An International Student

An international student is a person who comes to Canada with a study permit for education.  A study permit is subject to renewal.  If you want to extend your stay, make sure to keep track of your permit expiration dates and apply beforehand. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) and Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) are not available to international students.  If you need health care, you will need to pay for health services and medication yourself or purchase private health insurance.  Some educational institutions have health care plans available, reach out to your institution for more details.

To find an AIDS Service Organization (ASO) or other HIV/AIDS programs near you, call the Ontario AIDS & Sexual Health InfoLine. For information in English and many other languages call: 416-392-2437 or 1-800-668-2437 (toll-free in Ontario), and for French call: 1-800-267-7432 (toll-free in Ontario). The InfoLine is free and anonymous.

In Ontario, you can dial 211 on your phone or visit 211 Ontario to find an ASO and other HIV/AIDS programs in your city or town. Use your location to find services near you.

You can also visit HIV 411 and search for an ASO using your postal code, or the name of your city or town.

To find a settlement agency near you, click here.

 

 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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In Ontario, health care is confidential under the Personal Health Information Act. If you want to learn more about service providers’ privacy and confidentiality policies, do not be afraid to ask them directly.

If you do not have a lawyer and require legal advice, contact Legal Aid Ontario for assistance in over 200 languages call: 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free). If you do not qualify for legal aid, you can find a lawyer by clicking here. People with HIV who are new to Ontario can get free legal advice and information about immigration from the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario  (HALCO). To talk to a lawyer about HIV, contact HALCO at 416-340-7790 or 1-888-705-8889 (toll-free in Ontario).