Updates on study permits and Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) for international students

A hallway at Sheridan's Hazel McCallion Campus

Students eligible for domestic fees (International Tuition Exemption)

In accordance with the Ontario Tuition and Ancillary Fees Reporting Operating Procedure in certain very specific circumstances (e.g., a student on a closed parental work permit or submission of specific Permanent Residency documents), students can request a change from international student fee status to domestic.

  • Canadian Citizens and dependents

    A citizen of Canada as defined in the Citizenship Act or a person registered as an Indian as defined in the Indian Act.

    Documents Required:

    Principal applicant
    • If not born in Canada – Citizenship Card, or Citizen Certificate from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canadian Passport or;
    • Canadian born – Birth Certificate or Canadian Passport
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the Canadian Citizen
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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.

    Permanent Residents and dependents

    A permanent resident as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

    This includes:

    • A person who has been granted “permanent resident” status and has not had that status revoked.

    Documents Required:

    Principal applicant
    • Permanent Residence Card; or 
    • Confirmation of Landing (signed and dated by an Immigration Officer)
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the Permanent Resident
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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.

    Protected Persons

    An applicant, 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.

    Refugee claimants need to wait to receive a Notice of Decision and are considered an international applicant/student.

    Documents Required:

    Principal applicant
    • Notice of Decision or Protected Person Status document issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board
  • Official visitor and family members

    An official visitor is a foreign representative who, with official accreditation from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, has entered Canada or is in Canada to carry out official duties:

    1. As a diplomatic agent or consular officer; or
    2. As a government-accredited representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations

    Documents Required:

    Official visitor
    • Foreign, Consular, or Special Passport
    • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card
    • Letter Confirming diplomatic appointment
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the Official Visitor
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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.

    Foreign worker and family members

    A foreign worker is a foreign national who is authorized to work in Canada having been issued a closed work permit. For purposes of this category, a foreign worker is to present a valid closed work permit which names a Canadian employer situated in Ontario and the prospective occupation, and is valid for at least six months.

    Documents Required:

    Foreign worker
    • Valid closed work permit (for at least six months, or provide proof of submission of extension application)
    • Letter from employer named on the closed work permit
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the Foreign Worker
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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.

    Foreign clergy member and family members

    A person who will be providing services to a religious congregation in Ontario for at least six months and the family members of such personnel.

    Documents Required:

    Foreign clergy member
    • Passport of the visitor with status as Foreign Clergy member
    • Valid closed work permit (for at least six months)
    • Letter from employer named on the closed work permit
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the foreign clergy
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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.

    Foreign military and family members

    A member of a foreign military force or of a civilian component thereof, admitted to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act, and the family members of such personnel.

    Documents Required:

    Foreign military member
    • Passport of the visitor with status as foreign military
    • Valid closed work permit
    • Letter from employer named on the closed work permit
    Dependent
    • Documents noted above for the foreign military member
    • Proof of dependent relationship:
      • Birth certificate or marriage certificate; or
      • Common-Law: 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(s)

    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.

    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.
  • Deadlines

    All exemption categories

    • Students are responsible for notifying Sheridan College of their status change.
    • For fee changes to be approved and take effect all required documentation must be submitted within the first 10 days of the start of term.
    • If documents are received part way through a semester, changes can only be made to future terms and not retroactively.
      • For example, where a requirement for fee exemption eligibility is met partway through a semester, the exemption is to apply to the next semester of the student’s enrolment.
    • Exceptions to deadlines will not be permitted.

    Temporary exemptions categories

    • If students are unable to provide the required documentation before paying tuition fees, they will be required to pay the International Fee Rate.
    • If the acceptable documentation for exemption from the International Fee Rate contains an expiry date, it is the student’s responsibility to provide updated documentation no later than ten (10) working days before the expiry date on the original documentation. This must be done to retain exemption status.
      • The student is required to submit proof that their status has been maintained.

    Documentation submission

  • English Language Studies (ESL)

    Students eligible for domestic fees will be required to register for a minimum of one semester (14 weeks) rather than one session (7 weeks).

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