Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about Sign-In Partners and GCKEY

What is a Sign-In Partner?

A Sign-In Partner login allows users to securely sign into their online NSLSC account using login information they may already have with a participating financial institution (i.e. card number and password).

Full list of partners:

  • Affinity Credit Union
  • Alberta Treasury Branches
  • BMO Financial Group
  • CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
  • Coast Capital Savings
  • Conexus Credit Union
  • connectFirst
  • Desjardins Group (Caisse Alliance, Caisses Populaires)
  • Libro Credit Union
  • Meridian Credit Union
  • National Bank of Canada
  • RBC Royal Bank
  • Scotiabank
  • Servus Credit Union
  • Simplii Financial
  • Tangerine
  • TD Bank Group
  • UNI
  • Vancity
  • Wealthsimple

For more information about Sign-In Partners, visit your Financial Institution that you used for your credentials, or visit Interac sign-in service Opens a new window.

What is a GCKey?

GCKey is a unique login solution that allows users to communicate securely with online enabled government programs and services. GCKey is offered as an alternative option for users who cannot or choose not to log in to their NSLSC online account using their financial institution’s login process.

For more information about GCKey including how to contact them, visit the Government of Canada website.

Questions about Registering for a National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) account

Why do I have to register for a NSLSC account?

Registering will ensure that your personal information is protected and that you have secure access to online loan information and services through your NSLSC account.

Once you are registered, you will be able to manage your student funding online.

I did not receive a welcome email. How do I register?

If you have not received an email from the National Student Loans Service Centre, click Register and follow the instructions on the page.

How do I retrieve my GCKey User ID and/or Password?

If you have forgotten an existing GCKey user ID, you will need to create a new one. Visit GCKey to retrieve or create a new User ID and/or Password.

Who do I contact if I am having issues with the NSLSC account registration?

If you experience issues during the registration process with GCKey, visit GCKey for assistance. If you are experiencing issues during the registration process with your Sign-In Partner, contact your Sign-In Partner for assistance.

If you are still not able to register, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre.

I already have an online account. Why do I have to register again?

The NSLSC is now using the Government of Canada’s cyber authentication process to register users. To continue accessing your grant/loan details online, all users must now register using GCKey or Secure Key.

Are there any technical requirements I need to know about before registering with the NSLSC?

  • You must protect your personal information. We recommend that you sign out, clear your browser’s cache and close down your browser after you finish your online session.
  • You must have cookies enabled in your browser. If cookies are disabled in your browser's security settings, you will have trouble signing in and you will not be able to use the NSLSC Account. For instructions on how to enable cookies, please refer to the information you can access from the Help icon on your browser menu bar.
  • To use the NSLSC Account, you must have access to a modern Web browser such as Firefox and/or Safari (version 5 or newer), Chrome, or Edge. We also support browsers for all 3 mobile operating systems. In addition, you must ensure that JavaScript is enabled to load the application. Please make sure to update your browser and/or settings before using the NSLSC Account.
  • Beginning June 15th, 2022, NSLSC.ca will no longer support Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) and users may have a degraded experience or be unable to connect to our online services.

Questions about the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)

How do I get my MSFAA number?

To register, you will need your Social Insurance Number (SIN) as well as the MSFAA number, which is provided by your province or territory of issue. Please contact the Province/Territory where you applied for funding to obtain your MSFAA number.

Why do I need to complete my MSFAA online?

By completing your MSFAA online, you avoid the hassle of having to mail your MSFAA to us. It is faster as the process only takes 5 -10 minutes, and you ensure that there are no issues or delays in receiving your student funding.

Why do I need to provide my financial institution information as part of my MSFAA?

By providing your financial institution information, you will ensure that you receive your student funding directly in your financial institution account.

I timed out and did not finish my MSFAA online. What should I do now?

You will need to start the process again. It will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Questions about the Secure Access Code (SAC)

How do I get a SAC?

During the registration process you will be asked to generate the SAC. You will receive the SAC by email only. Get started with SAC.

Why do I need a SAC?

The SAC, along with your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Date of Birth (DOB) is required to validate your identity and is an essential step in registering for an account with the NSLSC.

What do I do if my SAC expires?

For security reasons, the SAC is only valid for one hour. If your code expires, you will need to generate another code.

If this happens when you are on the web page where you are able to re-enter the SAC, then please use the button that allows you to request a new SAC.

If the link in your email has expired, then you will need to start the registration process again.

Questions about the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) On-Line Services

Can I use NSLSC On-Line Services for loans administered by my financial institution?

