How to apply for the Canada Learning Bond through an RESP
Eligible children and youth from lower-income families can receive up to $2,000 from the Canada Learning Bond in a Registered Education Savings Plan without making personal contributions. Open an RESP with a promoter that offers the CLB and ask the promoter to apply for all eligible years.
CA Canada
Education ~ 11 min read
16 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-25
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To get the Canada Learning Bond, the eligible child or youth must have a valid Social Insurance Number, be a Canadian resident before the CLB is paid, be named as a beneficiary of a Registered Education Savings Plan and have been born on or after January 1, 2004. The benefit provides $500 for the first eligible year plus $100 for each additional eligible year up to age 15, to a maximum of $2,000. No RESP contribution is required. For the July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 benefit year, the adjusted family income limit is $58,523 or less for families with 1 to 3 children, with higher limits for larger families. Previous eligible years can be claimed even if no RESP existed at the time. Youth aged 18 to 20 can request their own accumulated CLB before turning 21.
What you need
- The beneficiary must have been born on or after January 1, 2004.
- The beneficiary must have a valid Social Insurance Number.
- The beneficiary must be a resident of Canada before the CLB payment is made to the RESP.
- The beneficiary must be named in a Registered Education Savings Plan.
- The beneficiary must have been eligible based on family income for at least one benefit year, or qualify through the rules for a child in care.
- For eligibility based on family income, the primary caregiver must have filed an income tax return for each year for which the CLB is requested and must have been eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the beneficiary.
- The RESP must be opened with a promoter that offers the Canada Learning Bond.
- The subscriber and beneficiary need the identification information and Social Insurance Numbers required by the RESP promoter and CLB application.
- For an application made before the beneficiary turns 18, the primary caregiver or their spouse or common-law partner may need to provide their Social Insurance Number and authorization so eligibility can be assessed.
- An adult beneficiary requesting the CLB for themselves must be under age 21 when applying.
Eligibility
The Canada Learning Bond is available to eligible children and youth born on or after January 1, 2004 who have a valid Social Insurance Number, are residents of Canada before payment, are named as beneficiaries of an RESP and meet the income-based eligibility requirements for at least one year. Eligibility is assessed separately for each benefit year. For a child whose eligibility is based on family income, the primary caregiver must have filed an income tax return for the year and be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for that child. Children in care for whom a public primary caregiver receives the Children's Special Allowance can also qualify. A beneficiary does not need personal contributions in the RESP to receive the CLB. Eligible amounts from earlier years can be requested retroactively, and beneficiaries aged 18 to 20 can request accumulated CLB entitlement for themselves before turning 21.
How to do it
- Check whether the child or youth meets the basic CLB conditions: born on or after January 1, 2004, valid SIN, Canadian residency and income-based eligibility for at least one year or eligibility as a child in care.
- Make sure the beneficiary has a valid Social Insurance Number. The person opening the RESP must also provide the identification information and SIN required by the promoter.
- Choose an RESP promoter that offers the Canada Learning Bond. Promoters include participating banks, credit unions, financial planners and group plan dealers.
- Ask about the type of RESP, fees, investment conditions, penalties and whether the promoter supports the CLB before opening the plan.
- Open an RESP and name the eligible child or youth as the beneficiary. No personal contribution is required to receive the CLB.
- Ask the RESP promoter to apply for the Canada Learning Bond. For a beneficiary under 18, complete the CLB and education savings benefit documentation requested by the promoter, including primary caregiver information where required.
- Make sure the primary caregiver has filed the required income tax returns. Family-income eligibility is determined using government tax and benefit information.
- Ask the promoter to request all CLB amounts for which the beneficiary is eligible. Previous eligible years can be paid even though the RESP was not open during those years.
- Check the RESP after processing. Eligible CLB payments are deposited directly into the RESP and may take several weeks to appear.
- If the beneficiary is already 18 to 20 years old, they can request the CLB for themselves. They must designate an RESP to receive the payment and complete the adult beneficiary application through the RESP promoter before turning 21.
What is the Canada Learning Bond?
The Canada Learning Bond, commonly called the CLB, is federal education money paid into a Registered Education Savings Plan for eligible children and youth from lower-income families.
The CLB can provide up to $2,000 for an eligible beneficiary. It starts with $500 for the first year of eligibility and provides another $100 for each additional eligible year up to and including age 15.
You do not have to contribute your own money to the RESP to receive the Canada Learning Bond.
Who qualifies for the Canada Learning Bond?
To qualify, a beneficiary must have been born on or after January 1, 2004, have a valid Social Insurance Number, be a resident of Canada before the CLB is paid and be named as a beneficiary in an RESP.
The beneficiary must also meet the CLB income requirements for at least one benefit year. Eligibility is assessed year by year rather than only once for the child's entire childhood.
What does the primary caregiver have to do?
For income-based CLB eligibility, the beneficiary's primary caregiver must have filed an income tax return for each year for which the benefit is requested and must have been eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit for the beneficiary.
The primary caregiver is generally the person eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the child. Their adjusted family income, including the income of a spouse or common-law partner where applicable, is used to determine CLB eligibility.
