Effective July 1, 2025, all publicly assisted universities in Ontario are required to reserve no less than 95% of their annual admissions to medical health education programs for Ontario residents and the remaining 5% for Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons/convention refugees.
The new regulations (www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r25130) define “medical health education program” and “ordinarily resident in Ontario” as follows:
Medical Health Education Program
An undergraduate program of postsecondary study that leads to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, Medicinae Doctor or an equivalent basic degree in medicine (but not the combination of such a degree with a Doctor of Philosophy) and where the enrolment of students in the program is funded, at least partially, by the government of Ontario.
Ordinarily Resident in Ontario
To allow Ontario Medical Schools to meet obligations relating to Ontario residency, imposed by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, you are considered Ordinarily Resident in Ontario if you meet the following criteria:
- I am a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), or a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of that Act.
- I, or my spouse have, at any time after my or their 14th birthday, resided in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months.
- The individual who completed the residency requirement described in statement #2 has either:
- received an Ontario Secondary School Diploma; or
- not resided in another province or territory in Canada for a period of 12 or more consecutive months since completing the most recent 12-month period of residency in Ontario described in statement #2.
For the purpose of making the previous statements, time spent in full-time studies at a postsecondary institution is not included unless:
- the individual or spouse was in a full-time, in-person degree program in Ontario; and
- the degree program is one that is ordinarily completed in 4 or more academic years.
To attest that you are “ordinarily resident” in Ontario, you must be able to respond yes to 3 of the previously noted criteria.
Applicants will be required to indicate whether they are “ordinarily resident’ in Ontario based on this definition.
Am I Ordinarily Resident in Ontario?
Review the following scenarios to determine whether you are Ordinarily Resident in Ontario.
These scenarios are intended as a guide only and are not exhaustive. They provide examples to help you determine whether you are Ordinarily Resident in Ontario.
You are Ordinarily Resident in Ontario if…
Any of these scenarios apply to you:
- You, or your spouse, grew up and/or went to high school in Ontario.
- You are still currently living in Ontario.
- You, or your spouse, grew up or went to high school in another Canadian province.
- You are now attending university in a 4-year, in-person undergraduate degree program in Ontario.
- During the summer, you stay in Ontario to work or take time off.
- You have taken up permanent residency in Ontario.
- You have obtained an Ontario health card and/or an Ontario driver’s license.
- You submit your income taxes as an Ontario resident.
- You, or your spouse, grew up and/or went to high school in Ontario.
- You left Ontario to attend an undergraduate program in another province.
- In the summers, you returned to Ontario to be with family and work or take time off.
- You, or your spouse, grew up and/or went to high school and completed your undergraduate degree outside Ontario.
- Since then, you have moved to Ontario and have resided in Ontario for at least 12 months.
- You still reside in Ontario.
- You have obtained an Ontario health card and/or an Ontario driver’s license.
- You submit you income taxes as an Ontario resident.
You are not Ordinarily Resident in Ontario if…
Any of these scenarios apply to you:
- You, or your spouse, grew up and/or went to high school in another Canadian province.
- You are now attending university in a 4-year, in-person undergraduate degree program.
- During the summer, you return to your home province to be with family and/or work and travel.
- You, or your spouse, grew up and/or went to high school and completed your undergraduate degree outside Ontario.
- After graduation, you moved to Ontario and resided there for 12 months (or more). You now reside outside Ontario and have done so for at least 12 months.