Starting an Application

Updated on 07 May 2024
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Now that you have an account and are able to log in, you can create an application to attend a post-secondary institution. You can begin by adding details about yourself and reviewing some information about the institution that you chose.

Add Initial Details

When you log into your account for the first time, the New Applicant page opens.

On the New Applicant page, the first name, last name, and email address for the example applicant are displayed. The applicant has not yet added a date of birth, current status in Canada, primary country of citizenship, or passport number.

Enter your First Name and Last Name as it is shown on your passport.

If you have only a first name or only a last name, enter the name and leave the other field empty.

If you enter the names in all capital or lower-case letters, they are automatically changed to the correct case.

Enter your date of birth and email address.
In the Current Status in Canada list, select the status that applies to you.

Status in Canada:
- Select No Status in Canada if you are not in Canada and have no Visa status.
- Select Study Permit / Student Visa if you are already in Canada on a Study Permit. (A copy of the Study Permit will be required.)
- Select other options as necessary.

Select your Primary Country of Citizenship.
Enter your passport number.
Select the OCAS Privacy Policy link to read the privacy statement and then select the check box.
Select Continue. Your Dashboard will then open.

Select a Post-secondary Institution

On the dashboard, a list of available institutions is displayed.

If you logged into your account from a post-secondary institution’s website, only that institution displayed. If you logged in from the portal URL, the list includes only those institutions that use the OCAS International Application Service.

On the sample applicant's dashboard, there is one college in the Available Institutions list.

Select the institution that you want to apply to.

If you want to apply to a post-secondary institution that is not included in the list, contact the International department to learn how to apply.

Review the Pre-Application Checklist

When you select an institution, a pre-application checklist opens. The checklist displays information about the institution, such as how many programs you can apply to, admission requirements, program start dates, availability, and application fees.

The Pre-Application checklist for the college that the applicant selected is displayed. The checklist includes links to availability and start date information, as well as admission requirements.

Review the details, then select Start my Application.

Add Personal Information

The next step in the application process is to add more details about yourself.

Basic Information

(Optional) Enter a Title; for example, Mr., Dr., or Miss.
The First Name that you entered when you created your account is displayed. You can update it, if required.
(Optional) If your legal name includes a middle name, you can add it.

To add more middle names, select Add Another Middle Name.

The Last Name that you entered when you created your account is displayed. You can update it, if required.
(Optional) If applicable, enter a Suffix; for example, a professional designation such as PhD.
Confirm that the legal name is the same as what appears on your legal documentation, then select Yes.

If you have a casual name or a nickname that you use, select Add Casual Name, enter the details, and select Done.
Confirm that your Date of Birth is correct.
Select your Country of Birth.
Select a Gender identity.
Select your First Spoken Language.

The Basic Information section, where you can add a casual name, confirm your date of birth, and select country of birth, gender, and first language. The example applicant's date of birth is July 11, 1999. No other details have been added.

Citizenship

The Current Status in Canada that you selected when your created your account is displayed. You can change it, if required.

Status in Canada:
- Select No Status in Canada if you are not in Canada and have no Visa status.
- Select Study Permit / Student Visa if you are already in Canada on a Study Permit. (A copy of the Study Permit will be required.)
- Select other options as necessary.

Confirm the Primary Country of Citizenship that you entered when creating your account.
Enter the Passport Number.
Enter the expiry date of your passport.
Select the country where your passport was issued.

The Citizenship section displays No status in Canada, Albania is the country of citizenship, and AB876345 is the passport number. The example applicant has not added the passport expiry date or the country that issued their passport.

Address

Enter a valid mailing address.

For the question “Is your current address the same as your mailing address?”:

If you live and receive mail at your current address, select Yes.

If your current address (where you live) is different from your mailing address (where you receive your mail), select No and enter your current address.