Apply

On this page

• When to apply
• How to apply
• When you need to provide additional documents

When to apply

You should apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB) as soon as any of the following situations happen:

• your child is born
• a child starts to live with you, or returns to live with you after a temporary period with someone else
• you begin, end, or change a shared custody arrangement
• you get custody of a child
• you, or your spouse or common-law partner, start to meet the eligibility conditions under Who can apply

If the child started living with you more than 11 months ago, you will need to provide additional documents.

You don't need to apply separately for related provincial and territorial programs. The CRA will determine your eligibility when you apply for the CCB.

How to apply

• Through birth registration

  Processing time: you should receive your payment within 8 weeks.

  You can apply for the CCB when you register the birth of your newborn with your province/territory.

  In most cases, the birth registration is done by paper form at the hospital or birthing centre. Residents of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta also have the option to register online.

  Be sure to provide your consent and social insurance number (SIN) in order for the Vital Statistics Agency of your province or territory to securely share the pertinent birth registration information with the CRA. If you do not give your consent, your information will not be sent to the CRA, and you will need to apply for the CCB another way.

  For more information about birth registrations with your province/territory you can select your province or territory below to be redirected to the provincial or territorial website where you live (except Nunavut).

  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
  • Yukon

  Currently, this service is not available in the territory of Nunavut.

  Note: If you use the Automated Benefits Application to apply for child benefits, you do not need to provide proof of birth for your child as it’s securely shared with the CRA by your province or territory.

• Online through My Account

  Processing time: you should receive your payment within 8 weeks.

  If you didn't apply for the CCB when you registered the birth of your newborn, you can apply online using My Account (your personal CRA account).

  1. Sign in to My Account
  2. From the Overview page, click on Benefits and credits from the Navigation menu on the left side of the screen
  3. From the Benefits and credits page, locate the Child information and click on + Add.
  4. You will be asked to complete 3 steps:
     • Confirm your contact information, your marital status and your citizenship
     • Enter your child’s information
     • Review and submit your application
  5. A confirmation screen will display the status of your application
     • If you're asked to submit additional documents, such as proof of birth for the child, select the "Submit documents" button.
• By mail

  Processing time: you should receive your payment within 11 weeks.

  1. Fill out and sign Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application
  2. Include any additional documents needed for the situations described below
  3. Mail the form to your tax centre

When you need to provide additional documents

• Child's proof of birth is required

  You must provide proof of birth for a child with your application if the CRA has never paid benefits for this child, and you are applying Online through My Account or by mail. If you apply through birth registration, you do not need to provide proof of birth for your child as it’s securely shared with the CRA by your province or territory.

  Proof of birth, such as a birth certificate, must include the child’s last name, given name, and date of birth. For a complete list of supporting documents, go to Supporting documents.

  To send us your documents:

  1. Upload the proof of birth using “Submit documents” in CRA’s My Account, or
  2. Mail the proof of birth with Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application to your tax centre
• The other parent is primarily responsible for the child (or children)

  When a child resides with individuals who are spouses or common-law partners, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home.

  If you are the other parent and are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home, you must:

  1. Include a signed letter from the female parent stating that you are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of all the children in the home
  2. Mail the letter and Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application to your tax centre

  A letter is not required if both parents residing with the child are of the same sex.

• Applying for a period that started more than 11 months ago

  If you are applying for a child that started living with you more than 11 months ago, you must:

  1. Provide supporting documents for
     1. Your citizenship status (1 of the following) such as:
        • Canadian birth certificate
        • Canadian passport
        • permanent residence card
        • Canadian immigration status documents for you and your spouse or common-law partner
     2. Proof that you live in Canada (at least 3 of the following document types) such as:
        • lease agreement
        • rent receipt
        • household bill (gas, electricity, cable television, telephone)
        • driver's licence, vehicle registration, or car insurance
        • membership in social or professional organizations
     3. Proof of birth for each child you are applying for
     4. Proof that you are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child (at least 3 of the following document types) such as:
        • a letter from the nursery or school authority showing the contact information on file for the child
        • a copy of the child's report card, showing the contact information on file for the child
        • a copy of the child's school registration or enrolment document, or information or emergency contact sheet, signed and certified by the school
        • if your child is being home-schooled, a letter from the school board or appropriate educational authority confirming that you have a home school arrangement
        • a registration form or a receipt from an activity or club the child is enrolled in
        • a complete and signed court order, decree, or separation agreement; the document must explain the type of custody arrangement you have (for example, shared custody) and clearly show the living arrangements for the child
        • any other document showing that the child lived with you during the period being reviewed
  2. For a complete list of all supporting documents, go to Ca-ciconline.com/child-benefits-supporting-documents.
  3. Mail all supporting documents and Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application to your tax centre.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner are newcomers or returning residents to Canada

  You must:

  1. Fill out and sign Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada/Statement of Income
  2. Mail Schedule RC66SCH and Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application to your tax centre.

  If your spouse or common-law partner is a non-resident of Canada during any part of the year, you must fill out Form CTB9, Canada Child Benefit – Statement of Income for each year, or part of a year, that they are a non-resident of Canada.

• Leaving an abusive or violent situation

  Get benefit and credit payments without putting yourself, or your family, in danger. For more information, go to Getting benefits and credits when in an abusive or violent situation.