ABOUT OSAP
Request to have OSAP Access Restored
Why You Are Locked Out
You are locked out of the OSAP website when you have entered a wrong password too many times. The lock out ensures that someone cannot figure out your password and get access to your personal information. We wish to ensure your personal information is safe and secure.
How You Are Locked Out
When you make 3 attempts to get access and are unsuccessful, you will be locked out for 24 hours. You can try another 3 times and you will be locked out for another 24 hours. When you try again 3 times and are unsuccessful, you will be locked out permanently. Therefore, you will have tried to get access a total of 9 times.
What To Do When You Are Locked Out
Use Your Challenge Questions
After March 26, 2003, if you successfully logged in you were asked to create two (2) personal challenge questions. If you are locked out of the OSAP website you can click on the "Challenge Questions" link on the log in page and you will be presented with your two questions. If you answer them successfully, you will then be asked to create a new password and you can then access the site. Please note that this is a new feature and if you have not already set up your challenge questions, you will be given the following message and you will have to follow the instructions on getting a temporary password.
- You do not have Challenge Questions and Answers on file. Please use either your OSAP Access Number (OAN) or your Social Insurance Number (SIN) AND your password to log in to the OSAP website. You will then be given the opportunity to create your Challenge Questions and Answers.
Get a Temporary Password
If you are locked out, you must get a temporary password. Once you have your temporary password and you log in to the OSAP website, you will be asked to create a new password, which you will use it from then on to access your application and/or personal information. DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD!
There are two ways in which you can get a temporary password:
- You can go to a designated financial aid office at a college of applied arts and technology or university in Ontario and get one immediately.
- You can complete a "Request for a Temporary OSAP Password" form and provide acceptable proof of identity to the ministry, who will mail you a letter with your temporary password.
Going to a Financial Aid Office
You must provide a designated financial aid office with your Social Insurance Number and acceptable proof of identity. Once your identity has been established, a temporary password is created on the OSAP computer system. The temporary password is effective immediately.
If the financial aid staff does not have ready access to the OSAP computer system, you will be asked to fill out and sign a short form requesting a temporary password. The temporary password will be effective within one business day.
- One piece of valid photo ID issued in Canada by the federal, a provincial or a territorial government (a legible photocopy is acceptable). Examples of acceptable ID are: a valid driver's licence, passport, provincial health card with photo, permanent residency or citizenship card, etc. AND
- One document proving that the Social Insurance Number is your own. For example, you may present your Social Insurance Number card (a legible photocopy is acceptable) or an official Government of Canada document that indicates your Social Insurance Number (e.g., a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, a Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions, or a Confirmation of Social Insurance Number from Service Canada).
- If the student does not have photo identification, he or she must contact the appropriate government agency in order to obtain a government-issued photo ID.
Completing a "Request for a Temporary OSAP Password" Form
You must send the ministry a completed Request for a Temporary OSAP Password form, which must be signed by an authorized individual indicating that your identity has been established. This form and a photocopy of acceptable proof of identity that was provided to the authorized individual must be sent to the ministry. They can be faxed to the ministry or mailed to:
Student Support Branch
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
PO Box 4500
189 Red River Road, 4th Floor
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6G9
Fax: (807) 343-7278
Once the form and acceptable proof of identity has been received, the ministry will mail you a letter with the temporary password in approximately two weeks.
IMPORTANT:
Do not send duplicate requests because each request for a temporary password will be handled as received, which will cause multiple passwords to be created with the result that your access will be restricted. You will then have to put in another request, which will take another two weeks to be processed.
An authorized individual includes:
- a postsecondary institution official (e.g., financial aid administrator or registrar)
- Judge, magistrate, police officer (RCMP, provincial, or Municipal)
- Lawyer (member of a provincial bar association)
- Mayor
- Medical Doctor, Dentist
- Minister of Religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
- Notary Public
- Principal of secondary school
- Professional accountant (member of APA, CA, CGA, CMA, or RPA)
- Signing officer of bank or trust company or full-time Manager of a credit union
- Senior official of an embassy or consulate.
