Understanding OSAP The Ontario Student Assistance Program, widely known as OSAP, is a critical financial resource providing loans and grants to students in post-secondary education. For many, OSAP loans are vital for navigating through the school year.
OSAP assists with various expenses, including tuition, textbooks, student fees, living costs for full-time students, and childcare for students who are parents.
Eligibility for OSAP extends to Ontario residents who are:
- Canadian citizens,
- Permanent residents, or
- Protected persons.
The amount you receive from OSAP is influenced by your educational expenses, study load, and personal financial circumstances.
For detailed information on OSAP, explore the ‘Learn about OSAP’ section or review the OSAP Application for 2022-2023.
Applying for OSAP The process to apply for OSAP is quite straightforward. Firstly, create an account on the OSAP website. Secondly, fill in the online application form.
Remember to submit your application by the deadline. For full-time or extended part-time students (study periods of 21 weeks or more), the deadline is 60 days before your study period ends. For shorter part-time courses (20 weeks or less), the deadline is 40 days before the end of your study period.
Next, complete the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement if it’s required. You might also need to fill out signature and declaration forms and submit additional documents, such as an OSAP affidavit.
For more details on the application process, visit the Ontario Government’s OSAP application guide.
Understanding OSAP Affidavits and Their Necessity An affidavit is a legally sworn statement, verified before a lawyer, a commissioner of oaths, or a notary public, to affirm its truthfulness.
An OSAP affidavit is a specific type of document required for some OSAP applications. It’s generally needed when you can’t provide standard documentation for aspects like:
- Your common-law relationship status,
- Being a sole-support parent,
- Your marital status,
- Indigenous identity,
- Personal or family income details.
Key Types of OSAP Affidavits:
- Common Law Status: Confirms a conjugal relationship of at least three years or a relationship of any duration with shared biological or adopted children.
- Sole Support Parent (Never Married or Widowed): Verifies full-time custody of children and their birth dates, plus a spouse’s death certificate if widowed.
- Sole Support Parent (Separated or Divorced): Details separation or divorce dates and custody arrangements without a formal agreement.
- Marital Status: For married applicants without a marriage certificate, confirming marriage details.
- Marital Status (Separated or Divorced with No Dependents): Confirms separation or divorce details when there are no dependent children.
- Indigenous Identity: Declares Indigenous identity in the abdsence of official documents.
- Student’s Foreign/Non-Taxable Income: Details unreported income to the Canada Revenue Agency, including amounts and sources.
- Student’s Income – No Income: States residency and reasons for no income in a specific year.
- Spouse’s Foreign/Non-Taxable Income: Similar to the student affidavit but for a spouse’s unreported income.
- Parent’s Foreign/Non-Taxable Income: For parents’ unreported income, detailing reasons and amounts.
- Parent’s Income – No Income: Indicates a parent’s residency and no income scenario.
If you’re unsure about the need for an OSAP affidavit, it’s advisable to consult your financial aid office or the National Student Loans Service Centre.
Notarizing Your OSAP Affidavit with the Mobile Notary, online commissioning or in person.
Absolutely, we can assist! Call Ken 647 724 4593, or email ken@theonlinenotary.ca to book a virtual commissioning of your affidavit. We are your Notorio Republico Near Me.
Here are some helpful links about OSAP:
All about OSAP:
OSAP Financial Aid Estimator:
