How to apply for the Canada Child Benefit after having a baby in 2026
Apply for the Canada Child Benefit as soon as your baby is born and you meet the eligibility rules. Parents can usually apply during provincial or territorial birth registration, through their CRA account, or by mailing Form RC66. Learn who should apply, what information and proof of birth are required, processing times and how 2026 CCB payments are calculated.
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Apply for the Canada Child Benefit as soon as your baby is born and you meet the eligibility requirements. You must live with a child under 18, be primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing, be a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and you or your spouse or common-law partner must meet an accepted citizenship or immigration status condition. For a newborn, the easiest option in participating provinces and territories is usually to apply when registering the birth through the Automated Benefits Application by consenting to share the birth information with the Canada Revenue Agency and providing your Social Insurance Number. This birth-registration option is currently unavailable in Nunavut. If you do not apply during birth registration, you can apply online through your CRA account or, if you cannot use the other methods, mail Form RC66. There is no separate application required for related provincial or territorial programs administered by the CRA.
What you need
- Your Social Insurance Number. Your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, also generally needs a SIN for the CCB application process.
- Your newborn's full name and date of birth.
- Your current home and mailing address and your marital status information.
- Information about your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.
- Proof of birth if the CRA has never paid benefits for the child and you apply through your CRA account or by mail. The proof must show the child's last name, given name and date of birth.
- No separate proof of birth is normally required when you apply through the newborn birth registration process because the province or territory securely sends the birth information to the CRA.
- Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, if applying by mail.
- A signed letter from the female parent if both opposite-sex parents live with the child, the other parent is actually primarily responsible for all children in the home, and that other parent is applying. This letter is not required for same-sex parents.
- Additional immigration, residency, income or caregiving documents may be required in situations such as newcomers, returning residents or applications covering a period that began more than 11 months ago.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Canada Child Benefit, you must live with a child who is under 18 years old, be primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing, and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. In addition, you or your spouse or common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, an eligible temporary resident, or an individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act. An eligible temporary resident must generally have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and have a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state that it does not confer status or temporary resident status.
If two spouses or common-law partners live in the same home with the child, the female parent is presumed under the CCB rules to be primarily responsible and normally applies. If the other parent is actually primarily responsible for all children in the home, that parent may apply with the required signed statement from the female parent. If both parents are of the same sex, one parent should apply for all children in the home.
Both you and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must file income tax returns every year to continue receiving the correct benefit amount, even if one or both of you had no income. The CRA recalculates CCB payments every July using adjusted family net income from the previous tax year.
How to do it
- Check your eligibility. Confirm that you live with your newborn, are primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing, are a resident of Canada for tax purposes and meet the citizenship or immigration status requirement.
- Determine which parent should apply. If opposite-sex spouses or common-law partners live together with the baby, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible. If the other parent is actually primarily responsible, follow the CRA documentation rules. If the parents are the same sex, one parent should apply for all children in the home.
- Apply as soon as possible after the birth. The CRA advises applying when your child is born rather than waiting for a later benefit period.
- Use the newborn birth registration option when available. Complete your province or territory's birth registration, select the option to apply for Canada child benefits, consent to the province or territory sharing the information with the CRA, provide your SIN and submit the registration. The Automated Benefits Application is currently unavailable in Nunavut.
- Do not submit a duplicate application. If you already applied for the CCB through the birth registration process, do not apply again using your CRA account or Form RC66 because duplicate applications may delay processing.
- Apply through your CRA account if you did not apply during birth registration. Sign in to your Individual CRA account, open Benefits and credits, add the child in the Child information section, confirm your account information, enter the child's details and submit the application.
- Upload proof of birth if requested. If the CRA has never paid benefits for your child and you apply through your CRA account, proof of birth is required. You can upload it using the Submit documents service.
- Apply by mail if you cannot use the other methods. Complete and sign Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, attach the required supporting documents and mail the package to your CRA tax centre.
- Provide additional forms if your situation requires them. Newcomers and returning residents may need Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Statement of Income. Additional documents can also be required when applying for a period that began more than 11 months earlier.
- Check your application status. Use the progress tracker in your CRA account or the CRA processing-times service.
