The enrollment process and key issues for children of new immigrants in Canada

1、 Core admission process

Registration and Language Testing

Contact the Newcomer Welcome Centre or Education Bureau near your place of residence to register and schedule an English (EAL) proficiency test.

The test content includes basic English Q&A and image description, used to evaluate the child's language ability and determine whether additional tutoring is needed.

Submission of materials and school allocation

The following documents are required:

Child birth certificate, passport, immigration paper (or PR card);

Proof of home address (such as rental contract, utility bill);

Vaccination records and past education certificates (such as transcripts).

The Education Bureau allocates schools based on test results and home addresses. Generally, primary school students need to enroll in schools nearby, while secondary school students can choose schools across districts.

Formal enrollment

Report to the school at the time notified by the Education Bureau and receive the course schedule.

If you miss the start of the semester (such as transferring to another class), you will need to wait for the next enrollment window.

2、 School type and selection

Public schools

Cost: Parents holding a student visa, work visa, or PR status can attend school for free, and only need to pay for school uniforms, extracurricular activities, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Nearby enrollment: Primary school students (kindergarten to seventh grade) need to be enrolled according to their home address, while middle school students can apply across districts.

Recommended schools: such as Linden Meadows School and Earl Grey School in Winnipeg.

Private schools

Cost: Approximately CAD 12000/year for local students and CAD 10000-60000/year for international students.

Characteristics: Emphasis on alumni resources and personalized education, top private schools such as Balmoral Hall School require early application.

3、 Precautions

Differences in educational system

Most provinces have a 9-year system from primary school to junior high school (6-15 years old), and 10-12 grades for high school; Ontario implements a 13 year system (8 years for primary school and 5 years for secondary school).

Age and enrollment time

Children over 5 years old can enroll in kindergarten, while those over 6 years old can enroll in primary school.

The regular enrollment time is in September each year, and some schools offer transfer slots in February.

Language Tutoring

Students with weak English skills can receive EAL course support, and the Education Bureau will arrange graded teaching based on test results.

Special needs

Church schools need to understand the religious curriculum in advance, while private schools need to pay attention to the application deadline and interview requirements.

4、 Practical Tools and Resources

School Locator Tool: Enter your address on the official website of the Education Bureau to search for schools within the designated area.

Newcomer Welcome Centre: Provides multilingual services to assist with enrollment registration and document translation.

Through the above process, new immigrant families can efficiently complete their children's enrollment arrangements, ensuring that their children can smoothly adapt to the Canadian education system.

Working While Studying in Canada

Working While Studying in Canada refers to the legal right of international students to engage in work during their studies in Canada, subject to the following policies:

1、 Job types and conditions

Work on Campus

Work directly on campus (such as school buildings, libraries, student organizations, etc.) without the need for a work permit.

Requirement:

Full time study, holding a valid student visa and work permit (SIN);

Only applicable to work within the main learning campus (special circumstances such as teaching assistants and research assistants may be exempted).

Work off Campus

An Off Campus Work Permit is required, with a maximum of 20 hours of work per week during the semester and no restrictions on holidays.

Requirement:

Attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with a course duration of ≥ 6 months;

Maintain full-time study status and keep the student visa valid.

2、 Other job opportunities

Internship/Part time (Co op/Internet):

This is a mandatory part of the course and does not require additional permission, but the weekly working hours must not exceed 50% of the study time.

Spouse's job:

International students' spouses can apply for an open work visa with no work restrictions.

3、 Precautions

If the student visa expires, or if the course is not registered during the suspension or transfer period, work must be immediately stopped.

Violation of regulations may result in visa cancellation or affect future immigration applications.

This policy aims to balance students' academic and work experience accumulation, and enhance their competitiveness in employment.

Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)