Among the world’s strongest schools
Canada’s students consistently rank among the best in the OECD’s PISA assessments of reading, maths and science.
← K-12 overviewA Canadian education.
Premium service · K-12 Canada
A Canadian education.
Your family, together.
Grades 1 to 12 at public school boards and private schools across Canada, from age 6 (and Kindergarten in some districts). We arrange the school, the custodian and the homestay, and explain exactly what you can do as a parent.
Grades 1–12From age 6
CustodianArranged if you’re not there
A parentCan come as a visitor
Why Canada
Why families choose school in Canada.
English, and French too
Learning in English every day, with ESL support, plus French-language and immersion programmes.
A provincial diploma
Finish with the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, British Columbia’s Dogwood or another provincial diploma, recognised by universities worldwide.
A head start for university
Apply to Canadian universities with Canadian grades. Years of English-medium school can often replace an English test.
Safe, multicultural cities
Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and more: diverse communities and school-board homestay programmes.
Life beyond the classroom
Hockey, skiing, robotics, music and co-op placements in high school. A childhood full of new things.
Two journeys, one family
What your family gains in Canada.
From the official rules, stated plainly. Choose whose side to see.
Live with your child
A parent or legal guardian can come as a visitor and apply to extend their stay (CAD 100) while the child studies. Then no custodian is needed.
Keep your income running
IRCC says remote work for an employer outside Canada needs only visitor status, for up to six months at a time.
Study short courses yourself
Courses of 6 months or less don’t need a study permit. Upskill while your child is at school.
Bring your other children
Each child usually needs a study permit. But if a parent holds their own Canadian work or study permit, minor children in Canada with them can go to school without one.
Know Canada before you decide more
Live the schools, costs and seasons first-hand before any decision about university or the family’s future.
Travel home with peace of mind
If you need to go home, a custodian (a Canadian citizen or permanent resident) looks after your child. We arrange and notarise it.
As a parent, you can
- Live with your child as a visitor and apply to extend your stay
- Work remotely for an employer outside Canada (visitor status, up to 6 months at a time)
- Take courses of 6 months or less without a study permit
Be clear about this
- Work for a Canadian employer without their own work permit
- Treat school admission as an immigration pathway: it doesn’t lead to permanent residence on its own
Your family planner
See how it works for your family.
Your child’s age, who travels and brothers or sisters. The year level, visas and care arrangements, instantly.
Who travels with them?
Brothers or sisters coming too
Canada · age 7Grade 2
Your child
Study permit. Starts in about Grade 2 (elementary school). We confirm the exact grade with the school.
A parent
Comes as a visitor and can apply to extend their stay while the child studies. Can work remotely for a foreign employer on visitor status (up to 6 months at a time). Cannot work for a Canadian employer.
Luminous handles
School shortlist and application, homestay or family accommodation, and arrival support. Free, general guidance on the official visa checklists.
General information from IRCC, not immigration advice. Every family is different: we check your situation in a private consultation.
Schools we can apply to
School boards and schools across Canada.
A school board covers many elementary, middle and secondary schools and places your child in one of them. Filter by province and your child’s age.
51 options fit
Toronto District School Board
Toronto · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Toronto Catholic District School Board
Toronto · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Peel District School Board
Mississauga · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12York Region District School Board
Richmond Hill · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12York Catholic District School Board
Aurora · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Halton District School Board
Burlington · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Halton Catholic District School Board
Burlington · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Ottawa · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Hamilton · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Cambridge · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Upper Canada District School Board
Brockville · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
Windsor · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Sudbury Catholic District School Board
Sudbury · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
Kingston · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Laureate College
Burlington · Ontario
Grades taught: 1–12Fieldstone Day School
Toronto · Ontario
Grades taught: 2–8Blyth Academy
Toronto, Ottawa, Burlington, Mississauga · Ontario
Grades taught: 4–12Ridley College
St. Catharines · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Amerigo Education
Fort Erie · Ontario
Grades taught: 5–12Fulford Academy
Brockville · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12UMC High School
Toronto · Ontario
Grades taught: 6–12Appleby College
Oakville · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Upper Canada College
Toronto · Ontario
Grades taught: 8–11Braemar College
Toronto · Ontario
Grades taught: 9–12Bronte College
Mississauga · Ontario
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Coquitlam School District 43
Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody · British Columbia
From Kindergarten · to Grade 12Vancouver School Board
Vancouver · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Burnaby School District 41
Burnaby · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Richmond School District 38
Richmond · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Surrey School District 36
Surrey · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Langley School District 35
Langley · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12New Westminster School District 40
New Westminster · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Delta School District 37
Delta · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Abbotsford School District 34
Abbotsford · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Sea to Sky School District 48
Squamish · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Bodwell High School
North Vancouver · British Columbia
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Columbia Academy
Vancouver · British Columbia
Grades taught: 8–12Calgary Board of Education
Calgary · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Calgary Catholic School District
Calgary · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Golden Hills School Division
Strathmore · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Edmonton Public Schools
Edmonton · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Edmonton Catholic Schools
Edmonton · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education
Medicine Hat · Alberta
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools
Saskatoon · Saskatchewan
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Louis Riel School Division
Winnipeg · Manitoba
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Lester B. Pearson School Board
Montreal · Quebec
From Grade 1 (age 6) · to Grade 12Kells Academy
Montreal · Quebec
Grades taught: 2–12Fredericton Christian Academy
Fredericton · New Brunswick
Grades taught: 2–12Atlantic Education International
Fredericton · New Brunswick
Grades taught: 6–12Nova Scotia International Student Program
Province-wide · Nova Scotia
Grades taught: 7–12Grace Christian School
Charlottetown · Prince Edward Island
Grades taught: 1–12Early admission is possible. Public school boards take children from Grade 1 (age 6), and Coquitlam (BC) from Kindergarten. We have placed children in Grade 2 at the Toronto District School Board. For private schools, we show the grades each school teaches.