What is the Canada Learning Bond income limit in 2026?
For the benefit year from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the adjusted family income threshold is $58,523 or less for families with 1 to 3 children.
For larger families, the 2026 to 2027 limits are less than $66,036 for 4 children, $73,577 for 5 children, $81,117 for 6 children, $88,658 for 7 children, $96,198 for 8 children, $103,739 for 9 children and $111,279 for 10 children. The thresholds continue to increase for larger families.
These income thresholds are indexed and can change each benefit year. When claiming CLB amounts from earlier years, eligibility for each year is based on the rules and income threshold applicable to that particular benefit year.
What is adjusted family income for the CLB?
Adjusted family income is based on the primary caregiver's income and, when applicable, their spouse or common-law partner's income, with adjustments specified by the government for amounts such as Canada Child Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income.
You do not normally calculate and prove CLB eligibility directly to the financial institution using pay stubs. Eligibility is determined through government tax and benefit information, which is why filing income tax returns is important.
How much Canada Learning Bond money can a child receive?
An eligible beneficiary can receive an initial CLB payment of $500 for the first year they qualify. They can then receive $100 for each additional eligible year up to and including age 15.
The lifetime maximum is $2,000 per beneficiary.
The government also provides $25 to the RESP receiving the initial $500 CLB payment in recognition of a possible one-time incidental expense associated with opening an RESP.
Do you have to contribute money to an RESP to get the CLB?
No. Personal RESP contributions are not required for the Canada Learning Bond.
This is an important difference between the CLB and the basic Canada Education Savings Grant. The CESG is linked to personal RESP contributions, while an eligible beneficiary can receive the CLB without any contribution from a parent, guardian or other subscriber.
How to apply for the Canada Learning Bond
The Canada Learning Bond is requested through an RESP promoter rather than by sending a benefit application directly to Employment and Social Development Canada.
First obtain a Social Insurance Number for the beneficiary if they do not already have one. Then choose an RESP promoter that offers the CLB and open an RESP naming the eligible person as beneficiary.
When the RESP is opened, tell the promoter that you want to request the Canada Learning Bond. The promoter will provide and process the required education savings benefit documentation.
Where can you open an RESP?
RESPs are offered by participating financial institutions and other promoters, including banks, credit unions, certified financial planners and group plan dealers.
Not every promoter offers every government education savings benefit. Confirm that the promoter offers the Canada Learning Bond before opening the RESP.
Depending on the promoter, an RESP may be opened and benefits requested online, by telephone, by mail or in person.
What information do you need to apply?
The beneficiary needs a valid Social Insurance Number. The subscriber opening the RESP must also provide the information required by the financial institution.
For CLB applications involving a child under 18, primary caregiver information is used to determine income-based eligibility. The CLB application documentation may require the primary caregiver or their spouse or common-law partner to provide their SIN and consent.
Do not send the standard Canada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond application form directly to Employment and Social Development Canada. The official application instructions state that the completed form is given to the RESP promoter.
Can you claim the Canada Learning Bond for previous years?
Yes. CLB entitlement can be claimed for previous eligible years even if the child did not have an RESP during those years.
This means a family that opens an RESP when a child is older does not automatically lose CLB amounts from earlier years. When the benefit is requested, eligible accumulated amounts can be deposited into the RESP, subject to the lifetime maximum of $2,000.
Can an 18, 19 or 20-year-old apply for the CLB?
Yes. An eligible beneficiary can request the Canada Learning Bond for themselves after turning 18 and has until the day before turning 21 to apply under the rules in effect in 2026.
An adult beneficiary can open an RESP for themselves if permitted under the applicable RESP rules and designate that RESP to receive the CLB. They can also designate an existing RESP in which they are the beneficiary, subject to the required authorization where another person is the subscriber.
The official adult beneficiary CLB application must be completed and given to the RESP promoter. It is not sent directly to Employment and Social Development Canada.
How much can an adult beneficiary receive retroactively?
An eligible adult beneficiary can receive the $500 initial amount plus $100 for each additional year for which they were eligible up to age 15, subject to the $2,000 lifetime maximum.
What about children and youth in care?
Children and youth in care can qualify for the Canada Learning Bond when they were born in 2004 or later and a public primary caregiver receives the Children's Special Allowance for them.
For a child in care, a designated employee of the public primary caregiver can open an RESP for the child. Personal contributions are not required to receive the CLB.
Young adults who were in care may also be able to request CLB amounts for previous eligible years after reaching adulthood and before the applicable age deadline.
How long does it take to receive the Canada Learning Bond?
The Government of Canada's RESP guidance states that benefits may take several weeks to appear after an application has been processed. It does not publish a single guaranteed processing time specifically for every CLB request.
Once eligibility is confirmed and the request is accepted, CLB money is deposited directly into the beneficiary's RESP.
Does it cost anything to apply for the Canada Learning Bond?
There is no requirement to contribute your own money to receive the CLB. However, RESP promoters can have their own administration fees, investment fees, sales charges, withdrawal conditions or penalties depending on the plan.
Before opening an RESP, ask the promoter what fees apply, what type of investments the plan offers and what happens if you transfer or close the plan.
