Exemptions from International Tuition Fees

For the purposes of an application for fee exemption, throughout this site wherever legal dependent is referred to the definition is as follows:

1. spouse, (marriage certificate)
2. a common-law partner (must be verified by an affidavit available at the Government of Canada website, PDF, 778 KB) signed by both spouses confirming that they are living together in a conjugal relationship for not less than 1 year or that they are living together in a conjugal relationship and are raising any children of whom they both are natural or adoptive parents).
3. a dependent child or the dependent child of a spouse or common-law partner.
4. a dependent child of the dependent child referred to above.

A dependent child is a child who is a biological child who has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner, or an adopted child; and who is in one of the following situations of dependency:

1. Under age 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner;
2. Enrolled continuously at a college, university or other educational institution and dependent substantially on the financial support of the parent since before age 22 or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner if that occurred before age 22; or,
3. A person with a disability who has been financially supported substantially by his or her parents and who is unable to be self-supporting because of the disability.

Documentation provided will be reviewed to ensure that it is sufficient to prove dependent relationship. A dependent child will be required to provide documents that validate age. If the dependent child is over 22 years of age, proof of continuous enrolment at an academic institution is required.

A person who is a citizen of Canada within the meaning of the Citizenship Act (or legal dependent* of), or a person registered as an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act.

Documentation normally provided for Canadian Citizen: legal passport or Canadian Citizenship card.

A person, and his/her dependents, who:

1. has been determined to be a protected persons (or legal dependent* of), including a Convention Refugee or a person in need of protection, within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Documentation normally provided:

A protected person document issued under section 31(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or a “notice of decision” issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada or by the IRB must be presented with this application.

This category includes:

1. A person who has been granted “permanent resident” status and has not had that status revoked (Permanent resident card); or
2. A person who has been approved “in principle” for permanent resident status in Canada and is providing a letter which confirms that Citizenship and Immigration Canada determined this person eligible for immigration to Canada; or
3. A person who meets the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent resident status in Canada and can provide a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada supporting this claim; or
4. A person who is the legal dependent* of a Permanent Resident of Canada.

Documentation normally provided: Permanent Resident Card

A person who is a visitor (or legal dependent* of a visitor) who is authorized to work in Canada and has been issued a work permit (exclusions noted below).

Documentation normally provided: Work permit for a specified employer with employer letter.

Note: The following persons are excluded from fee exemption in the visitor with work permit category:

1. a visitor who is a graduate teaching assistant; and
2. an international student holding a work permit to complete his/her co-op or internship employment; and
3. an international student holding an open work permit for post-graduation work (usually up to 3 years of work opportunities upon graduation); and
4. an international student whose spouse and common-law partner have received a work permit as a result of the international student holding a valid Study Permit; and
5. an international student holding an “Off-Campus Work Permit.”

A person who was admitted to and remains in Canada with official accreditation from Global Affairs Canada, who has entered Canada or is in Canada, to carry out official duties as:

1. a diplomatic or consular officer; or
2. as a Canadian government-accredited representatives or
3. official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies, or
4. any intergovernmental organizations of which Canada is a member; or
5. as a dependent* of a member of the staff of any such diplomat, consular officer, representative or official accredited to Canada by the Canadian government; or
6. a member of a foreign military force or of a civilian component thereof admitted to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act or any dependents of such personnel.

Documentation normally provided for Diplomatic: Diplomatic Card.

In cases where the immigration status of an international student, who had previously been exempt from international tuition fees, changes part way through his/her program of study due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., the dependent of a diplomat whose parent is reassigned to another country) grandparenting provisions maybe warranted.

For students who meet the criteria and can substantiate their claim their exemption from international tuition fees will continue until the completion of that program, at which time the grandparenting provision will end.

Requests of this nature are reviewed on a case by case basis by either the Undergraduate Registrar’s Office or Graduate Studies in consultation with the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.