Guardianship and Study Permits
Do I need a study permit to attend Albert College?
International students are required to complete a study permit prior to arriving in Canada. Once a student accepts our offer of admission and tuition fees have been paid, Albert College will provide the necessary DLI (designated learning institute) letter, which is required in order to apply for a study permit. Parents/guardians are responsible for the application process and are encouraged to apply as soon as the DLI letter is received.
How to Apply for a Study Permit
In 2024, the Government of Canada placed a temporary intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years. This does not apply to students studying at Albert College as all elementary and secondary schools are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders are not affected. Study permit renewals are not impacted.
Guardianship
Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires international students studying in Canada to have a legal guardian or custodian if they are under the age of 18. This legal guardian is a support for the student and acts as a contact for the school. The guardian must be English speaking, a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, over the age of 21 and must reside in Ontario.
Albert College, along with a growing number of other independent schools, utilizes the professional services of International Student Guardianship Canada (ISGC). Founded in 2006, ISGC has continued to provide superior guardianship services to students from more than 40 countries in multiple languages including: Chinese, Korean, German, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, and French.
International boarding students' families have two options for securing a guardian:
Option 1: An International family may identify their own Ontario-based guardian for their son or daughter. The guardian must be English speaking and over the age of 21.
Option 2: If you do not have a guardian for your child, Albert College has retained the professional services of International Student Guardianship Canada (ISGC). In addition to Guardianship, ISGC assists our international families with a variety of services including: homestay, immigration support (study permits & visas), transportation, trips, and general problem solving.
Option 3: We also work with Yiyan (Ryan) Zhao of International Student Service Inc (ISSI) who serves families from China. Parents may contact Ryan via email issi.information@gmail.com and WeChat ID issicanada
Please contact them or an agency of your choice to ensure timely visa processing.
