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Apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for families raising children under 18. For many newcomer families it's the single most important benefit you can apply for — but the forms and the rules around temporary residents catch a lot of people off guard. Here's how to do it right.

What is the CCB?

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment paid by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to eligible families with children under 18. The amount you receive depends on:

  • Your adjusted family net income (from last year's tax return)
  • The number of children in your care
  • The age of each child (under 6 vs. 6 to 17)
  • Your marital status

For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit year, the maximum annual amounts are up to $7,997 per child under 6 and up to $6,748 per child aged 6 to 17. These maximums go to lower-income families and are reduced as family income rises. CCB is paid in 12 monthly instalments, usually around the 20th of each month.

Always check the current rates on the official CRA "How we calculate your CCB" page — amounts are indexed to inflation and updated each July.

Are you eligible?

To get the CCB, all four of these must be true:

  • You live with a child under 18
  • You are primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing (feeding, supervising medical care, arranging childcare)
  • You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes
  • You or your spouse / common-law partner are one of:
    • A Canadian citizen
    • A permanent resident
    • A protected person (refugee status determined by the IRB)
    • A temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit in the 19th month — that permit cannot say "does not confer status" or "does not confer temporary resident status"
    • An Indigenous person who meets the definition of "Indian" under the Indian Act

The 18-month rule — important for work and study permit holders

If you're in Canada on a work or study permit, you generally cannot receive CCB during your first 18 months. You become eligible in month 19, as long as your permit is still valid then. Apply as soon as you cross the 18-month mark — CRA can pay back to that point, but you have to file. Don't wait for someone to remind you.

Permanent residents, citizens, and protected persons have no waiting period — apply right away.

How to apply

Option 1: Automated birth registration (baby born in Canada)

When you register your baby's birth with ServiceOntario, there's a box that says "Apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)". Check it, and Ontario shares your info with CRA — no separate form needed. This is the fastest path. If you also give consent to share your SIN, your application is complete.

Option 2: Online through CRA My Account

Once you have a CRA file (you've filed at least one Canadian tax return), you can apply through CRA My Account → "Apply for child benefits." You'll still need to mail or upload supporting documents if your child was born outside Canada or you're a newcomer.

Option 3: By mail (most newcomers start here)

If you're new to Canada or your child was born outside Canada, mail these forms together to your CRA tax centre:

What you'll need

1. SIN for both parents and each child If your child doesn't have a SIN yet, you can still apply — include a note. But get the SIN as soon as possible. See our SIN guide.
2. Proof of immigration status Citizenship certificate, PR card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR), Refugee Protection Decision (IRB), or current work / study permit for both parents.
3. Proof of birth for each child Birth certificate (Canadian or foreign, translated if not in English/French), hospital record of live birth, or immigration document showing the child as a dependant.
4. Proof of residence in Canada Lease, utility bill, or property tax notice in your name — to confirm you live in Canada with the child.
5. Marital status info Married, common-law, separated, divorced, or single. CRA uses both partners' incomes to calculate CCB — so this affects what you receive.

Newcomer-specific things to know

You must file taxes every year — even with no income

CCB is recalculated every July based on the previous year's tax return. If you don't file, payments stop. Both you and your spouse / common-law partner must file, even if one of you earned $0 in Canada. See our tax help guide for free filing options through CVITP volunteer clinics.

RC66SCH asks for your world income

Form RC66SCH asks you to declare income earned outside Canada for the period before you became a Canadian tax resident. CRA uses this to estimate your family income and start your payments.

  • Convert all foreign income to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada annual average exchange rate for the year in question.
  • Declare income for both partners.
  • Be honest — CRA can verify and clawback payments if numbers are off.

How long until your first payment?

Typical processing for a complete mail-in application is 8 to 11 weeks from the day CRA receives it. Online applications are faster. You can check status in CRA My Account.

Retroactive payments

CCB can normally be paid retroactively for up to 11 months from the date CRA receives a complete application. Some newcomer cases have longer windows — apply as soon as you're eligible and ask CRA in writing if you think you qualify for a longer retroactive period.

Ontario Child Benefit — paid alongside CCB

The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) is a separate provincial top-up worth up to $1,727 per child per year for low- and moderate-income families with children under 18. You don't apply separately. If you qualify for CCB and file taxes in Ontario, you're automatically assessed for OCB and it's paid in the same monthly deposit.

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Not filing taxes every year — CCB stops the moment you miss a return.
  • Spouse not filing — even with $0 Canadian income, your spouse / common-law partner must file or your payments will be reassessed to zero.
  • Skipping world income on RC66SCH — leaving this blank delays or denies your application.
  • Waiting too long to apply — apply the day you become eligible (or month 19 of the 18-month rule).
  • Not telling CRA about life changes — marriage, separation, custody changes, a child moving out, or a change of address. Not updating CRA leads to overpayments that you have to pay back.
  • Trusting "consultants" who charge fees — applying for CCB is free. Anyone charging hundreds of dollars to file an RC66 is taking advantage of you. Use a free CVITP volunteer or settlement worker instead.

What if you're denied?

If CRA denies your application or reduces your payment, you'll receive a written notice with reasons. Your options:

  • Call CRA at 1-800-387-1193 (CCB line) — many issues are missing-document fixes.
  • File a formal Notice of Objection (form T400A) within 90 days of the notice.
  • Get free help from a CVITP volunteer tax clinic or a community legal clinic. In Northern Ontario, contact Legal Aid Ontario or your local clinic.

Next steps

  1. Get SINs for both parents and each child — see our SIN guide
  2. Download Form RC66 and (if you've been here under 2 years) Form RC66SCH
  3. Gather proof of status, proof of birth, and proof of address — and mail to your CRA tax centre
  4. File your Canadian tax return every spring — both you and your spouse, even with $0 income

DON'T LIVE NEAR A SETTLEMENT OFFICE?

Call the regional org for your area.

Settlement workers will register you by phone or video and help you find local supports. There's no requirement to live in the same town as the office — these services are funded for all of Northern Ontario.

See all settlement services →

Last reviewed: April 2026. CCB amounts and rules are updated each July — confirm current details on the official CRA Canada Child Benefit page before applying.

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