International Fee Exemption
International students who meet specific criteria may be eligible to pay domestic tuition fees instead of international fees. Students must submit supporting documentation and adhere to application deadlines to qualify.
Eligibility Criteria
International students who meet one of the following criteria may be eligible for an international fee exemption:
- Dependents of Canadian Citizens/Indigenous Persons
- Dependents of Permanent Residents
- A person approved “in-principle” for permanent resident status in Canada and their dependents
- A visitor with a closed work permit and their dependents (some exclusions apply)
- A visitor with diplomatic status and their dependents
- Protected Persons and their dependents
How to Apply
To apply, report your status and submit supporting documentation to your divisional registrar’s office.
- Documents submitted may be verified with the issuing organization (e.g. CRA, IRCC) to validate their authenticity.
- All documents must be received by the deadline. No exceptions will be granted. We strongly encourage you to submit your documents as early as possible.
Deadlines
Submit supporting documentation to your divisional registrar’s office by the following deadlines:
|
Study Period1 |
Study Level |
Deadline2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall-Winter |
Undergraduate or Graduate |
November 1 |
|
Winter only |
Undergraduate or Graduate |
February 1 |
|
Summer |
Undergraduate |
June 1 |
|
Summer |
Graduate |
June 30 |
|
Summer Term 23 |
Undergraduate |
July 25 |
Notes
- Tuition adjustments only apply to the study period for which the exemption is approved. Retroactive fee changes for previous study periods will not be granted.
- Exceptions to deadlines are not permitted.
- Summer Term 2 refers to the duration of S sub-session courses or the second half of Y courses.
Maintain Your International Fee Exemption Status
If your supporting documentation expires during your studies, your exemption status will be removed, and you will be assessed international tuition fees. To retain your exemption status, you must submit updated documentation to your registrar office BEFORE the expiration date.
If you, your parents, or your spouses’ status in Canada changes at any time (e.g., your parents leave Canada) you must notify the university immediately. Failure to do so may result in review under the Code of Student Conduct.
The University may request proof of your exemption status at any time during your studies.
Supporting Documentation Requirements
All documentation must be original, valid, and in the same legal name as it appears in University’s official records. If the photo on your government-issued photo ID is more than five years old, you may be required to provide additional photo identification to confirm your identity. The names on both photo identification documents should match.
Use the information below to assist you in determining the appropriate supporting documentation you need to provide. Additional documentation may be requested at the discretion of your registrar’s office.
Students will be required to prove their dependent relationship with their parent, spouse, or common-law partner (See Proof of Dependent Relationship below).
One of the following original and unexpired government-issued identification documents will be accepted to validate identity:
- Passport
- Canadian Driver’s License
- Canadian Provincial Photo Card
- Nexus Card
- Permanent Resident (PR) Card
- Certificate of Indian Status (with photo)
- Canadian Armed Forces Identification Card
- Department of Foreign Affairs International Trade Identity Card
- Single Journey Travel Document with photo
- Refugee Protection Claimant Document with photo
Category-Specific Documentation
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study Permit
- Proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
One of the following sets of documentation are required:
- Canadian passport
- Birth certificate and government-issued photo ID
- Canadian citizenship card
- Canadian citizenship certificate and government-Issued photo ID
- Certificate of Indian Status Card (issued by DIAND/INAC/AANDC) or new Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card (SCIS)
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study permit
- Proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
One of the following sets of documentation are required:
- Valid Canadian Permanent Residency Card
- Valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence Visa (e.g., IMM 5292, IMM 5688) and government-issued photo ID
- Record of Landing (IMM 1000) and government-issued photo ID
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study permit
- “Approval-in-Principle” or Acknowledgement of Receipt letter or email from IRCC
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study permit
- Proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
All of the following documents are required:
- Foreign passport
- “Approval-in-Principle” or Acknowledgement of Receipt letter/email from IRCC
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study permit
- Valid work permit with a specified employer in Canada
- Letter of employment
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Study permit
- Proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
All of the following documents are required:
- Passport
- Valid work permit with a specified employer in Canada
- Letter of Employment
Required from Student
All of the following documents are required:
- Foreign, Consular, or Special Passport
- Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card
- Letter confirming diplomatic appointment
Required from Student
