# Are there school fees?

**URL:** <https://discourse.settlement.org/t/are-there-school-fees/12432>\
**Category:** Elementary and Secondary School\
**Created:** [June 23, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://discourse.settlement.org/t/are-there-school-fees/12432 "2021-06-23T12:07:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DNACHAN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@DNACHAN](https://discourse.settlement.org/u/DNACHAN)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://discourse.settlement.org/t/are-there-school-fees/12432/1 "2021-06-23T12:07:35Z")

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Hi

My friend wants to send his daughter back to Canada to continue her education and she is now 12 years old with a Canadian passport (she was born outside Canada but already applied a Canadian passport).  
However, her parent is not able to come with her daughter due to her dad’s illness and will ask his sister to be the girl’s guardian. In this situation does my friend’s daughter need to pay the school fee as an international student or not?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![SettlementOrgMod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SettlementOrgMod](https://discourse.settlement.org/u/SettlementOrgMod)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://discourse.settlement.org/t/are-there-school-fees/12432/2 "2021-06-30T13:15:45Z")

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Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

Ontario has [4 free public schooling systems](https://settlement.org/ontario/education/elementary-and-secondary-school/school-systems-in-ontario/what-are-the-different-school-systems-in-ontario/), English Public schools, English Catholic schools, French-language Public schools, and French-language Catholic schools. Attendance in public school will be determined by home address.

In Ontario, children aged 6 - 18 must attend school. You may find the [Settlement.org](http://Settlement.org) article, [At what age do children attend school?](https://settlement.org/ontario/education/elementary-and-secondary-school/general-information/at-what-age-do-children-attend-school/) Useful.

Here is an excerpt:

> [@](#):
>
> The Education Act is the law that governs public schools in Ontario. It says that children aged 6-18 must attend school. Many children can begin full day kindergarten program at age 4.
> 
> It is important to know that all children aged 6-18 can attend school, regardless of their immigration status or the immigration status of their parents. This is outlined in the [Education Act](http://findlink.at/eduact), the law that governs public schools in Ontario.

Public education is free for school-aged children regardless of immigration status, you can find some additional information regarding enrolling in school here: [How do I enrol my child in school?](https://settlement.org/ontario/education/elementary-and-secondary-school/enrol-your-child-in-school/how-do-i-enrol-my-child-in-school/)

You may also find the resources, [The Newcomer’s Guide to Elementary School in Ontario](https://settlement.org/ontario/education/elementary-and-secondary-school/newcomers-guides-to-education/the-newcomer-s-guide-to-elementary-school-in-ontario/) helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them [here](https://discuss.settlement.org/default.aspx).

We hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Your [Settlement.Org](http://Settlement.Org) Team