Who should use this guide

This guide is for private postsecondary institutions applying for first-time designation or renewing their designation under the International Student Program (ISP) and completing this form:

International Student Program (ISP) Application for Designation or Re-Designation — Private Postsecondary Institutions (Not Including Registered Career Colleges)

This includes the following private postsecondary institutions:

  • career colleges registered under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 (OCCA) that enrol or wish to enrol international students in postsecondary education programs longer than six months (for example, language training, degree programs, etc.) and do not require approval under the OCCA
  • private institutions offering vocational training programs that are exempt from the institution registration and program approval requirements under the OCCA
  • private institutions providing all or part of one or more degree programs authorized under a statute of the Ontario Legislature or pursuant to the consent of the Minister of Colleges and Universities under the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000
  • private institutions providing postsecondary programs that are not vocational programs or degree programs
  • private institutions whose primary educational activities involve the delivery of language training to international students

This guide does not apply to registered career colleges that solely offer programs approved under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. Such institutions are to complete a separate form:

Streamlined International Student Program (ISP) Application for Designation or Re-Designation — Registered Career Colleges

Designation criteria: the ISP Requirements

This guide does not set out the criteria for designation under the ISP. The designation criteria are outlined in the Requirements for Designation of Postsecondary Institutions for the International Student Program (the ISPRequirements). In the event of any discrepancy between the ISP Requirements and this guide, the ISP Requirements have precedence.

Overview of the application process

Applicants should thoroughly review and understand the International Student Program (ISP) Requirements before completing an application for designation.

To apply for ISP designation, institutions must fill out the appropriate application form and provide all necessary supporting documents identified in the form.

Where possible, please submit all required information and documents in one application package. If this is not possible, applicants have a maximum of 6 months to submit all forms, documents, and information required as part of an application for designation. An application will be deemed abandoned if an applicant fails to submit all documents within 6 months of the date of the ministry’s receipt of an initiated application.

All documents and forms submitted to the ministry as part of the application will be returned to the institution.

Requests for clarification or additional documents

Applications will be reviewed against the criteria set out in the ISP Requirements. If further documents or clarifications are required, the ministry will contact the applicant directly. An applicant will be deemed to have abandoned their application if they fail to respond to a request for clarification or further documentation in the timeframe specified in the ministry’s request.

ISP inspection

Site inspection (field audit)

The ministry will conduct a site inspection at each campus and branch location identified in the application form that has not been inspected in the past 12 months for the purposes of any legislation or policies for which the minister is responsible.

The ministry may also inspect any campus or branch location identified in the application form even if an applicant has been inspected by the ministry in the past 12 months.

Online inspection (desk audit)

At the ministry’s discretion, the ministry may conduct an online inspection (desk audit) of an applicant’s international student files and/or documentation. This does not exempt the institution from the in-person site inspection requirement or from the requirement to produce documentation to the ministry for review from time to time, as requested.

Inspection of institutions accredited by a Language Program Accreditor

Under the ISP Requirements, applicants intending to offer language training to international students must be accredited by a Language Program Accreditor. Although the accreditation process may include a site assessment, the ministry will conduct a separate site inspection for the purposes of designation under the ISP.

Offer of designation

The submission of a complete application does not guarantee that the applicant will receive an offer of designation. Such an offer will only be extended to an applicant if the ministry is satisfied that the applicant meets all of the criteria for designation set out in the ISP Requirements.

An Offer of Designation will include a Designation Agreement that the institution must sign before it will be designated. Successful applicants will become designated on the date that the Designation Agreement is fully executed by the institution and Ontario.

An institution ceases to be designated at the end of the day on the date the Designation Agreement expires.

Designation of multiple campuses and/or branch locations

Designation under the ISP is site-specific and applies to only those campuses and branch locations that are identified in the institution’s Designation Agreement. It is therefore possible that an institution may only be eligible to receive international students at some, but not all of the campuses and/or branch locations it operates.

If an institution later wishes to have its designation extended to an additional campus or branch location (for example, the institution opens a new campus), the institution must submit a new application demonstrating that the campus or branch location it wishes to include in its designation meets all relevant ISP requirements

If designation is granted, a fully executed amendment to the institution’s Designation Agreement is required to have the campus or branch location included in the institution’s designation. The institution cannot host international students at the new campus or branch location, until it is added to the institution’s Designation Agreement.

Unsuccessful applicants and requests for reconsideration

The institution will not be designated for the purposes of the ISP:

  • if an applicant is unsuccessful
  • does not enter into a Designation Agreement
  • does not meet any condition included in the offer of designation

Institutions that are not designated are not included on the list of Designated Learning Institutions posted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and they are not eligible to receive international students requiring a study permit in programs of study that are six months in duration or longer.

