Release of Information to Others

Normally, only the applicant has access to the information in his or her OSAP file. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act does not allow the financial aid office at your institution or OSAP to release information about your application to anyone other than you, except for the purpose of administering your student financial assistance. You can indicate on your application that you wish someone else, such as your parent(s) or spouse, to have access to your information.

If you did not fill out the name of the individual who may have access to your information, you can send the financial aid office at your institution a letter authorizing the release of your personal information. If you are planning to go to school outside Ontario, send this letter directly to the Student Support Branch, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.  This letter must include:

• the name and date of birth of each person you are allowing to have access to your OSAP information;
• your Social Insurance Number;
• the academic year;
• your signature and the date.

Once this letter is on file, the financial aid office or OSAP can release your personal information to the person(s) specified in the letter. The consent applies to all information contained in your OSAP file for the 2009-2010 academic year and all prior academic years. This consent expires on the last day of the sixth month after the end of your 2009-2010 study period.