My husband has been offered a job and the employer wants us to come out on a work permit. We have an 8 year old daughter. Will she qualify for free schooling or will we have to pay? Do we need to wait until we get a "Permanent Resident" visa for us to qualify for free education?

Which province?

In BC, if you choose state schooling you do not have to pay fees. There are loads of private schools too - and religious schools are subsidised by teh state but you still have to pay fees for them (don';t forget, in BC at least, all child care costs - including day camps!, school fees etc are Tax Deductable!)

Clare

Are you absolutely certain this is true for temporary visitors?

With a work permit - yes. With PR it is not an issue either.

The Provincial Govt did moot the idea of charging school fees for people here on a work visa - but realised that BC would lose a lot of nurses !!

Clare

I am pleasantly surprised!

I have looked it up and it is the same here (Alberta).

For the benefit of the original poster: education is entirely within provincial jurisdiction in Canada, so the answer to the question might depend on where you live.

same in manitoba, no payment .