Representing oneself as a DLI in Ontario and/or recruiting international students requiring a study permit without being designated may result in being ineligible for future designation as well as other consequences, including a warning on the institution’s registration, if applicable.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may request a reconsideration of the decision by submitting a request in writing within 30 days of receiving notice of an unsuccessful application. Please set out the reasons for the request for reconsideration and include relevant supporting documents.

A reconsideration request will be considered only if it raises new information or explanations that are relevant to the ISP Requirements.

Continuing designation

If an applicant submits a complete application for re-designation on or before the expiry of their current Designation Agreement, the institution will remain designated pending the decision on its application (a continuing designation). Institutions with continuing designations are still eligible to host international students on a study permit in programs that are six months in duration or longer, as long as they continue to meet the requirements of their current Designation Agreement and submit a re-designation application in time. If the institution is unsuccessful in its application for designation, the notice of decision will identify the date on which such continuing designation ceases to be in effect.

If an institution’s current Designation Agreement expires before it submits a complete application for designation, or if an institution’s application for designation is unsuccessful, the institution ceases to be designated for the purposes of the ISP and the ministry will notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that the institution should be removed from the list of designated learning institutions.

Tips for completing an application for designation or re-designation

The following section contains useful tips and additional information to assist private post-secondary institutions completing the ISP application form.

Part A: General information

This section requires an applicant to provide general information about the institution.

A. Institution information

In this section, enter the institution’s legal and/or operating name as documented within the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (formerly Ministry of Government and Consumer Services) Ontario Business Registry (if applicable). Applicants are reminded to keep the information on the public record accurate and up to date.

B. Institution type

In this section, list all categories that apply to the institution.

For example, if an applicant is a registered career college and offers vocational programs under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 (OCCA), and also offers vocational programs exempt from OCCA and other non-vocational programs, both of the following categories should be selected:

  • Career college registered under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 that also delivers other postsecondary education programs (for example, language training, degree programs, etc.)
  • Private institution offering vocational training programs that are exempt from the institution registration and program approval requirements under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005

If applicable, please provide the Identification Number (Org ID and/or Campus ID) as listed in the Program Approval and Registration Information System (PARIS) for registered career colleges.

C. Campus information

Campus means a physical site at which an institution directly provides postsecondary education.

In this section, list all campuses that the applicant wishes to include in the ISP designation (that is, the locations at which the institution proposes to offer programs of study to international students), including any new campuses. Campuses that are not listed in this section will not be included in your institution’s designation and will not be able to offer programs that are 6 months in duration or longer to international students, even if they were included in the previous Designation Agreement.

D. Branch location information

A branch location is a physical site operated by a third party at which an institution provides postsecondary education through the third party.

In this section, list all branch locations that the applicant wishes to be designated under the ISP (that is, the branch location(s) where the postsecondary programs are to be delivered to international students).

Part B: Postsecondary institutional eligibility

Note: For Part B of the application, ensure that you fully understand the questions and provide responses that are truthful and accurate. The ministry may contact you for additional information and/or consult other parties to validate your responses. Providing false or misleading information may be grounds to refuse your application.

1. Compliance with Ontario legislation and policies governing postsecondary education institutions

To complete this section, applicants are expected to have conducted due diligence in ensuring they are in compliance with legislative requirements governing their operations, including the:

For example, applicants can pre-screen programs of study with the ministry to determine whether those programs require approval under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. ServiceOntario has more information about the pre-screening process.

2. Compliance with all other legislation to which the institution is subject

In this section, in case of any history of non-compliance with any applicable legislation, provide detailed explanation of the circumstances of the offence and include any relevant documentation. The ministry will contact you if additional information is needed.

3. Debts to the Crown and payments due under governing legislation

In this section, if the institution is in arrears with respect to any payment schedules related to a debt that is owed to Ontario, Canada, or any other province or territory of Canada, provide a detailed explanation and documentation requested in the application. The ministry will contact you if additional information is needed.

4. History of providing postsecondary education programs in Ontario

First-time applicants

Institutions that have been delivering postsecondary education programs in Ontario for at least 3 consecutive years immediately before submitting the application must provide sufficient evidence of delivery of postsecondary education programs, as outlined in this section of the application.

If an applicant does not have a history of providing postsecondary education programs in Ontario for at least 3 consecutive years immediately before submitting the application, but wishes to apply for designation under Section 6.2 of the International Student Program Requirements, the applicant must:

Re-designation applicants

Submit evidence of delivery of postsecondary education programs in Ontario for the period since your previous Designation Agreement.

5. Sufficient financial capacity

Applicants must demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to provide programs of study to international students by submitting audited financial information outlined in the relevant application form.