- Keep your tax and family information current. File your tax return every year, ensure your spouse or common-law partner files when applicable, and notify the CRA of changes that can affect the benefit, including marital status, address or custody arrangements.
How to apply for the Canada Child Benefit after your baby is born
The Canada Child Benefit, usually called the CCB, is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families raising children under 18. After having a baby, you should apply as soon as you meet the eligibility requirements.
For most newborns, parents have three possible application routes: applying as part of provincial or territorial birth registration through the Automated Benefits Application, applying online through a CRA account, or mailing Form RC66 if the other methods cannot be used.
Who is eligible for the Canada Child Benefit
You must live with a child who is under 18, be primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing and be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
You or your spouse or common-law partner must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, eligible temporary resident, or an individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.
CCB rules for temporary residents
A temporary resident can qualify under the CCB status rules if they have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state that it does not confer status or temporary resident status.
Which parent should apply for the CCB after a birth
If two spouses or common-law partners live in the same home as the baby, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the children in the home and normally applies for the CCB.
If the other parent is actually primarily responsible for all children in the household, that parent should apply and include a signed letter from the female parent confirming this responsibility. A letter is not required when both parents living with the child are of the same sex; in that situation, one parent should apply for all children in the household.
Apply for the CCB when registering your baby's birth
The Automated Benefits Application allows eligible parents to apply for child and family benefits when registering the newborn's birth with the province or territory.
Complete the birth registration, select the Canada child benefits option, consent to the provincial or territorial vital statistics authority sharing the required birth information with the CRA, provide your SIN and submit the registration.
Because the child's birth information is securely transmitted to the CRA, you do not need to separately provide proof of birth when you use this method. The Automated Benefits Application is currently available in participating provinces and territories but is not available in Nunavut.
Do not apply twice after using birth registration
If you already applied for child benefits through your baby's birth registration, do not submit another application through your CRA account or Form RC66. The CRA warns that applying again can delay processing and payment.
How to apply for the CCB through your CRA account
If you did not apply during your baby's birth registration, you can apply online through your CRA account.
Sign in to your Individual account, select Benefits and credits, find the Child information section and add your newborn. You will confirm information such as contact details, marital status and citizenship, enter the child's information, review the application and submit it.
Save or print the confirmation. If the CRA asks for supporting documents, use the Submit documents service to upload them.
What proof of birth is required for a newborn
If the CRA has never paid benefits for your child and you apply through your CRA account or by mail, you must provide proof of birth. An acceptable proof of birth, such as a birth certificate, must show the child's last name, given name and date of birth.
You normally do not submit separate proof of birth when applying through the Automated Benefits Application because the province or territory sends the registered birth information directly to the CRA.
How to apply for the CCB by mail
If you cannot apply using the birth registration process or your CRA account, complete and sign Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application. Include the required supporting documents and mail the application to your CRA tax centre.
Applicants with additional immigration or residency circumstances may need extra forms. For example, newcomers and returning residents are directed to complete Schedule RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Statement of Income, together with Form RC66.
Do both parents need Social Insurance Numbers
The CRA guidance states that you and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, need Social Insurance Numbers to apply for the CCB. When applying during birth registration, the applicant enters their SIN so the provincial or territorial authority can securely transmit the application information to the CRA.
If Service Canada will not issue a SIN, the CRA provides an alternative process using Form RC66, an explanation of why a SIN cannot be obtained and supporting identity documentation.
How long does a Canada Child Benefit application take
For a newborn application made through the Automated Benefits Application, the CRA states that it will determine eligibility and send a notice or payment within 8 weeks.
Processing times for applications through a CRA account and paper Form RC66 can vary. The CRA provides a current processing-times service and a progress tracker in the CRA account so applicants can check their own application status.
When will you receive the first CCB payment for a newborn
Your first payment is issued after the CRA determines that you are eligible and processes your application. CCB entitlement generally begins in the month after the month in which you become eligible. The CRA's example for the 2026-2027 benefit year shows that a child born in March 2027 can generate CCB eligibility beginning in April 2027, assuming the eligibility conditions are met.
How much is the Canada Child Benefit in 2026
For the July 2026 to June 2027 payment period, CCB amounts are based on adjusted family net income from 2025.
