Compare Available Loan Types and Requirements
Jewish Free Loan Toronto provides interest-free loans to members of the Jewish community. We currently serve Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Canada. All applications are private and confidential.
Jewish residents of Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba: click your province to find your local Jewish Free Loan agency.
If you already know which loan you need, click “Apply Now” to start your application. Otherwise, scroll down for brief descriptions of our loan types.
You must be over 18 to apply and be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of one of the provinces we serve. Submitting a loan application DOES NOT guarantee approval. For more details, see our FAQ section.
Personal Loans
General Information
Our Personal Loans provide temporary financial support for basic needs.
Examples of temporary basic needs are:
• Living expenses
• Emergency housing costs
• Medical or dental emergencies
• Funeral costs
Each person’s situation is unique, so if you don’t see your need on this list, it doesn’t mean you don’t qualify. Contact us if you have any questions.
Loan Limits and Repayments
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to know your current balance? Click Here
Required Documentation
After you submit your application, we’ll ask for more documents:
• Government-issued photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, provincial photo ID card, or passport)
• Statements for any debts you have, including credit cards and lines of credit
• Documents that confirm your need such as overdue bills, arrears, medical / dental estimates, etc.
Guarantor Information – Click Here
POST- SECONDARY Education Loans
General Information
Our Post-Secondary Education Loans help Jewish students who cannot afford the full costs of education and living while in school. This includes students enrolled in undergraduate programs, graduate programs, gap year programs, and mature students who are upgrading their skills or changing careers.
Our loans supplement financial assistance from governments, scholarships, and bursaries. You must apply for provincial financial aid before coming to us. If your program doesn’t qualify for provincial aid, don’t worry – you can still apply for our loan.
Loan Limits and Repayments
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to know your current balance? Click Here
As JFLT Post-Secondary Education Loans are intended to supplement existing government financial assistance programs, if you are eligible to receive OSAP for your school or program, you must include proof of application to OSAP alongside your application to JFLT. Those ineligible for OSAP may still apply for a JFLT Education Loan.
Required Documentation
After you submit your application, we’ll ask for more documents:
- Government-issued photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, provincial photo ID card, or passport)
- Statements for any debts you have, including credit cards and lines of credit
- Proof of provincial aid (even if the province said no)
Proof of enrolment from your school or program (a letter of acceptance DOES NOT count as proof of enrolment)
Tuition statement from your school, including amounts for scholarships / bursaries
Please do not apply if you cannot provide proof of provincial financial aid (even if it’s $0), a tuition statement, and proof of enrolment. We will not consider applications without these.
Guarantor Information – Click Here
Fertility and Adoption loans
Our Fertility and Adoption Loans help members of the Jewish community who cannot afford the full cost of fertility treatments or adoption. This includes medical and legal costs.
Fertility Loans and Guarantors
We’re proud that several of our donors have provided funds to guarantee Fertility and Adoption Loans. Contact the office when you apply to find out if this funding is available.
General Guarantor Information – Click Here
Required Documentation
After you submit your application, we’ll ask for more documents:
• Government-issued photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, provincial photo ID card, or passport)
• Statements for any debts you have, including credit cards and lines of credit
• Documents that confirm your need such as medical estimates and legal bills
Jewish EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Loans
These loans help families cover the cost of Jewish educational programs including day schools, summer camps, and trips to Israel.
Loan Limits and Repayments
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to know your current balance? Click Here
If your program is affiliated with UJA, no guarantor is required.
Click here to apply for a UJA partnership loan.
Required Documentation (all loans)
After you submit your application, we’ll ask for more documents:
• Government-issued photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, provincial photo ID card, or passport)
• Statements for any debts you have, including credit cards and lines of credit
• Proof of tuition assistance (if applicable)
• Proof of enrolment from your school or program (a letter of acceptance DOES NOT count as proof of enrolment)
• Tuition statement from your school, including amounts for scholarships / bursaries
Please do not apply if you cannot provide proof of financial aid (if applicable), a tuition statement, and proof of enrolment. We will not consider applications without these.
