In accordance with the 2009-2010 Ontario Operating Funds Distribution Manual, international students who fall within one of the following categories may be eligible to pay domestic fees:

• Dependents of Canadian Citizens/native Canadians
• Dependents of Permanent Residents
• A person who has been approved “in-principle” for permanent resident status in Canada and dependents
• A visitor with a work permit and dependents (use the definitions tab for exclusions)
• A visitor with diplomatic status and dependents
• Religious workers (work permit exempt) and dependents
• Protected Persons and Dependents

If you are an international student who fits into one of the categories above, you may apply for an international fee exemption by initiating a service request and providing supporting documentation.

Supporting documentation provided must be received before the deadlines listed on this page. Exceptions to deadlines will not be permitted.

Please use the list below to assist you in providing the appropriate supporting documentation. Alternate or additional documentation may be requested at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies. Where applicable, students will be required to prove their dependent relationship with their parent, spouse, or common-law partner (e.g., statutory declaration or affidavit of common law status, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)

International exemption categories and examples of supporting documentation

Dependents of Canadian Citizens/native Canadians

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Canadian Passport; or
2. Nexus Card; or
3. Birth Certificate + Government-Issued Photo ID; or
4. Canadian Citizenship Card; or
5. Canadian Citizenship Certificate + Government-Issued Photo ID; or
6. Certificate of Indian Status Card (issued by DIAND/INAC/AANDC) or new Secure Certificate of Indian Status card (SCIS)

---

Dependents of Permanent Residents

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Valid Canadian Permanent Residency Card;
2. Confirmation of Permanent Residence Visa (IMM 5292, IMM 5688) + Government-Issued Photo ID
3. Record of Landing (IMM 1000) + Government-Issued Photo ID

---

A dependent of a person who has been approved “in-principle” for permanent resident status in Canada

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Foreign passport + “Approval-in-Principle” letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

---

A visitor with a work permit

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + a valid work permit with a specified employer in Canada + letter of employment

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

• N/A

---

Dependents of a visitor with a work permit

Documentation from student

1. Foreign, Consular, or Special passport + Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card + letter confirming diplomatic appointment

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

• N/A

---

Dependents of a visitor with diplomatic status

Documentation from student

1. Foreign, Consular, or Special passport + proof of dependent relationship; or
2. Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Foreign, Consular or Special passport + Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card + letter confirming diplomatic appointment

---

Religious workers (work permit exempt)

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + offer of employment from religious organization + proof of ordination
2. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + proof of ordination + visitor record (IMM 1097)

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

• N/A

---

Dependents of religious workers (work permit exempt)

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport + post-secondary study permit + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Foreign passport + offer of employment from religious organization + proof of ordination
2. Foreign passport + proof of ordination + visitor record (IMM 1097)

---

Convention Refugees (Protected Persons)

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport or Single Journey Travel Document (IMM 5485) + post-secondary study permit + “Notice of Decision” issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
2. Foreign passport or Single Journey Travel Document (IMM 5485) + A protected person document (IMM 5520) issued by issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada under section 31(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

• N/A

---

Dependents of Convention Refugees (Protected Persons)

Documentation from student

1. Foreign passport or Single Journey Travel Document + post-secondary study permit + proof of dependent relationship

Documentation from parent, spouse or common law partner (when applicable)

1. Foreign passport or Single Journey Travel Document (IMM 5485) + post-secondary study permit + “Notice of Decision” issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) +
2. Foreign passport or Single Journey Travel Document (IMM 5485) + A protected person document (IMM 5520) issued by issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada under section 31(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

 

Note: A person with an “approval in principle” letter for the Live-in Caregiver and Landed Spouse categories may also be considered.

To request a citizenship update, you will need to:

• Initiate a service request.
• Upload required documentation.

Canadian Citizens/native Canadian

A citizen of Canada within the meaning of the Citizenship Act, or a person registered as an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act.

Permanent Resident

A permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act:

• a person who has been granted “permanent resident” status and has not had that status revoked; or
• a person who has been approved “in-principle” for permanent resident status in Canada. Evidence of this is a letter which confirms that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has determined that he/she is eligible for immigration to Canada or meets the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent resident status in Canada. Such letters must be dated prior to the enrolment count date and presented prior to the enrolment report due date. Please see Appendix 5 for examples of accepted letters.

Visitor with a Work Permit

• A visitor, and his/her dependents, who is authorized to work in Canada having been issued a work permit.
• The following students are excluded from this category:
  • A visitor who is a graduate teaching assistant;
  • An international student holding an open work permit for post-graduate work (usually for up to three years of work opportunities upon graduation);Dependents of post-doctorate fellows who received their study permit prior to their parent, spouse, or common law partner receiving their work permit.

Visitor with Diplomatic Status

A visitor who is admitted to and remaining in Canada with official accreditation from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, who has entered Canada, or is in Canada, to carry out her/his official duties as:

• a diplomatic or consular officer;
• or as a dependent (Section 1.1.7, 2009-2010 Ontario Operating Funds Distribution Manual) or a member of the staff of any such diplomat, consular officer; representative or official accredited to Canada by the Canadian government;
• or a member of a foreign military force or of a civilian component; thereof admitted to
• or as a Canadian government-accredited representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations
• or any of its agencies, of any intergovernmental organizations of which Canada is a member;
  Canada under the Visiting Forces Act or any dependents of such personnel.

Religious Workers (work permit exempt)

Per paragraph R186(l) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, religious workers who are exempt from a work permit applies to persons whose employment will consist mainly of preaching of doctrine, presiding at liturgical functions or providing spiritual counselling, either as an ordained minister, a lay person, or a member of a religious order.

Protected Persons

A person, and his/her dependents, who:

• has been determined to be a protected person, 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 by the  Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  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.
• is a refugee claimant who applied to the federal government for Convention refugee status prior to January 1, 1989, and can provide documentation from Citizenship  and Immigration Canada to that effect.

Legal Dependents

Dependents

Dependents are defined as:

• a spouse;
• a common-law partner
• a dependent child or the dependent child of a spouse or common-law partner;
• a dependent child of the dependent child referred to above.

An affidavit signed by both spouses, confirming that they are living together in a conjugal relationship for not less than three years, or that they are living together in a conjugal relationship and are raising any children of whom they both are the natural or adoptive parent, is required to verify their common-law status.

Dependent Child

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:

• under age 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner;
• 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 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.