Does receiving the CLB reduce other federal benefits?
No. Government guidance states that receiving the Canada Learning Bond does not affect other Government of Canada benefits.
What can Canada Learning Bond money be used for?
When the beneficiary attends eligible post-secondary education, RESP education assistance can help cover education-related costs. Government examples include tuition, books, tools, transportation and other eligible education expenses.
Eligible studies can include full-time or part-time programs at universities, colleges, CEGEPs, trade schools and apprenticeship programs, subject to RESP educational assistance payment rules.
What happens if the beneficiary does not pursue post-secondary education?
If the beneficiary does not pursue eligible post-secondary education and the CLB cannot otherwise be used under the RESP rules, the Canada Learning Bond is returned to the Government of Canada. The CLB is government education savings money and does not become a personal contribution belonging to the RESP subscriber.
Is the Canada Learning Bond the same as the Canada Education Savings Grant?
No. The CLB and CESG are separate federal education savings incentives.
The Canada Learning Bond is targeted to eligible beneficiaries from lower-income families and does not require personal RESP contributions. The Canada Education Savings Grant is calculated in relation to contributions made to an RESP and has its own eligibility, contribution and lifetime-limit rules.
Will children automatically receive the CLB in 2026?
No. In 2026, eligible families and youth still generally need an RESP and must request the Canada Learning Bond through an RESP promoter.
The Government of Canada has announced automatic CLB enrolment beginning in April 2028 for certain eligible children born in 2024 or later who meet the statutory conditions. That future automatic-enrolment process does not replace the regular application process for eligible beneficiaries in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Canada Learning Bond?
The CLB provides $500 for the first year a beneficiary is eligible and $100 for each additional eligible year up to and including age 15, to a lifetime maximum of $2,000.
Do I have to put money into an RESP to receive the Canada Learning Bond?
No. Personal contributions are not required to receive the Canada Learning Bond.
What is the Canada Learning Bond income limit for 2026?
For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the adjusted family income limit is $58,523 or less for families with 1 to 3 children. Higher limits apply to families with more children.
Who is eligible for the Canada Learning Bond?
The beneficiary must generally have been born on or after January 1, 2004, have a valid SIN, be a resident of Canada before payment, be named in an RESP and meet the low-income eligibility requirements for at least one benefit year. Special rules apply to children in care.
Do parents have to file tax returns for a child to qualify for the CLB?
For income-based eligibility, the primary caregiver must have filed an income tax return for each year for which the CLB is requested and must have been eligible for the Canada Child Benefit for the beneficiary.
Where do I apply for the Canada Learning Bond?
Apply through an RESP promoter that offers the CLB. The promoter handles the application and submits the required information through the Canada Education Savings Program.
Can I apply for the Canada Learning Bond online?
Depending on the RESP promoter, you may be able to open the RESP and request benefits online. Other promoters may offer telephone, mail or in-person service.
Can I get the Canada Learning Bond without already having an RESP?
You need an RESP for the CLB to be deposited, but you can open the RESP when you apply. Previous eligible years can still be claimed even if no RESP was open during those years.
Can I claim missed Canada Learning Bond payments from earlier years?
Yes. Eligible CLB amounts can be claimed for previous years even if an RESP was not open at the time, subject to the beneficiary's eligibility and the $2,000 lifetime maximum.
Can an 18-year-old apply for the Canada Learning Bond themselves?
Yes. An eligible beneficiary can request the CLB for themselves from age 18 and, under the rules in effect in 2026, must apply before turning 21.
Can a 20-year-old still apply for the Canada Learning Bond?
Yes, if otherwise eligible. In 2026, an adult beneficiary can apply until the day before their 21st birthday.
How long does it take for the Canada Learning Bond to be deposited?
Government guidance states that RESP benefits may take several weeks to appear after the application is processed. No single guaranteed CLB processing period is published.
Do children in foster care qualify for the Canada Learning Bond?
Children and youth in care can qualify if they were born in 2004 or later and a public primary caregiver receives the Children's Special Allowance for them.
Does the Canada Learning Bond affect other government benefits?
No. Government of Canada guidance states that receiving the CLB does not affect other Government of Canada benefits.
What happens to the Canada Learning Bond if the child does not go to post-secondary school?
If the beneficiary does not pursue eligible post-secondary education and the CLB cannot be used under the RESP rules, the CLB is returned to the Government of Canada.
Is the Canada Learning Bond automatic in 2026?
No. In 2026, eligible beneficiaries generally still need an RESP and a CLB request through an RESP promoter. Automatic enrolment for certain eligible children born in 2024 or later is scheduled to begin in April 2028.
Official sources
How much money can be added to Registered Education Savings PlansOpen a Registered Education Savings Plan and apply for benefitsCanada Learning BondRevised income brackets for the Canada Learning Bond for the July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 benefit yearCanada Learning Bond brochure for those under 18 years oldEducation savings benefits for children and youth in careCanada Learning Bond application for adult beneficiariesCanada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond applicationRegistered Education Savings Plans and related benefitsHow a Registered Education Savings Plan worksCanada Learning Bond automatic enrolmentRelated procedures
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