Helpful List of Required Documents
Click here for a printable list of required documentation
Please upload GOOD-QUALITY PDF COPIES of these required documents to your first choice school using the secure link provided to you upon submission of your application. Poor-quality and/or incomplete copies will not be accepted. Schools may request additional documents or documents submitted in person at their discretion.
Please note: Documents must be submitted by a parent or documented legal guardian, not another family member, custodian, caregiver, or friend. Relocation and/or real estate agents are not permitted to act independently for parents.
Parents should not enter schools without an appointment.
A. PROOF OF STUDENT BIRTHDATE
- Child’s original birth certificate (long form birth certificate if available). Provide official translation if applicable.
B. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP (required for both students and parents)
- Child’s Canadian passport or Canadian Citizenship documents; OR Canadian immigration documentation and current foreign passport
- Canadian passport, or citizenship or immigration documents as outlined above for at least one parent or documented legal guardian (not custodian)
- Canadian birth certificates may be accepted in rare cases where passports are not available
C. PROOF OF RESIDENCE
Education funding in British Columbia is contingent upon residence in British Columbia, and district admissions procedures require specific documentation to support that address. Short-term rentals, including hotels and Airbnb, are typically not acceptable. In order to support an address in British Columbia, we require both specific proof of residence and additional support documents. These documents must contain one of the parent/guardians’ names, at the residential address shown on the application and must be current. Utility bills must show the residential (service) address. Some schools may require two primary residential support documents.
Please note: Purchase agreements are considered valid as of the closing date specified in the agreement or the date you move in / arrive in the province – whichever is later. Tenancy agreements are considered valid as of the start date specified in the Beginning and Term of the Agreement section, or the date you move in / arrive in the province – whichever is later. As well, agreements must be valid at the date when the student intends to start school. Month-to-month tenancy agreements are typically not accepted without an initial set term (typically one year). Business addresses are not acceptable for admissions purposes.
Proof of Residence
A minimum of one of the following showing parent/guardian names at address cited
- Most recent BC Property Assessment or Property Tax notice
- Completed Residential Tenancy Agreement (all pages) – all fields, including landlord and tenant information, must be complete and agreement signed and dated. This is a legally binding document.
- Completed Purchase Agreement
AND
Primary Support Document(s) for Proof of Residence
A minimum of one of the following:
A current residential utility bill addressed to one of the parents/guardians at the address cited. This may include:
-
- Municipal metered utility statement
- BC Hydro bill
- Fortis BC bill
- Cable TV or Internet provider bill
- Landline telephone bill (cell phone bills will not be accepted as primary proof)
** Many of our schools require a minimum of TWO residential support documents in addition to proof of residence. If you cannot produce at least one primary support, you will be required to produce a minimum of THREE secondary support documents.
Please note: If your primary support documents for proof of residence are incomplete, you are required to provide secondary support documents.
Secondary Support Documents for Proof of Residence
If all utilities are included in the tenancy agreement, you will be required to provide secondary support documents to confirm your address. All documents must be current and show the name of at least one parent/guardian at the residential address cited on the application.
A minimum of three of the following:
- Mobile phone bill
- ICBC car registration/insurance
- Credit card or bank statement (not both)
- Homeowner or tenant’s insurance documents for the address cited, with at least one of the parents/guardians as the named insured
- One of: BC Driver’s Licence, BC ID, or BC Services card (plastic card with address sticker NOT accepted)
Families Living with Friends or Relatives:
If you are living with friends or family and you do not have a tenancy agreement, you are required to provide the following:
- A current-dated notarized letter, signed by the homeowner and student’s parent (s), confirming the owner’s name and full address of the residence, and the names of the family members living with them, along with an estimated duration of the arrangement, including dates. The address will be considered valid as of the date the arrangement began, provided all documents are in order.
The letter must be signed by both parties and notarized in British Columbia.
- ONE of the following in the homeowner’s name in order to support ownership:
- Most recent property tax bill
- Most recent property assessment
- THREE pieces of supporting documentation (minimum) that show the student’s parent’s name(s) and the address cited.
- These must be current and can include:
- Mobile phone bill
- ICBC car registration/insurance
- Credit card or bank statement (not both)
- Tenant’s insurance or insurance document with parents listed as additionally insured
- One of: BC Driver’s Licence, BC ID, or BC Services card (plastic card with address sticker NOT accepted)
- Membership documentation for a local social, education, business, or religious organization
D. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
- If parents have joint parental responsibility, name, address, and contact information (email and phone number) must be entered on the application
- If parents do not share parental responsibility, an original and complete order or an executed separation agreement from the BC Supreme Court or BC Provincial Court must be presented to the school to confirm any particular guardianship, parental responsibilities, parenting time, or custody agreement pertaining to the child. *Please ensure that all pages for the order are included. We are not able to accept partial or incomplete orders.*
- If there is a court order issued outside of the province of British Columbia, please provide an original and complete document from the issuing jurisdiction. This will be reviewed by the school administration.
- If one parent is deceased, please provide a death certificate if possible
E. CHILD’S IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
- Child’s immunization record, as well as any other important health documents (please provide translated version if applicable)
F. CHILD’S PREVIOUS REPORT CARDS
- Most recent report card from previous school (for students entering grades 1 – 12)
- Please also attach any reports that include beneficial knowledge for the school. This would include your child’s IEP or any documents related to your child’s diagnosis (if applicable).