One of the following sets of documentation is required:
- Foreign, Consular, or Special Passport, and Proof of dependent relationship
- Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identify Card, and proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
All of the following documentation is required:
- Foreign, Consular, or Special Passport
- Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Identity Card
- Letter confirming diplomatic appointment
Required from Student
One of the following sets of documentation are required:
Set 1:
- Valid government-issued photo identification such as Passport or Single Journey Travel Document – IMM 5485
- Study Permit
- “Notice of Decision” issued by Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
Set 2:
- Valid government-issued photo identification such as Passport or Single Journey Travel Document – IMM 5485
- Study Permit
- 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
Required from Student
All of the following documentation is required:
- Valid government-issued photo identification (i.e., Passport or Single Journey Travel Document – IMM 5485)
- Study Permit
- Proof of dependent relationship
Required from Parent, Spouse, or Common-Law Partner
One of the following sets of documentation is required:
Set 1:
- Valid government-issued photo identification (i.e., Passport or Single Journey Travel Document – IMM 5485)
- “Notice of Decision” issued by Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
Set 2:
- Valid government-issued photo identification (i.e., 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
Proof of Dependent Relationship
One of the following documents is required:
- A Canadian long form birth certificate with parental information
- A foreign birth certificate translated into English with parental information
- Parent’s Record of Landing document (IMM 1000) with list of accompanying family members
- Parent’s Confirmation of Permanent Residence Visa with list of accompanying family members
- Notice of Decision document from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada with list of accompanying family members
- Proof of adoption documents with parental information
One of the following documents is required:
- Canadian marriage certificate
- Foreign marriage certificate translated into English
One of the following documents is required:
- Declaration of a common law union (IMM 5409)
- Notarized affidavit of common-law status
All of the following documents are required:
- Both partners’ Notice of Assessment statements from the Canada Revenue Agency for the past 3 years, indicating the same address.
- Both partners’ Proof of Income Statement from Canada Revenue Agency showing that taxes for the past 3 years have been filed as Common Law.
- Note: Filing multiple years of tax returns retroactively will not be accepted (e.g., filling three years of returns in the current tax year).
One of the following documents is required:
- Property tax bills demonstrating three years of cohabitation at the same address with both partner’s names.
- Residential lease agreements demonstrating three years of cohabitation at the same address with both partner’s names.
Important: Documents submitted for International Fee Exemption purposes may be verified with the issuer to validate their accuracy and authenticity (e.g. CRA, IRCC, landlord). Falsifying information is fraud and is punishable under Canadian law. It is also a serious academic offence under the U of T Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Penalties for forgery under the Code may include multi-year suspensions or even expulsion from the University.
Definitions
A citizen of Canada within the meaning of the Citizenship Act, or a person registered as Indigenous within the meaning of the Indian Act in Canada.
A permanent resident is one of the following:
- A person who has been granted “permanent resident” status, has not had that status revoked and is residing in Canada.
- 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 and 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.
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
- A visitor, and his/her dependents, holding an open work permit
- An international student holding a work permit to complete his/her co-op, internship or medical residency employment
- An international student holding an open work permit for post-graduate work (usually for up to three years of work opportunities upon graduation)
- An international student whose spouse or common-law partner has received a work permit as a result of the international student holding a valid Study Permit
- An international student holding an “Off-Campus Work Permit”
- International clinical fellows and dependents
- Dependents of post-doctorate fellows who received their study permit prior to their parent, spouse, or common law partner receiving their work permit
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 one of the following:
- A diplomatic or consular officer
- 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
- A dependent (see Section 1.1.7 for definition) or a member of the staff of any such diplomat, consular officer; representative or official accredited to Canada by the Canadian government
- 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.
A person, and his/her dependents is one of the following:
- 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
- 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.
Defined as:
- a spouse
- a common-law partner
- a 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
since becoming a spouse or common-law partner if that occurred before age 22 - 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.