The audited financial statements must be in respect of the legal entity that is submitting the application for designation. Other types of financial statements (for example, review engagement) or financial statements of a parent or subsidiary corporation will not be accepted in place of audited financial statements for the applicant.

Part C: Operational capability

6. Campuses and branches

Provide the supporting documents listed in section 6 of the application form for each campus and branch which the applicant proposes to include in its designation.

Applicants for re-designation that wish to add a new campus or branch to their designation must provide the items A to E for each new campus or branch.

Note: A fire inspection report may take several months to be obtained from fire department officials. Applicants are encouraged to request this document well in advance of their application so that this document can be submitted with the application package.

7. Maintenance of student files

In this section, applicants must submit template forms or documents demonstrating that the institution will be able to maintain international student files in compliance with section 10.3 of the ISP Requirements.

Where applicable, applicants may also:

  • provide a copy of any agreement between the applicant and any person retained to maintain transcripts in accordance with section 10.3(e) of the ISP Requirements
  • submit a list of individual(s)/department(s) authorized to process/access/store international student files and transcripts at the institution
  • identify the location of the international student files and transcripts (if stored at a physical location different to the institution)

Applicants for re-designation must submit copies of any documents contained within the international student file that have changed since their previous Designation Agreement came into effect.

8. Recruitment practices

Institutions’ recruitment practices, including promotional activities and advertising, must demonstrate an honest and ethical approach to recruiting international students. Institutions or agents or contractors acting on behalf of institutions must comply with all applicable requirements in section 11 of the ISP Requirements. Evidence of false, misleading, or unethical practices used by an institution or agent or contractor acting on their behalf may be grounds for refusal or loss of designation.

Where an institution chooses to engage third parties to recruit students, the institution must ensure that the third party is aware of and complies with the applicable requirements in section 11 of the ISP Requirements.

In this section, applicants are required to provide the following documents and information with respect to at least three (3) advertisements used by the applicant in the past year:

  • the text of the advertisement, whether the advertisement is written or oral
  • the period during which the advertisement was published or broadcast
  • if the advertisement was not in English or French, a translation prepared by a person whose primary employment is translation or who has trained as a translator of the advertisement’s text

If the applicant has used three or fewer advertisements in the past year, the applicant must confirm that it has submitted all advertisements it used in the past year.

If an applicant has advertisements that contain testimonials from students, graduates or institution personnel, the applicant must provide verification that the testimonial was permitted for use in the advertisement by the cited individual(s).

9. Programs of study

In this section, list all programs that your institution intends to deliver to international students on a study permit, and all the requested details for each program. Please use the space provided in the application or attach documentation, as needed.

Applicants for re-designation must submit program details for all programs that the institution already offers or intends to offer to international students. Where applicable, there is an option to indicate that there have been no changes since the institution’s previous Designation Agreement came into effect.

Part D: Student support and protection mechanisms

Application sections 10 to 13 (student protection mechanisms)

Provide the following documents demonstrating that the institution has implemented student protection mechanisms in accordance with the ISP Requirements:

  • a template form that will be used for each contract that the institution will enter into with an international student in respect of a program of study. Review section 13 of the ISP Requirements for details of student contract requirements

Also provide a copy of your institution’s:

Applicants for re-designation must submit updated documents and templates if there have been any changes since their previous Designation Agreement came into effect.

14. Student supports

Applicants must:

  • identify one or more persons, by the person’s position with the institution, responsible for providing, coordinating, or overseeing the provision of supports to international students (for example, Vice President, Student Supports) that meet(s) the requirements set out in section 17.5(b)(1) to (7) of the ISP Requirements
  • confirm that they do not, and will not, retain or withhold an international student’s passport, study permit, or similar document under any circumstances
  • submit documentation demonstrating that the institution meets all the requirements set out in section 17.5(b) of the ISP Requirements

Applicants for re-designation must provide the documents that have changed or information that has been updated since their previous Designation Agreement came into effect or indicate that there have been no changes.

15. Designation of an individual in charge of confirming and reporting enrolment

In this section, provide the contact information for the person who will be responsible for confirming and reporting international student enrolment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at all mandatory enrolment reporting periods, and on request.

Applicants for re-designation must ensure that the contact information previously provided to the ministry is up to date.

16. Campus or branch location site assessment

If an institution has been inspected by a third party for program accreditation or quality assurance purposes, the applicant must:

  • identify the quality assurance assessor
  • provide a copy of the accreditation inspection report

For example, if a Language Program Accreditor performed a site assessment at one or more of the campuses or branch locations identified in the application form, please provide a copy of the accreditation inspection report. The Language Program Accreditor is identified in Schedule A of the ISP Requirements.