The school year
When your child can start.
Semester 1
September to late January. The main intake for international students.
Ontario boards typically start international students in September or February. For example, Waterloo Region DSB’s September 2026 intake is already closed, and applications for February 2027 open on 1 October 2026. Apply 6–9 months ahead.
Costs and funds
What you’ll need to show, and what you’ll pay.
Official government fees, and the funds calculation IRCC uses. Tuition goes directly to the school.
Children studying
Typical range CAD 14,000–20,000. Your school’s exact fee is in its offer.
Funds to show for the first yearCAD 40,448
The first year’s tuition plus IRCC’s living-cost amount, not including travel. An accompanying parent also shows funds for their own stay; IRCC sets no fixed figure for visitors. An estimate to plan with, not a quote.
Study permitCAD 150per child
BiometricsCAD 85per person, usually from age 14
Visitor visa (parent)CAD 100per person
Extend a visitor’s stayCAD 100per person
Custodianship declarationIMM 5646notarised in Canada and in your home country
Public board tuitionCAD 14k–20ka year, typical; paid to the board
Picture it
A day in your new life in Canada.
7:45
The school run in the snow
Boots on, lunch packed, and a short walk to the school gate in a Toronto winter.
Admission and visa checklist
Tick off what you already have.
The general documents most families need. Your ticks stay on this device. General requirements from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), checked 25 Sep 2026.
0%ready
School admission
Study permit
Accompanying parent
Clients only
Your customised checklist
Become a clientOnce you’re a Luminous client, we give you a checklist matched to your child’s school, province, age and your family’s plan, with every document, deadline and who provides it.
White-glove service
Six steps. We handle every one.
- 01Private consultation
Your child’s age, grades, personality and your family’s plans, in confidence.
- 02A curated shortlist
Three schools or boards that fit, with honest pros and cons.
- 03The application
Prepared and submitted for you, including the school’s own application fee.
- 04Care arrangements
Custodian or caregiver, and homestay, arranged and vetted with the school.
- 05Visa checklists
Free, general guidance on the official checklists for your child and for you.
- 06Arrival and settling in
Airport pickup, housing, registration and orientation, after the visas are issued.
Paid in three stages
Each stage is paid only when your family reaches it.
STAGE 1
School application
US$449
When: When you choose a school, before we apply- The school’s own application fee (we assume around CAD 400)
- A shortlist of 3 schools, the application prepared and submitted
- Transcripts, reports and school English assessment arranged
If the school’s application fee is higher than we assume, the total rises by the difference. We confirm the exact amount before you pay.
STAGE 2
Custodian & school arrangement
US$350
When: Once the custodian is arranged, after the school accepts your child- A Canadian custodian arranged with the school, and the custodianship declaration notarised (if no parent will live with the child)
- Homestay or family accommodation search
- Documents the school needs before the first day
The custodian’s own fees are separate — they are set and managed by the custodian and the school, and you pay them directly.
STAGE 3When: Once your family’s visas are issued, before travel
After-visa arrival & settlement
Contact us
Ask on WhatsApp- Pre-departure briefing for every family member travelling
- Airport pickup and help finding family housing
- Phone, bank account, transport and local registration
- School registration day and orientation
- An adviser you keep for the first school year
Contact us for this stage — our director will discuss your family’s needs and quote it personally. This covers arrival and settlement services only — it is not a fee for visa work. We give free, general guidance on the official visa checklists and do not prepare or submit visa applications.
You pay each stage only when you reach it. Stages 1 and 2: US$799. Stage 3 is quoted personally — contact us. School tuition, custodian and other third-party fees are paid directly to those providers.From US$799
Prices are in US dollars. Students and families in Bangladesh: message us on WhatsApp for your price and how to pay.
Private consultation
Tell us about your child.
An adviser replies on WhatsApp within one working day. We only ask for your child’s age, never their name.
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Sources, checked 26 September 2026: IRCC fee list · IRCC: minor children studying in Canada · IRCC: study without a permit · IRCC: Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy (remote work as a visitor) · Waterloo Region DSB: international students. General information, not immigration advice. Rules change, so always check the official website before applying. We give free, general guidance on the official checklists; we do not prepare or submit visa applications.