International Students

Are you looking to travel to Canada for the purpose of studying at an elementary or secondary school? If you will be traveling alone, staying with a Custodian, or arriving with a parent who has a Visitor visa, follow the application process below.

Applications must be received by December 31 for a first semester start (September).
Applications must be received by April 30 for a second semester start (February).

International Students who are accepted will start their studies at the beginning of a semester only.

Application Procedure

1. CLICK HERE to complete and submit the online Student Application Form (one per student).

2. You will receive an email from ADSB with instructions to:
(a) Pay the Application fee. CLICK HERE for the Fee Schedule & Refund Policy
(b) Submit the following documents:

Translated school transcripts for the most recent two years
Signed and dated letter of recommendation from a school official (in English)
Notarized custodian declaration form (if the student will not be living with a parent)

3. Once your application package has been received, it will be reviewed for acceptance.

The Algoma District School Board will notify you via email within one month of the application deadline and will issue an invoice for tuition fees.

4. Pay Tuition fees in full. CLICK HERE for the Fee Schedule & Refund Policy

Algoma District School Board will issue an official Letter of Acceptance and receipt for fees paid.

It is the responsibility of the student/family to apply for a study permit, arrange travel and accommodations, obtain health insurance, and ensure they have all documents required by Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

5. After arrival in Canada, notify the Algoma District School Board by emailing: [email protected].

An in-person appointment will be scheduled to complete the registration process, which will include an assessment of English and Mathematics. The student’s custodian is required to attend this meeting.

Please be prepared to present the following documents at the appointment:
1. Study permit (original and valid)
2. Passport
3. Birth certificate
4. Proof of Ontario residency (a document that has your address/your custodian’s address on it such as a current lease agreement, or utility bill)
5. Proof of Health Insurance

2025 - 2026 Fees and Fee Schedule

SECONDARY Gr. 9 to 12	Full Academic Year	Half Academic Year	Schedule
Application Fee* (non-refundable)	$250 CAD	$250 CAD	Due in full when application is submitted. Application will not be reviewed until application fee is received.
Tuition*	$17,016 CAD	$8,508 CAD	Due in full when application is approved. Acceptance letter will not be written until tuition fee is received.
ELEMENTARY JK TO Gr. 8	Full Academic Year	Half Academic Year	Schedule
Application Fee* (non-refundable)	$250 CAD	$250 CAD	Due in full when application is submitted. Application will not be reviewed until application fee is received.
Tuition*	$15,338 CAD	$7,669 CAD	Due in full when application is approved. Acceptance letter will not be written until tuition fee is received.
RETURNING STUDENTS	Full Academic Year	Half Academic Year	Schedule
Tuition*	To be determined in June of each year	To be determined in June of each year	Students must confirm they will be returning by June 30^theach year. Tuition fees are due by August 1^st of each year. Student will be unable to start school until tuition fee is paid in full.
*Fees are subject to change

PAYMENT OF FEES:
You will receive an invoice with amounts and instructions once your application is received.

2025 - 2026 Refund Policy


APPLICATION FEE	Application fee is non-refundable.
REFUND ADMINISTRATION FEE	All refunds are subject to a $100 administration fee.
FULL REFUND	A FULL refund (less the application fee, banking fees and administration fee) will be given if the Government of Canada does not approve the Study Permit.
HOW TO OBTAIN A FULL REFUND	To obtain a full refund, a request must be made in writing within sixty (60) calendar days of the issue date of the original refusal letter from the Government of Canada and must include the Letter of Refusal and the Original Acceptance Letter from the Algoma District School Board.
TWO-THIRDS REFUND	Two-thirds of the tuition fee will be refunded if the student withdraws prior to the commencement of the program.
ONE-HALF REFUND	One-half of the tuition fee will be refunded if the student withdraws after the commencement of the program but before thirty (30) calendar days has elapsed.
NO REFUND	NO refund will be granted for tuition fees if: The student withdraws thirty (30) days after the commencement of the program. The student is dismissed from the program due to a break of law, policy or regulation as determined by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the Police and or the Algoma District School Board. The student’s immigration status changes during the term covered by the tuition fees paid except for students who become Permanent Residents of Canada. Those students will be eligible for a refund on a pro-rated basis.
REFUND PAYMENT	Refunds will be issued as per the original method of payment and made out to the original payer. Please allow eight weeks for processing a refund.
DEFERING START DATE	Algoma District School Board will allow a student to defer their start date by one semester if there has been a delay in receiving their Study Permit from the Government of Canada. A request must be made in writing no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the student’s start date and must include proof of the date to which the study permit was originally applied for.
LIABILITY	Algoma District School Board shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the parents or the student as a result or consequence of any labour dispute, inclement weather conditions, pandemic or other causes beyond our control that may affect the ability of the School Board to deliver the education program or any respect thereof.

Printable Resources (PDFs)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there a deadline to apply to study with ADSB?

How much does it cost to study?

Information about tuition can be found here.
Note: Students are eligible to study tuition free if any of the following apply:
• you are a parent with a work permit
• you are a parent with a study permit
• you or your child is a permanent resident
• you or your child has a refugee claimant document
• you are a Canadian citizen, but your child is not
Click here for more information.

When should I arrive?

What happens when I arrive in Canada?

What documents do I need to bring to my appointment?

At the registration appointment you will need to present the following documents in person. In accordance with our privacy policy, do not send documents by e-mail. If you do not present all the required documents, you cannot attend school.
• Your Study Permit (original and valid)
• Your Passport
• Your Birth Certificate
• Your Custodian’s/Parent’s Proof of Ontario Residency (this is a document that has their name, and Ontario address on it such as a current lease agreement or utility bill).
• Proof of Health Insurance

How do I apply for a Study Permit?

What if my Study Permit expires?

Each study permit has an expiry date. If a study permit will expire prior to the completion of the student’s studies, the student/parent is responsible for applying to IRCC to extend the study permit in a timely manner to ensure students have a valid study permit throughout the duration of their studies. If a student chooses to not complete their studies or does not have a valid study permit, they are no longer authorized to reside in Canada and they must return to their home country immediately.

Is Health Insurance provided by the school board?

Is there a Homestay option for International Fee-Paying Students?

Which school will I attend?

Will I graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)?

Where is the Algoma District School Board?

The Algoma District School Board serves a geographic area of 70,534 square kilometers and encompasses communities along the north shore of Lake Huron from Spanish to Sault Ste. Marie and along the east coast of Lake Superior from Sault Ste. Marie to Hornepayne which includes Wawa, Chapleau and White River.

Distance from Sault Ste. Marie to:
Toronto: 700 km
Ottawa: 800 km
Sudbury: 300 km
Thunder Bay: 700 km

To learn more and to view a map of our region, follow this link to our About Us page.

Still have questions? Please email [email protected].