Families New to Canada

Welcome to Avon Maitland! Parents/guardians must make sure that we have up-to-date immigration documents.

For families moving to Canada, eligibility for enrolment and fee-exempt status is based on status in Canada, Ministry of Education guidelines and supporting regulations. The Education Act determines whether students have a right to fee-exempt education in Ontario.

If you have any questions or cannot provide the information below please contact the Enrolment and Information Manager at 519-482-5428 Ext 244 or [email protected].

Proof of Address

For all situations listed below, we require proof of your permanent Ontario address in the Avon Maitland Region (Huron/Perth counties). The document must include a parent’s name. Examples include:

Lease agreement or purchase agreement (must be signed by the parent and landlord. Please provide the first several pages including the signatures page)
Recent utility bill (gas, water, electricity, phone, internet or property tax bill issued within 1-2 months of the date submitted)
Property insurance bill or Ontario property assessment notice

We cannot accept a driver’s license or health card.

Parent with Work Permit

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.

Required documents for Parent with Work Permit:

Parent’s Work Permit (please provide the primary parent Work Permit, not the spousal permit)
Child’s passport
Child’s birth certificate
Child’s Visitor Record or Study Permit, if available (submit as supplementary document)
Proof of address in the Avon Maitland region (Huron or Perth counties). Details above in the “Proof of Address” section.

Parent with Study Permit

Children under the age of 18 may be eligible for fee-exempt status if they live with the parent and all of the following conditions are met by a parent with a Study Permit:

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 AND
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 AND

If fee exempt status applies, the child may begin school 1 week before the start date of the parent/guardian’s program; fees apply to students who wish to enrol prior to this date AND

The parent must maintain status as a full-time student AND
The child must live with the parent who is studying in Canada.

Requirements for Parent attending English Classes:

The parent’s Letter of Acceptance must state that the English as a Second Language (ESL) program is a prerequisite for a Degree, Diploma or Certificate program.
The ESL program must be provided by a Designated Learning Institution that receives operating grants from the Government of Ontario. This includes Ontario Universities and approved Ontario Colleges.
Prerequisite ESL studies must be completed within 1 year. If ESL studies are not completed within the first year of enrolment, tuition fees may apply for the child to remain in school until the parent begins their Degree, Diploma or Certificate program.

Required documents for Parent with Study Permit:

Parent’s Study Permit (Note: The Study Permit is received upon arrival in Canada.
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 (submit as supplementary document).
Child’s Passport.
Child’s Birth Certificate.
Child’s Visitor Record or Study Permit, if available (submit as supplementary document).
Proof of address in the Avon Maitland region (Huron or Perth counties). Details above in the “Proof of Address” section.

Student with Refugee Claimant Document

Students under the age of 21 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 the student's passport that has been stamped and signed by Immigration Canada.
Proof of address in the Avon Maitland region (Huron or Perth counties). Details above in the “Proof of Address” section.

In Application for Citizenship or Permanent Residence

Clergy

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 the Avon Maitland region (Huron or Perth counties). Details above in the “Proof of Address” section.