Canada Child Benefit guide
The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment for families raising children under 18. The Canada Revenue Agency pays it based on your family situation and prior-year tax information. This guide explains who may qualify, how to apply (including newcomers), and how payments are calculated. It does not decide whether you qualify or how much you will receive.
This is not an eligibility test
Official canada.ca pages last reviewed for this guide: 2026-06-28. Payment amounts index each July and depend on your adjusted family net income.
Official CCB overview (canada.ca)What the Canada Child Benefit is
A tax-free monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under 18. Amounts depend on the number and ages of your children and your adjusted family net income from the prior tax year. Maximums are indexed each July 1.
Who may qualify (information only)
You must be the primary caregiver of a child under 18 and live with the child. The CRA uses your immigration status, residency, and tax records to decide eligibility and payment amounts.
- Have at least one child under 18 you primarily care for.
- Be the person mainly responsible for the child's care and upbringing (usually a parent, but not always).
- Live with the child and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- File a tax return each year (even with low or no income) so the CRA can calculate and renew your payments.
Immigration status rules (from CRA guidance):
- Canadian citizens may qualify.
- Permanent residents may qualify.
- Protected persons and refugees may qualify.
- Temporary residents (work permit, study permit, or migrant worker permit) may qualify after 18 months in Canada with a valid permit in the 19th month.
How much you could receive
Payment amounts depend on your adjusted family net income, the number of children you have, and each child's age (under 6 vs. 6 to 17). Higher income reduces the payment. The CRA recalculates each July using your prior-year tax return.
MyEligible does not publish payment tables here. Use the official CRA page for current maximums, income thresholds, and examples.
How much you could get (CRA)How to apply
Apply as soon as you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and proof of birth or immigration status for each child. Payments generally start only after the child is born or placed for adoption and the CRA has the required information.
Get Social Insurance Numbers
You need a SIN for yourself and for each child. Your partner's SIN may also be required if you have a spouse or common-law partner.
Register the birth or gather proof
In some provinces and territories, birth registration can start a child benefit application automatically. Otherwise, keep proof of birth or adoption and immigration status for each child.
Birth registration and child benefits (CRA)Apply through CRA channels
Use the official CRA application paths: online through My Account or Represent a Client, by mail, or at a Service Canada office. Follow the current instructions on canada.ca.
How to apply (CRA)Newcomers: Form RC66
If you are new to Canada and have not yet filed a tax return, you may need Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH to register your children and apply for child and family benefits.
Form RC66 (CRA)
Newcomers: common steps
Many eligible families miss CCB payments in their first year because the RC66 path is separate from filing a tax return. These are the usual gates:
- Get SINs for yourself and each child before applying.
- File Form RC66 (and RC66SCH if required) when you become a resident of Canada with children, even before your first tax return.
- Have proof of birth or immigration status for each child, proof of residency, and direct deposit banking details ready.
- After approval, payments may be backdated up to 11 months from when the CRA receives a complete application.
If you are expecting a child
You cannot receive CCB payments before the child is born or placed for adoption. You can plan ahead by learning your province's birth registration process and the CRA steps for child benefits so you apply promptly after the birth.
Birth registration and child benefits (CRA)Tax filing and keeping payments
CCB amounts are tied to your family's tax information. Missing returns can stop or reduce payments even if you previously qualified.
- File a federal tax return every year, even with low or no income, so the CRA can renew your benefit.
- When you apply or catch up on returns, the CRA may include payments for up to about 11 months before it receives your complete return or application.
Quebec residents may also receive a separate provincial family allowance from Retraite Québec with its own income test. Federal CCB from the CRA is separate. Check both programs if you live in Quebec.
Related child and family benefits
Your MyEligible results may also show these programs. Each has its own rules and application path.
Common questions
- Do I need to file taxes to get the CCB?
- Yes. The CRA uses your tax return to calculate and renew payments each benefit year. File every year, even with low or no income.
- I am on a work or study permit. When can I apply?
- Temporary residents may qualify after 18 months in Canada with a valid permit in the 19th month. Citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons may qualify sooner. Confirm your status rules on canada.ca.
- Can I get payments for months before I applied?
- The CRA may backdate payments up to about 11 months from when it receives a complete application or tax return with the required information. Apply promptly after you arrive or after a child is born.
- Where do I find the current payment amounts?
- Use the official CRA page on how much you could receive. Amounts change each July 1 and depend on your income and the number and ages of your children.