenship card
    • Canadian Citizenship certificate and government-issued photo ID
    • Certificate of Indian Status Card or new Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card

Permanent residents

  • One of the following documents from the student:
    • Permanent residency card
    • Valid confirmation of permanent residency visa and government-issued photo ID
    • Valid recording of landing and government-issued photo ID

Dependant of permanent resident

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • One of the following documents from the parent, spouse or common-law partner:
    • Valid Canadian Permanent Residency card
    • Signed confirmation of permanent residence and government-issued photo ID
    • Record of landing and government-issued photo ID
    • Foreign passport and “approval-in-principle” letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Protected Persons

  • One of the following sets of documentation from the student:
    • Valid government-issued photo ID (such as Passport), valid study permit, and “Notice of Decision” issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board
    • Valid government-issued photo ID (such as Passport), valid study permit, and a protected person status document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Dependant of a Protected Person

  • All of the following documentation from the student:
    • Valid government-issued photo ID (such as Passport)
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • One of the following sets of documentation from the parent, spouse or common-law partner:
    • Valid government-issued photo ID (such as Passport), valid study permit, and “Notice of Decision” issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board
    • Valid government-issued photo ID (such as Passport), valid study permit, and a protected person status document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

A foreign worker 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer named on the work permit

Dependant of a foreign worker 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • All of the following documents from the parent, spouse, or common-law partner:
    • Passport    
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer named on the work permit

A foreign clergy member 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport of the visitor with status as foreign clergy
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer 

Dependant of a foreign clergy member 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • All of the following documents from the parent, spouse, or common-law partner:
    • Passport    
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer named on the work permit

A foreign military member 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport of the visitor with status as foreign military
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer

Dependant of a foreign military member 

  • All of the following documents from the student:
    • Passport
    • Valid study permit
    • Proof of dependant relationship
  • All of the following documents from the parent, spouse, or common-law partner:
    • Passport    
    • Valid work permit
    • Letter from the employer named on the work permit

An official visitor

  • All of the following documentation from the student:
    • Foreign, Consular or Special Passport
    • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card
    • Letter confirming diplomatic appointment

Dependant of an official visitor

  • One of the following sets of documents from the student:
    • Foreign, Consular or Special Passport and Proof of dependant relationship
    • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card and proof of dependant relationship
  • All of the following documents from the parent, spouse or common-law partner:
    • Foreign, Consular or Special Passport
    • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card
    • Letter confirming diplomatic appointment

 

Apply for International Fee Exemption