Can RESP money be used for school outside Canada?

Yes — RESP Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) can be used at qualifying foreign educational institutions. The foreign school must be a "Designated Educational Institution" under the Income Tax Act, which includes most full-time university and college programs outside Canada. A full-time student at a qualifying foreign institution must be enrolled for at least 13 consecutive weeks.

Which foreign universities qualify for RESP withdrawals?

Any university, college, or other educational institution outside Canada that offers courses at the post-secondary level qualifies, provided the student is enrolled in a **full-time** program lasting at least 13 consecutive weeks. Part-time enrollment at foreign institutions generally does not qualify for EAPs. Most accredited universities worldwide (US, UK, Australia, EU, etc.) qualify.

What is the minimum enrollment requirement for RESP use at a foreign school?

For foreign institutions, the standard is 13 consecutive weeks of full-time enrollment. This is stricter than for Canadian institutions, which only require 3 consecutive weeks for full-time enrollment domestically. The 13-week minimum for international schools effectively means semester-length programs — short study abroad programs of a few weeks do not qualify.

Can I use an RESP for a student exchange or study abroad semester at a Canadian university?

Yes. If your child is enrolled as a full-time student at a Canadian Designated Educational Institution (DEI) and does a study abroad or exchange semester that is part of their degree program, RESP EAPs can be used normally — the enrollment is still through the Canadian institution. The 3-week minimum enrollment standard for Canadian schools applies.

Do I lose CESG grants if my child goes to school abroad?

No. Using RESP funds at a qualifying foreign institution is perfectly valid. CESG grants are not forfeited. EAPs at foreign institutions are paid the same way and taxed the same way (in the student's hands) as EAPs at Canadian institutions — the only difference is the documentation required to prove enrollment.

Can I Use an RESP for an International School or University?

Foreign Schools Can Qualify for RESP Withdrawals

RESP funds are not limited to Canadian schools. The Income Tax Act defines “Designated Educational Institution” to include foreign institutions — specifically:

A university outside Canada at which the beneficiary is enrolled full-time in a program of at least 13 consecutive weeks.

Some key points packed into that definition:

Must be a university (or college meeting the post-secondary standard)
Must be outside Canada (different rules apply from Canadian DEIs)
Must be full-time enrollment
Program must be at least 13 consecutive weeks

Canada vs. International School: The Key Difference in Rules

Feature	Canadian DEI	Foreign university
Minimum program length (full-time)	3 consecutive weeks	13 consecutive weeks
Part-time access to EAPs	Yes (13-week minimum)	Generally no — full-time only
School must be on ESDC list	Yes	No explicit list — must meet the Act’s definition
Documentation required	Enrollment letter	Enrollment letter + proof of full-time status

The 13-week minimum for foreign schools is the most important practical difference. A 6-week summer program abroad does not qualify. A full-semester (typically 14–16 weeks) enrollment at a foreign university does.

Which Countries Are Typically Eligible?

Any accredited university outside Canada where a student can enrol full-time in a 13+ week program can qualify. This includes:

Country	Examples
United States	Harvard, MIT, NYU, UCLA, state universities
United Kingdom	Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, University of Edinburgh
Australia	University of Sydney, ANU, Monash
France	Sciences Po, Sorbonne, École Polytechnique
Germany	TU Munich, Heidelberg (many programs in English)
Netherlands, Sweden, etc.	Many English-language programs
Other EU countries	Varies by institution and program language

If the institution is recognized by the government of the host country as a post-secondary institution and offers programs at least 13 consecutive weeks long, it will typically qualify.

Study Abroad and Exchange Students: Already Enrolled at a Canadian University

If your child is enrolled at a Canadian university and does a study-abroad semester or exchange program, the RESP EAP rules are straightforward:

Your child’s enrollment is through their Canadian institution
The 3-week Canadian rule applies (not 13 weeks)
EAPs flow normally — the exchange destination doesn’t change the Canadian school’s DEI status
Continued enrollment at the Canadian institution is the qualifying event

This is the most common international scenario and the simplest from an RESP perspective.

Documentation for International RESP Withdrawals

Your RESP provider will require proof of enrollment at the foreign institution. Collect:

Document	What it must show
Official enrollment letter or acceptance letter	Student name, institution name, program name
Proof of full-time enrollment	Credit hours or course load confirmation
Program dates	Start date and end date confirming 13+ consecutive weeks
Tuition invoice or fee statement	Confirms active enrollment (supports the EAP amount)

Some providers may require additional documentation — check with yours before the student departs.

Tax Treatment: Same as Domestic School

EAP withdrawals for international schools are taxed identically to domestic school EAPs — in the beneficiary’s (student’s) hands, at their marginal rate. The fact that tuition is paid to a foreign institution does not change the Canadian tax treatment of the withdrawal.

Tuition credit note: The tuition tax credit (T2202 equivalent) is only available for Canadian DEIs. Foreign tuition typically does not generate a T2202 or TL11A unless specific requirements are met (usually: full academic year at a recognized institution with a qualifying certificate). The student may still have low income and owe minimal tax on EAPs regardless.

Gap Year or Language School Abroad: Does NOT Qualify

Two common scenarios that do not qualify for EAP withdrawals:

Gap year: A child spends a year travelling or working abroad — not enrolled in school. No EAP access. The RESP stays open; access it when school begins.
Language school / ESL / short course: A multi-week language immersion program, bootcamp, or short course at a foreign institution. These typically do not qualify as post-secondary educational programs and/or do not meet the 13-week minimum. Your original contributions can still be withdrawn as a PSE withdrawal anytime — it is only EAPs (grants + earnings) that require enrollment at a qualifying institution.