Registering for your child's school

JE turned 5 years old last February. I was hoping we could enroll her quickly so I could do some part-time work. However, I realized that there were a lot of requirements. 

I am sure many of you know that when you come to Canada even on a temporary resident visa, your child may be eligible to study here. This all depends on the visa that you have though. Here are the steps that we did here in Victoria, BC. 

Visit the Greater Victoria School District. Under Victoria International Education and click Apply. It will open a secure portal window that includes links for Agents, Parents, and Homestay. Choose "Parent Start Here". 

Create an account. 

Once registered, fill up all the information. These were the documents that were asked to be uploaded:

• Child's birth certificate
• Child's proof of immunization. I uploaded the certification we got from our pediatrician. 
• Scanned passport details of the parents and the child
• Copies of permits for the parents and the child
• Proof of employment of at least one parent. A parent has to be working for the child to be eligible. 
• Proof of enrollment of the parent (since I am on a study visa)
• Proof of residence address. We uploaded our tenancy agreement, our vehicle registration and a bank statement 
• Other personal details

Once uploaded, please wait for the email that will say if your child is eligible or not. It will also state the catchment school where your child will be assigned. The email arrives in just a day or two so it was really quick. Once eligible, the email contains the link for the school and it will be another registration process. It will also contain other instructions for your child. 

It was spring break when I registered so I had to wait for one week and called the school for a follow-up. 

When I called, they quickly located my child's details and confirmed that my child is registered! She had to wait for September though because of her age. (Mandatory age for school is 6 years old). 

Currently, we are already receiving emails on the welcome for parents events and how to prepare JE for kindergarten. I am excited for her 😀

I heard that those who are older can start school in the middle of the school year so this will really depend on the age of your child. 

Note: Details as of today and based on our experience. Information may change depending on your situation. We are not experts but just sharing our experience.