International Custodianship
A trusted Canadian guardian for every student under eighteen.
Every international student under the age of eighteen must have a Canadian custodian. We work with families, and with established referral organizations when needed, to put that arrangement in place before classes begin.
What Custodianship Means
The adult who looks after your child in Canada.
Acustodian is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, designated by parents, who takes responsibility for the care of their minor child while that child studies in Canada. The role is recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and is a legal requirement of the study permit for any student under eighteen.
In practice, the custodian is the local adult who can be reached if a student becomes ill, sign permission forms that a parent abroad cannot, and provide a Canadian address on file with the school and government. Some families already have a relative or close friend in the Greater Toronto Area willing to take on the role; others arrange a custodian through one of the referral organizations below. Either route is acceptable.
Who Can Serve
What a custodian needs.
Two notarized documents establish the arrangement: the parents or legal guardians sign a Guardianship Declaration, notarized in the student’s home country, and the Canadian custodian signs a Guardianship Affidavit, notarized in Canada.
- Status
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- LocationClose enough to be available in person if a situation requires it
- Lives locally within Canada
- DocumentsBoth notarized and sent to admissions before the study-permit application is filed
- Guardianship Declaration and Affidavit
If you do not have a relative or family friend able to serve as custodian, two established referral organizations help international families locate one.
- International Students Canada (IS-Canada)
- Vets, trains, and supervises custodians for international families. We have worked with them.
- International Students Guardianship Canada
- Vets, trains, and supervises custodians for international families. We have worked with them.
From a Parent
Why parents trust the arrangement.
Custodianship works because three parties—parent, custodian, school—stay in close communication. We share term reports, attendance records, and any concerns directly with both the parent and the custodian, so nothing about a student’s welfare gets lost across borders.
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
Homestay Options
Living with a Canadian family.
Living with a Canadian family is one of the fastest ways for your child to build conversational English and settle into daily life in Ontario, through shared meals, weekends, and the ordinary back-and-forth of a household.
We do not accept students under eighteen who relocate without a family or guardian here in Canada. For families who do not arrive with a homestay arrangement already in place, we coordinate with two vetted homestay networks.
- Canada Homestay Network (CHN)
- Screens and supervises host families, places students by preference, and stays a point of contact through the year.
- Homadorma
- Screens and supervises host families, places students by preference, and stays a point of contact through the year.
Homestay arrangements typically include a private bedroom, three meals a day, and proximity to the school or to a reliable transit route into Woodbridge.
Medical and Health Insurance
Coverage in place before you arrive.
International students are not covered by Canada’s public health system, so private health insurance is required for the duration of your studies. Coverage should be in place before you arrive, and a copy of the policy submitted to admissions during the arrival appointment.
Recommended provider
StudyInsured
A Canadian provider that works specifically with international students, with coverage for medical expenses, prescription drugs, dental services, and counselling.
Families who already have an existing international health plan are welcome to use it, provided coverage extends to Canada and is valid for the full school year.
When You’re Ready
We can walk you through it.
Custodianship paperwork and homestay arrangements are easier with a guide. Get in touch with admissions and we’ll review your situation, share the forms, and connect you with the right referral organization for your family. With those in place, the next step is planning the arrival.