International Custodianship
A trusted Canadian guardian for every student under eighteen.
A custodian is the Canadian adult responsible for your child while they study here. We require one for every student under 18, and we help you arrange one.
- Custodian required
- Under 18
- Living in Canada
- Citizen or PR
- Notarized form
- IMM 5646
- In place before arrival
- Insurance
What Custodianship Means
The adult who looks after your child in Canada.
Parents name the custodian in writing, on a form from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). IRCC requires a custodian for students under 17 who come to Canada without a parent or legal guardian, and we require one for every student under 18. A relative or family friend in the Greater Toronto Area can serve, or an organization can provide one.
A custodian will
Be the adult we call if your child is ill
Sign permission forms a parent abroad can't
Provide a Canadian address for the school and the government
Who Can Serve
What a custodian needs.
One IRCC form sets up the arrangement: the Custodianship Declaration (IMM 5646). The custodian signs the first page and has it notarized in Canada; you sign the second page and have it notarized in your home country. The form goes in with your child’s study permit application, and we need a copy too.
- Status
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- LocationClose enough to be available in person if a situation requires it
- Lives locally within Canada
- FormNotarized by the custodian in Canada and by the parents at home, then sent with the study permit application
- Custodianship Declaration (IMM 5646)
No one to ask? These organizations can provide a custodian.
- International Student Guardianship Canada
- A Toronto organization that provides custodians, completes the custodianship declaration, and runs a 24-hour emergency line.
- Canada Homestay Network (CHN)
- Can provide a custodian for students it places with a host family.
Homestay
Living with a Canadian family.
Students under 18 must live with a family, not on their own. If you don’t have a host family arranged, we can help you find one through these services. Family life is also one of the fastest ways to build everyday English.
A homestay typically includes
A private bedroom
Three meals a day
A home near the school or a reliable transit route
- Canada Homestay Network (CHN)
- A national non-profit that places international students with screened host families, with 24-hour support.
- Homadorma
- An online platform for finding and booking a homestay near your school.
Health Insurance
Coverage in place before you arrive.
International students aren’t covered by Canada’s public health system, so private insurance is required for the whole school year. Bring a copy of the policy to your arrival appointment. An existing international plan is fine if it covers Canada for the full year.
Recommended provider
StudyInsured
A Canadian provider that works with international students, covering medical expenses, prescription drugs, dental services, and counselling.
Why parents trust the arrangement.
Parents, custodian, and school stay in close touch. We share term reports, attendance, and any concerns with both the parents and the custodian.
Thank you so much is just not good enough to describe the gratitude towards the professional way you taught and tutored my son for the last two years.
Susan Szocs — Parent
We can walk you through it.
Get in touch and we’ll review your situation, send the forms, and connect you with the right organization. Once custodianship is settled, the next step is planning your arrival.