• Begin the application process by gathering the required admission forms.
• Check the list of available schools, and only select the schools which are indicated as available.
• Apply online by accessing the TrueNorth Portal.
• Upon receipt of the submitted application and the required documents, the Admissions Officer will review the application.
• Once the student is accepted as an international student of YRDSB, a conditional offer of admission including an invoice indicating the balance of fees will be sent by email​.
• When payment, in full, is received, the letter of acceptance is issued and forwarded to parents/custodians or the assigned agency.

Please Note:

• It is expected that the study permit application is made within two weeks of receiving the Letter of Acceptance.
• The Letter of Acceptance will only be issued when the living arrangements of the student have been met, as outlined in the Terms & Conditions of Participation, and the homestay details have been submitted to the Admissions Officer.
• The school assigned to the student cannot be changed once the Letter of Acceptance is issued. No transfer of school will be allowed once the student arrives in Canada. 
• Original documents received by YRDSB will not be returned.
• Official Immunization Record, in English, must accompany the student upon arrival English translation must be notarized.

At any time during the application process, the Admissions Office may request verification of submitted documents and/or the information contained therein.

Placement in a YRDSB elementary and/or secondary school is based on the evaluation of the student's academic standing and the availability of space in the selected school.

International students must demonstrate a minimum academic average of 65% for admission and must maintain this minimum average during their course of study.

Secondary students who have graduated from high school (or equivalent) in their homeland are not eligible to apply to YRDSB.

Only students who are 18 years old and under before December 31 of the school year in which they are applying are eligible to attend YRDSB.

A student applying for admission to Grade 12 must acquire a minimum level IELTS 5.5 English proficiency score. A copy of the official test results is required.

All in-school programs are available to international students. The Regional Arts Program, at certain schools, is available to existing international students.

Specialized programs such as Special Education, the French Immersion Program, the International Baccalaureate Program, and the Sports Program at Bill Crothers Secondary School are not available.

All fees are payable in Canadian currency, and only to the York Region District School Board.

Login to the appropriate TrueNorth Portal to view the invoice and pay directly by clicking the Flywire button. Flywire is a secure online payment portal offering many ways to make your payments safely from overseas.

International Payments

• Visit the Flywire (International) payment portal, directly, to make a payment in your home currency.

Domestic Payments

• Visit the Flywire (Domestic) secure online payment portal to pay in the following ways: initiate a transfer from your bank, make a bill payment from your bank, initiate a wire transfer (requires a visit to the bank to make the transfer), debit card or credit card.

• Within two weeks of receiving the Letter of Acceptance package, apply to the Canadian Embassy serving the home country for a Study Permit. The acceptance letter is submitted as proof of acceptance to an educational institution in Canada.
• ​Upon receipt of a study permit, make arrangements to travel to Canada. When the flight is confirmed, complete the Arrival Confirmation Form.

Elementary Students: It is recommended that the student arrives in Canada at least two weeks prior to the start of their enrolment date to attend the documentation verification appointment and school registration. Complete the online form upon arrival into Canada (not before) to schedule an appointment with the Reception Centre to verify required documents. The staff of the Reception Centre will telephone the parent/custodian to confirm an in-person appointment. Please ensure you have collected the the documents required to bring to the appointment.

Secondary Students: Plan to arrive two weeks prior to the start of the semester (mid-August for September semester, mid-January for February semester) to attend the Orientation Program.

 Inquiries can be directed to the Admissions Office by email: admissions@yrdsb.ca​

Instructions, including a link to a Google Form, are sent to each parent/custodian outlining the steps to extend their child's enrolment. If you do not receive the electronic information, please contact admissions@yrdsb.ca​. 

If the custodian has changed since the last enrolment, copies of the updated Custodian Declaration forms (both pages: parent and custodian) are required and can be sent by email to admissions@yrdsb.ca.

Once turning 18 students must complete the Academic Student (age 18) - Consent for Information Sharing​ form. 

Change in Status

Returning students who are awaiting a change in status must follow the enrolment renewal guidelines and pay the required fees to confirm school placement.

Please refer to the Immigration Status page for additional information.

All fees are payable in Canadian currency, and only to the York Region District School Board.

Login to the appropriate TrueNorth Portal to view the invoice and pay directly by clicking the Flywire button. Flywire is a secure online payment portal offering many ways to make your payments safely from overseas.

International Payments

• Visit the Flywire (International) payment portal, directly, to make a payment in your home currency.

Domestic Payments

• Visit the Flywire (Domestic) secure online payment portal to pay in the following ways: initiate a transfer from your bank, make a bill payment from your bank, initiate a wire transfer (requires a visit to the bank to make the transfer), debit card or credit card.

Once the renewal is approved and processed by the Admissions Office, the Letter of Acceptance can be retrieved from the TrueNorth Portal. Students and parents can login to the Parent Portal to retrieve the document.

The renewal documents are used to extend the current study permit. Please follow the guidelines made available by IRCC for instructions on extending the study permit.

Questions can be directed to: admissions@yrdsb.ca​