No. If you hold any student loans that are administered by a financial institution you will need to contact your financial institution for information about those loans.

How can I make sure my information is secure once I have left the NSLSC On-Line Services?

If you leave your computer on after completing your transactions with the NSLSC On-Line Services, be sure to sign out, clear the cache, and close and re-open the browser to eliminate copies of Web pages that may have been stored on your computer's hard drive.

For more information, see Security and Privacy.

Questions About Payments

How do I make a payment through my NSLSC account?

To make a payment, log in to your secure NSLSC online account, click My Account and select Make a Payment. If you need help, go to Additional Resources to review a step-by-step process on how to make a payment. For additional ways to make a payment, visit Payment Method Options.

How do I set up automatic payments?

To set up automatic withdrawals, log in to your secure NSLSC online account, click My Account and select Pre-Authorized Debit. If you need help, go to Additional Resources to review a step-by-step process on how to activate Pre-Authorized Debit.

Setting up an automatic payment helps you avoid missing a monthly payment, a contributing factor in maintaining a healthy credit rating.

How can I update my banking information?

To update your banking information, log in to your secure NSLSC online account, click My Account and select Financial Institution Information. If you need help, go to Additional Resources to review a step-by-step process on how to update your banking information.

How can I change my monthly payment?

To change your monthly payment or revise your repayment terms, log in to your secure NSLSC online account, click My Account and select Customize My Payment Terms. If you need help, go to Additional Resources to review a step-by-step process on how to customize your payment terms.

When is the last day to update/change my banking information for pre-authorized debit before my monthly payment is withdrawn?

The last day to update/change your banking information online for Pre-Authorized Debit is four (4) business days before your next payment due date.

Can I make lump sum payments?

Yes, making lump sum or one-time payments on top of your regularly scheduled payments is a great way to get ahead on repaying your student loan.

To make a payment, log in to your NSLSC online account, click My Account and select Make a Payment. For additional ways to make a lump sum payment, visit Payment Method Options.

Learn more about Paying back student debt

What is the interest rate on my loan?

Effective April 1st, 2023, the Government of Canada has permanently eliminated the accumulation of interest on Canada Student Loans.

Note: You continue to be responsible to pay any interest that may have accrued on your loan before April 1st, 2023.

Loan Type Canada Portion Provincial Portion
  Floating Interest rate Fixed Interest Rate * Floating Interest rate Fixed Interest Rate *
Canada Student Loan N/A N/A Refer to your province or territory for information
Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A Prime Rate + 1.0% Not available
Canada-British Columbia Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A N/A N/A
Canada-New Brunswick Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A N/A N/A
Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A Prime Rate Prime Rate + 2.5%
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A N/A N/A
Canada-Manitoba Integrated Student Loan N/A N/A N/A N/A
Part Time Canada Student Loan N/A N/A N/A

*Note: For the provincial portion of a Canada-Saskatchewan integrated student loan, your loan will automatically default to the floating interest rate at the time it enters repayment. You will have a one-time option of switching to the fixed interest rate during your repayment period. The fixed interest rate option is not available on the provincial portion of Canada-Ontario integrated student loans.

Can I make loan payments while I am in school or during my non-repayment period?

Yes. You can make lump sum payments while you are still in school or during your six-month non-repayment period.

Making payments while you are in study or in the non-repayment period (six months after your period of study end date) is a great way to reduce the principal of your student loan and save on interest in the long run. 

Learn more about Paying back student debt

How do I know when I have a payment due?

By default, your payment schedule is set to monthly when you enter repayment and your payments are due on the last day of the month – unless you changed your repayment terms.

Log in to your secure NSLSC online account, click My Account and select My Funding for details on your repayment schedule.

What happens if I make a double payment at once?

Making a double payment or more than the minimum payment required does not replace or adjust your regularly scheduled payments. It helps lower your balance faster and you can make more than the minimum payment required any time.

When will my payments be posted online if I make them via internet banking or through Pre-Authorized Debit?

It takes approximately 2-3 days to process an online payment, but it will be effective as of the date you made your payment.

What do I do if I cannot make my student loan payments?

We can help. If you are having trouble paying your student loan, there are a variety of loan repayment options that might work better for you.

For more information, go to Loan Repayment Options or to Paying back student debt

Don’t delay! If you miss payments and default on your student loan(s), your credit rating could be affected. You could also miss out on your income tax refunds and be unable to obtain further grants or loans. In addition, you may have to deal with a collection agency or face legal action.