Required Documentation (all loans)
After you submit your application, we’ll ask for more documents:
• Government-issued photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, provincial photo ID card, or passport)
• Statements for any debts you have, including credit cards and lines of credit
• Proof of tuition assistance (if applicable)
• Proof of enrolment from your school or program (a letter of acceptance DOES NOT count as proof of enrolment)
• Tuition statement from your school, including amounts for scholarships / bursaries
Please do not apply if you cannot provide proof of financial aid (if applicable), a tuition statement, and proof of enrolment. We will not consider applications without these.
Loan Type Comparison
The following reflects the JFLT loan amounts, guarantor requirements, and repayment structure.
LOAN LIMITS AND REPAYMENTS | ||
Loan Amount | Guarantor required? | Monthly payment |
Up to $5,000 | No | $125 |
Over $5,000 | Yes | $175 |
LOAN LIMITS AND REPAYMENTS – POST-SECONDARY LOANS ONLY | ||
Loan Amount | Guarantor required? | Monthly payment |
Up to $5,000 | No | $75 while in school full-time $100 while in school part-time 60-month term on the remaining balance or $75, whichever is higher |
Over $5,000 | Yes | |
MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNTS | |
Personal Loans | up to $10,000 |
Post-Secondary Loans | up to $12,000 |
Jewish Educational Programming Loans* | up to $12,000 |
Fertility & Adoption Loans | up to $10,000 |
* Excluding UJA-affiliated programs. If your program is affiliated with UJA, click here to see the maximum loan amounts.
Guarantor Information
Guarantors must be over 18 and be Canadian citizens.
Guarantors must be financially able to take over the loan payments if the borrower becomes unwilling or unable to do so.
To submit a guarantor application CLICK HERE
For a PDF version of the Guarantor Application, please contact the office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I already have a Jewish Free Loan? Can I have more than one Personal Loan or more than one Post-Secondary Education Loan?
You can have more than one loan of the same loan type, but we take your current loan balance into account. For example, let’s say you already have a Personal Loan and you need another one. You currently owe us $4,000, and the maximum we can lend is $10,000. The most we’ll consider you for is $6,000 ($10,000 limit – $4,000 current balance = $6,000 new loan request.)
Contact the office for details about how much you might qualify for.
My current Jewish Free Loan is a different type from the one I’m applying for now. Can I still apply for a new loan?
Yes, you can have different types of loans at the same time. In this case, you can apply for up to the maximum limit for the new loan type, and we generally DO NOT take your current balance into account. For example, let’s say you want to apply for a Fertility Loan but you already have a Personal Loan with a balance of $4,000. Let’s also assume that the maximum we’ll lend for a new Fertility Loan is $15,000. You can apply for the full $15,000 even though you already owe us $4,000.
Contact the office for details about how much you might qualify for.
If I already have a nonguaranteed loan, can I get another nonguaranteed loan?
Our lending limit for nonguaranteed loans applies for all outstanding loans combined. For example, let’s say you currently owe us $1,000, and the maximum we can lend without a guarantor is $5,000. The most we’ll consider you for is $4,000 ($5,000 limit – $1,000 current balance = $4,000 new loan request.)
If you apply for more than our nonguaranteed limit, you’ll need a guarantor for your current balance PLUS the new amount you’re applying for.
Do you do credit checks on applicants or guarantors?
In general, we don’t do credit checks, but we reserve the right to do so.
I submitted an application. What happens next?
After you submit your application, one of our Intake Counsellors will follow up within 2 business days to tell you which follow up documents or additional information we need. When we have everything, our Financial Officer will review your application to make sure it meets our requirements. If everything looks good, you’ll have an interview with our Loan Committee. An Intake Counselor will contact you the day after your interview to let you know if your loan is approved.
How long does it take to get a loan?
That depends mostly on you. Our process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks as long as you send us the documentation we ask for right away. If you delay in responding to us, processing your loan request will take longer.