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For parents

Your student asked for help with the FAFSA or OSAP. Here’s your part.

What to have ready, what you do yourself and what your student does. Every line links to the official page. No sign-up and no quiz, and nothing about your family is saved.

Print it or send it to your student

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The message is a short note and this page’s link. Nothing about you or your family is added, and we don’t receive it.

United States

FAFSA

Rules change. Confirm on StudentAid.gov. We read the official pages on 2026-11-13.

Open the official FAFSA site

Your part (parent or spouse)

  • Your own StudentAid.gov account. You can't use your student's account or share one between parents.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Know which parent counts as the contributor (rules for divorced, separated or remarried parents).

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Your SSN, if you have one. Without one, you can still create an account and complete your section. If you have an ITIN, enter it in the separate ITIN field (not the SSN field).

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • The invitation email from your student (it has an "Accept My Invite" button), or the invite link and code they text you. You can also enter the code at fafsa.gov with "Accept an Invitation".

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Give your own consent and approval for your federal tax info to be transferred. Without it, the student isn't eligible for federal aid. Needed even if you don't have an SSN, didn't file taxes or filed outside the U.S., and even if you type your tax info in yourself.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Your tax return for the year the form asks for, in case the form asks follow-up questions, plus records of any child support you received.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Current balances of cash, savings and checking, plus records of investments and the net worth of any businesses or income-producing farms, if they apply.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Family size and household details the form asks for.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

Your student’s part

  • Your own StudentAid.gov account, made with your own email address. It's your legal signature, so only you can use it. A parent can't create the student's account, and log-ins are never shared either way.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Your Social Security number. Students need one to create an account and to be eligible for federal student aid (citizens of the Freely Associated States are the exception).

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Know whether you're a dependent student, because that decides whether a parent must take part. The Who's My FAFSA Parent? wizard shows which parent to invite.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • The email address of each parent or spouse you need to invite. If they don't have an SSN, you'll tick the box that says so.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Be ready to give consent and approval for your federal tax info to be transferred from the IRS. You need to do this even if you didn't file taxes, and without it you won't be eligible for federal student aid.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Your tax return, if you filed, in case the form asks follow-up questions. Most tax info transfers from the IRS once you give consent. Use only the tax year the form asks for.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • Current balances of your savings and checking accounts and cash, plus the value of any investments (your home and retirement accounts don't count), as of the day you sign. Independent students: also any child support you received.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

  • The list of schools you want your FAFSA sent to. You need at least one school to submit.

    Official page: studentaid.gov

Step-by-step FAFSA guide

Ontario, Canada

OSAP

Rules change. Confirm on ontario.ca. We read the official pages on 2026-11-13.

Open the official OSAP site

Your part (parent or spouse)

  • Know whether your income counts for your student. For full-time OSAP, a parent's income usually counts if the student is a "dependent student". A spouse's income counts if the student is married or in a common-law relationship, as OSAP defines those terms.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Your SIN, which your student enters on the application, if it applies.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Your tax information (income and other info found in your income tax return). If you don't file a tax return, OSAP will ask for documents.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • If OSAP asks for them (your student will see it in their OSAP account), print your declaration and signature pages and sign them in dark blue or black ink. Then scan all the pages into one PDF, separate from your student's file, so it can be uploaded to the application or sent to the financial aid office.

    Official page: osap.gov.on.ca

Your student’s part

  • An OSAP account. You need your SIN to register, and you sign in with your OSAP Access Number (OAN) and password, so write both down.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Your Social Insurance Number (SIN).

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Check that you meet the residency and citizenship rules and that your school is OSAP-approved.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Full-time and micro-credential applicants must complete an interactive OSAP information module before applying.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Info about your school and program. Not sure where you're going? Submit an application for each school you applied to.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Your tax information (income and other info found in your income tax return).

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • A bank account for your funding. The NSLSC deposits your money there, and you update your banking info in your NSLSC account.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • Your parents' or spouse's SIN and tax info, if that applies to you.

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • For a parent or spouse to see the student's OSAP information, the student has to give consent, either on the application or later under "Consents and agreements".

    Official page: ontario.ca

  • After you apply, check your OSAP account. It tells you if you need to sign and upload declaration and signature pages or send other documents. If OSAP says you need one, complete your Full-Time or Part-Time MSFAA online when the NSLSC emails you. It's a one-time loan agreement. Micro-credential students sign a Micro-credential Student Loan Agreement instead.

    Official page: ontario.ca

Step-by-step OSAP guide

More that may help

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Unofficial. Education only, not financial or tax advice. WealthNutz is not affiliated with any government or school and never asks for your SIN or SSN. The official site decides what you need.