English Eligibility Certificates for English Schools
Here you will find information about how to apply for a certificate and who is eligible to attend English schools in Québec.
CONTEXT
Bill 96 is bringing important changes to French courses in Quebec’s CEGEPs and private colleges. Beginning in the fall of 2023, students who have not applied for their English eligibility certificate will have to pass a new French exam before they can graduate and may be required to take three French literature classes to prepare them for the exam.
If an elementary or high school student is already attending school in English, they have their certificate and are exempt from the new French exam.
Once a student obtains an eligibility certificate, the Education Ministry adds their name to a database that will be open for CEGEPs to access by March 1, 2023.
If an English student is attending school in French, they will need to get their eligibility certificate before they graduate from high school to be exempt from the French exit exam.
The descendants of eligible children who attend school in French do maintain their English eligibility. Each generation must apply for the certificate.
Who is eligible?
According to Québec’s Charter of the French language the eligibility of most children is established as follows:
A child who lives in Quebec and who, or one of their siblings, did most of theirelementary or high school learning in English in Canada. One of the child’s parentsmust be a Canadian citizen.
A child who has a Canadian that parent did the most of their elementary learning inEnglish in Canada.
A child with serious learning disabilities (This category of eligibility is subject to government approval).
A child whose parents live in Quebec temporarily on a study or work permit.
Parents and legal guardians are strongly encouraged to reach out to the school board in their region with any questions regarding eligibility, including the clarification of your current situation.
Getting the certificate
Step 1: Make an appointment
The child’s parent or legal guardian must contact the school board or private elementary school that they plan to send their child to.
Step 2: Complete the paperwork
The child’s parent or legal guardian then fills out an application and provides supporting documents, including the child’s original (long form) birth certificate. If one of the child’s parents was educated in Quebec, that parent must submit their eligibility certificate. If the parent does not have a copy of their certificate, school board officials can verify their eligibility using a database that they have access to. If the child has a Canadian parent that was educated in an elementary school elsewhere in Canada, that parent must provide proof that most of their education was in English. Usually that proof can take the form of a letter or attestation from the school or school board confirming that most of their elementary education was done in English.
Once complete, the school board or private school forwards the paperwork to the Education Ministry. If the child is considered eligible the certificate is mailed to the home.
Lost certificate?
If you have lost your child's certificate of eligibility:
Send a birth certificate that indicates the names of the child's parents to the Ministry office that processes eligibility applications.
Include your full return address (including the apartment number if applicable and the postal code) and a daytime telephone number.
Send your request along with the child's birth certificate by fax to 514-864-2665 or by mail to the following address : Admissibilité à l'enseignement en anglais, 600, rue Fullum, 11e étage Montréal (Québec) H2K 4L1
The duplicate copy should arrive in the mail approximately 10 days after the request is made. It is not possible to go in person to the above address to obtain the certificate.
If you have lost your own certificate of eligibility:
Parents that are applying for eligibility under section 73, 76 or 86.1 of the Charter to establish eligibility for a child based on this certificate do not need to follow the above procedure. If you know your permanent code or have a transcript or report card proving you attended an English-language school in 1977 or later, the school or school board can provide you with a short form to complete to apply for the certificate of eligibility. Links to more information Please click here for more information on how to obtain a long-form birth certificate.
Links to more information
How to obtain a long-form birth certificate:
https://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/forms-publications.html
More information about eligibility for English Instruction:
