All host families are carefully chosen and screened prior to their participation in the homestay program. The host families complete a criminal check and a child abuse registry check, in home interview and application process. We are proud of our families and we take every measure to ensure our students are placed with a loving, welcoming safe family.

The students will have their own bedroom with a desk, lamp, bed and linens provided. The student will have access to home’s wireless internet. They will receive 3 meals per day with some snacks. Host families treat students as though they are a regular family member. Students will have the same responsibilities as every other member of the family. This includes contributing to the completion of household chores and respecting the rules of the host family.

You homestay will be located in your school’s region. If your homestay is within a 1.6 km radius of the school itself the students walk to and from school each day. If the homestay is outside of that radius school bus transportation is provided by the school board. For leisure transportation, depending on where you live in Newfoundland public transportation may or may not be available. In the cases that it is not available, the homestay family will provide a reasonable level of transportation as any parent would for their own children.

The students will be met by their NIS Homestay Coordinator and in most instances their host family who will take them to their new home.

Students participating in the NIS program are given an orientation session within the first couple weeks of their arrival. The orientation is designed for students to meet other international students in their area, to ask questions, and to learn more about the program and expectations of the students.

For students arriving for the fall (September) semester, we ask them to arrive between August 28 and August 30, 2020 as school begins on September 1, 2020.

The fall semester ends January 29, 2021. We recommend students plan their flights home between January 28 and January 30, 2021. Students arriving can plan to arrive February 1, 2021. The school year ends on June 29, 2021. Students can begin to depart after June 25,2021 as exams should be complete at this time. All students must be gone by June 30, 2021.  

Please note: Our host family program ends on June 30, 2021. Students cannot stay past this date.

Labour Day – September 7
Thanksgiving Day – October 12
Remembrance Day – November 11​
Holiday Break – December 19 to January 3 inclusive​
Winter Break – February 17​
St.Patrick’s Day – March 15
Last Day before Easter Break – April 10​
School Re-Opens – April 12
Victoria Day – May 24
Last Day of School – June 29

For students staying in the Eastern Region of Newfoundland and Labrador they should plan their flights to land at the St. John’s International Airport - YYT 

For students staying in the Central Region of Newfoundland and Labrador they should plan their flights to land at the Gander International Airport - YQX 

For students staying in the Western Region of Newfoundland and Labrador they should plan their flights to land at the Deer Lake Regional Airport - YDF

Health insurance is provided by Guard.me. Information about the coverage is available at: https://www.guard.me/. Please be advised pre-existing medical conditions and treatment required in Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of pre-existing conditions are not covered by Guard.me

The NIS is not able to provide assistance for students to renew their study permits or visas under Bill C-35, a federal law. This Bill makes it illegal for anyone, other than an authorized representative, to conduct business for a fee or other consideration at any stage of an immigration application

Each student is assigned a NIS Homestay Coordinator that lives in their geographic region. These Coordinators are available to assist students during regular daytime hours while providing a convenient emergency contact available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A coordinator will communicate with students at least once a month to ensure they are comfortable and have all the support they need to succeed. You can count on us to help the student whenever they need us.