If adjusted family net income is below $38,237, the maximum annual CCB is $8,157 for each child under 6, equal to $679.75 per month. For a child aged 6 to 17, the maximum is $6,883 per year, equal to $573.58 per month. Benefits are gradually reduced when adjusted family net income exceeds $38,237, according to the number of eligible children and the CRA calculation rules.
Do you need to apply separately for provincial child benefits
When you apply for the CCB, you do not need to submit separate applications for related provincial and territorial benefit programs that the CRA administers. The CRA uses the information from the CCB application to determine eligibility for applicable related programs.
Do parents need to file tax returns to keep receiving the CCB
Yes. To continue receiving the CCB and related payments, you must file your income tax return every year even if you had no income. Your spouse or common-law partner must also file a return each year when applicable.
The CRA recalculates the amount each July based on adjusted family net income from the previous tax year, so filing tax returns is essential to continuing payments.
What changes should you report after your application
Keep your personal and family information current with the CRA. Changes to marital status, address and custody arrangements can affect eligibility or payment amounts. Updating the CRA promptly helps prevent incorrect payments, payment interruptions or overpayments.
What if the baby lives with both parents under shared custody later
If the child's living arrangement changes to shared custody, notify the CRA. For CCB purposes, shared custody generally exists when the child lives with each individual between 40% and 60% of the time or on an approximately equal basis at different addresses. In a qualifying shared custody situation, both individuals should apply for the child and the CRA applies the shared-custody payment rules.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for the Canada Child Benefit after having a baby?
Apply as soon as your baby is born and you meet the CCB eligibility requirements. The CRA specifically lists the birth of a child as a time to apply.
Can I apply for the CCB when I register my baby's birth?
Yes. In participating provinces and territories, the Automated Benefits Application lets you apply for the CCB as part of the birth registration process by consenting to share information with the CRA and providing your SIN. This service is currently unavailable in Nunavut.
Do I need to apply again through my CRA account after using newborn birth registration?
No. If you already applied through the birth registration process, do not submit another application through your CRA account or Form RC66 because a duplicate application may delay processing.
Can I apply for the Canada Child Benefit online?
Yes. If you did not apply when registering your newborn's birth, you can apply through your CRA Individual account under Benefits and credits and add the child in the Child information section.
What form do I use to apply for the CCB by mail?
Use Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and include the supporting documents required for your situation.
Do I need my baby's birth certificate to apply for the CCB?
If the CRA has never paid benefits for the child and you apply through your CRA account or by mail, proof of birth is required. It must show the child's last name, given name and date of birth. If you apply through birth registration, separate proof of birth is normally not required because the province or territory sends the birth information to the CRA.
Which parent should apply for the Canada Child Benefit?
When opposite-sex spouses or common-law partners live together with the child, the female parent is presumed to be primarily responsible and normally applies. If the other parent is actually primarily responsible, that parent can apply with the required signed statement. If both parents are the same sex, one parent should apply for all children in the home.
Do both parents need a SIN for the Canada Child Benefit?
The CRA states that you and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, generally need Social Insurance Numbers to apply. The CRA provides an alternative documentation process if Service Canada will not issue a SIN.
How long does a newborn CCB application take?
For applications made through the Automated Benefits Application during birth registration, the CRA states that it will determine eligibility and send a notice or payment within 8 weeks. Other application methods have processing times that can be checked through the CRA's current processing-times service.
How much is the Canada Child Benefit for a baby in 2026?
For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum amount for a child under 6 is $8,157 per year or $679.75 per month when adjusted family net income is below $38,237. The benefit is reduced as adjusted family net income increases.
Is the Canada Child Benefit taxable?
No. The CRA describes the Canada Child Benefit as a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families.
Do I need to apply separately for provincial child benefits?
Not for related provincial and territorial benefit programs administered by the CRA. When you apply for the CCB, the CRA determines eligibility for those related programs.
Do both parents have to file tax returns to keep receiving the CCB?
You must file a tax return every year to continue receiving the correct benefits, even if you had no income. Your spouse or common-law partner must also file a tax return every year when applicable.
Can a temporary resident receive the Canada Child Benefit?
Potentially. Under the CCB rules, an eligible temporary resident must generally have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and have a valid permit in the 19th month that does not state that it does not confer status or temporary resident status, in addition to meeting the other CCB requirements.