🍁 GuideCAN Quick Answer
Canada has very few colleges or universities with no application fee for every applicant. The clearest verified options are conditional: Booth University College and Tyndale waive fees for specified Canadian or US applicants, uOttawa has a fee-free Public Relations program, and Waterloo waives the fee for nominated incoming exchange students. International degree-seeking applicants should not assume that a school appearing on a “free application” list will waive their fee.
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| Institution or route | Who can apply without the fee | Important restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Booth University College | Canadian undergraduate applicants; its admissions page also advertises no fee for American students | Other international applicants follow a separate process and normally pay the international fee |
| Tyndale University | Applicants applying from Canada or the United States | Bachelor of Education applicants pay $75; other international applicants pay $150 |
| University of Ottawa | Honours Bachelor in Public Relations applicants using the direct uOttawa application | This is a program-specific exception, not a university-wide waiver |
| Great Plains College | Applicants to its University program | The college says other post-secondary programs require $75; study-permit applicants use the international application route |
| University of Waterloo | Incoming undergraduate exchange students nominated by a partner institution | Not available for regular degree admission; nomination and exchange eligibility are required |
| Nova Scotia Community College | Achieve or Adult Learning Program applicants | Regular domestic and international programs charge application fees |
| Saskatchewan Polytechnic | LINC and Literacy and Adult Education applicants | Regular domestic and international post-secondary applications have fees |
Application-fee waivers for narrower applicant groups
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| Institution or program | Published waiver | What to confirm first |
|---|---|---|
| Booth University College | International Ukrainian applicants who arrived in Canada from Ukraine within the past 12 months can have the $150 fee waived | Ask admissions to confirm that the pathway remains open and that you meet every condition |
| Canadian Mennonite University | Its Fall 2026 viewbook says domestic students who visit campus can have the application fee waived | Confirm the offer for your intake before arranging a visit |
| Ontario application-fee reimbursement | Eligible current or former Ontario children in extended society care can seek reimbursement for specified post-secondary application fees | This is reimbursement after payment, not a universal upfront waiver |
What “no application fee” does not mean
A waived admission application fee does not make the program free. You may still need to pay for transcripts, credential assessment, language testing, a tuition deposit, tuition, student fees, health insurance, housing and immigration. A school may also charge a separate fee for a professional program even when its general undergraduate route is free.
For example, Tyndale publishes a no-fee route for applicants from Canada or the United States but separately lists a fee for Bachelor of Education applicants and for international applicants. Great Plains College lists no fee for its University program while charging for other post-secondary programs. Read the exception beside the exact application you plan to submit.
International students: verify DLI and program eligibility
If you need a study permit, confirm that the institution and campus are on the federal Designated Learning Institution list. If working in Canada after graduation is part of your plan, separately verify the current post-graduation work permit rules for the exact school, credential and field of study. A waived application fee does not establish study-permit or PGWP eligibility.
How to confirm a fee waiver before applying
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| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Applicant type | Domestic, US, international, exchange, returning student or another defined category |
| Program | Whether the waiver applies to your exact credential, campus and intake |
| Application route | Direct institutional form, provincial portal or partner exchange application |
| Effective date | A current admissions page or written confirmation for your intake |
| Other required payments | Deposit, transcript, assessment, tuition and immigration costs |
Take a screenshot or save the official page showing the waiver and its date. If the checkout still requests payment, stop and contact admissions before submitting. Do not pay an agent solely to obtain a supposed waiver unless the institution confirms the arrangement in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadian universities waive application fees for all international students? Rarely. The verified examples above are mostly limited by program or applicant category. Can I request a hardship waiver? Policies differ; ask admissions, but do not assume a waiver exists. Is a free application the best-value option? Not necessarily—compare tuition, required deposits, program quality, work-integrated learning, location and immigration eligibility before deciding.
Written and reviewed by the GuideCAN Editorial Team
Last reviewed
Editorially reviewed for clarity, practical usefulness and alignment with the official starting points listed below.
Official sources
- Booth University College
- Tyndale University
- University of Ottawa
- Great Plains College
- University of Waterloo
- Nova Scotia Community College
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- Booth University College
- Canadian Mennonite University
- Ontario application-fee reimbursement
- Check Canada’s DLI list
- Check current PGWP eligibility
- IRCC study-permit application
Official rules, fees, deadlines and program availability can change. Confirm the current details before acting.