Is Education Free in Canada for Permanent Residents? How Residency by Investment Can Cut Your Children’s Study Costs
March 6, 2024 · Canada · 10 min read
Many parents around the world look to Canada’s education system to give their children a well-rounded education. Yet study costs that can run to tens of thousands of US dollars a year are a real concern for many families. Canada residency by investment can be one way to ease that burden.
With an education system recognized worldwide, Canada attracts parents around the world who want their children to learn and grow in a well-rounded environment. Yet study costs that can run to tens of thousands of US dollars a year are a real concern for many families. Canada residency by investment can be one way to ease that burden. So is education free in Canada for permanent residents? Public schooling is tuition-free from kindergarten through high school, and permanent residents pay domestic rather than international tuition at university.
Canada is one of the leading destinations for international students, welcoming more than 500,000 students every year. In 2023, Canada ranked 4th among countries for education quality, and 7 of its universities placed among the best in the world.
A high-caliber education system that gives students a strong foundation
Canada devotes more than 5% of GDP each year to its education system, investing in outstanding infrastructure, a wide range of education options, and a highly qualified teaching workforce.
Canada’s education system is divided into three levels: elementary (primary), secondary, and post-secondary (college, university, and graduate study). Each level offers programs suited to students’ stage of development, a supportive learning environment, and progressive, practical teaching methods.
Canada has both public schools and private schools, and families can choose either from elementary school through college. Most Canadian universities, however, are public, which helps maintain consistently high standards across the country.
Studying in Canada can open international opportunities. Canadian degrees and credentials are recognized and valued worldwide. International employers have ranked Canada’s education system in the top 10 of the Global Employability Ranking.
What it costs to study in Canada as an international student
Reflecting the quality of its education and living standards, Canada is a relatively expensive place to study: costs can run to tens of thousands of US dollars a year, depending on the city, program, and school.
Tuition ranges from C$20,000–50,000 a year (approximately US$14,000–35,000). In some fields, such as dentistry, pharmacy, and optometry, tuition can exceed C$70,000 a year (approximately US$49,000).
Housing and living costs range from C$1,500–3,000 a month, or C$18,000–36,000 a year (approximately US$13,000–25,000).
On average, each international student therefore spends about US$27,000–58,000 a year on study and living costs in Canada. For a family with 2–3 children, the cost doubles or triples, and it runs for at least 4 years of university, or longer if the children move to Canada at the secondary level.
How Canada residency by investment can cut your family’s education costs every year
While international students pay relatively high tuition in Canada, public education is tuition-free for Canadian citizens and permanent residents from kindergarten through the end of high school, and their undergraduate and graduate tuition is subsidized, at only one-third of the rate international students pay.
International student
Permanent resident or eligible temporary resident
Kindergarten
C$20,000 (approximately US$14,000)
Free
Elementary school
C$20,000–30,000 (approximately US$14,000–21,000)
Free
Secondary school (high school)
C$25,000–40,000 (approximately US$18,000–28,000)
Free
Average annual tuition at schools in Ontario, Canada
Field
International student
Canadian permanent resident
Law
C$41,773 (approximately US$29,000)
C$13,621 (approximately US$9,600)
Economics
C$33,309 (approximately US$23,000)
C$7,571 (approximately US$5,300)
Pharmacy
C$63,131 (approximately US$44,000)
C$12,566 (approximately US$8,800)
Computer science
C$37,431 (approximately US$26,000)
C$7,278 (approximately US$5,100)
Indicative undergraduate tuition for selected fields in Canada
With the budget many families already set aside for their children’s studies in Canada, business owners and international investors may consider a Canada residency by investment program for the whole family. Once the family holds permanent residence, the children can attend high-quality public schools tuition-free, just as Canadian residents do.
Beyond saving tens of thousands of US dollars in tuition each year, the investor’s whole family can also access public healthcare and social programs on the same basis as other residents. Most importantly, the family gains the opportunity to settle and build a long-term future in Canada, and to apply for Canadian citizenship once eligible.
At the time of writing (March 2024), two popular Canada residency by investment programs attracting strong investor interest were the Start-up Visa (SUV) and the Prince Edward Island (PEI) provincial entrepreneur stream.
As of March 2024, Canada’s Start-up Visa (SUV) Program was the only business immigration program that allowed entrepreneurs to obtain Canadian permanent residence directly for the whole family (spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22), without a temporary residence stage. The program is designed to attract talented entrepreneurs to Canada to build innovative start-up businesses.
The key requirements are English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 5.0 (Canadian Language Benchmark 5) and an innovative start-up business idea strong enough to win the support of one of the organizations designated by the Government of Canada.
IMM Group’s Canada SUV advisory package starts at approximately US$166,000. Our experienced team works alongside clients on the program’s most demanding criterion: developing and executing the start-up idea.
| See full details of Canada’s Start-up Visa (SUV) program here.
The PEI provincial entrepreneur stream is one of the most straightforward business immigration programs in Canada. It is designed for business owners and senior managers who will establish or acquire, and then operate, a business in Prince Edward Island. Investors can choose a business in most sectors. The minimum investment amount is C$150,000 (approximately US$105,000), along with basic requirements for age, net worth, management experience, and English proficiency.
| See full details of the PEI provincial entrepreneur stream here.
If you are considering residency by investment in Canada, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help you assess your application’s chances of success. We will keep your personal data confidential and use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.
IMM Group
- Tags:
- Canada immigration
- Prince Edward Island (PEI)
- Provincial entrepreneur streams (PNP)
- PEI
- Start-up Visa
- SUV
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