How to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan in 2026 if you do not have private dental insurance
Apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan for the 2026-2027 benefit year if your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, you have no access to private dental insurance, you meet the Canadian tax residency requirement and the required tax returns have been filed. Learn the eligibility rules, information needed, application options, coverage levels and what happens after approval.
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Applications for the Canadian Dental Care Plan are open for the 2026-2027 benefit year. To qualify, you must have no access to private dental insurance or coverage, you and your spouse or common-law partner if applicable must have filed the required Canadian tax returns for the previous year, your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000, and you and your spouse or common-law partner if applicable must be Canadian residents for tax purposes. You can apply online through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca, or by phone if you cannot apply online. There is no fee to apply. After a successful application, Service Canada confirms whether you are enrolled and provides your benefit coverage start date and co-payment level.
What you need
- Meet all four CDCP eligibility requirements before applying.
- Have no access to private dental insurance or coverage, including qualifying dental health spending accounts.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed your Canadian tax returns for the previous year and received your notices of assessment.
- Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must be Canadian residents for tax purposes.
- Provide the Social Insurance Number for each applicant, except that a SIN is only required for a child if available.
- Provide each applicant's date of birth and full name.
- Provide home and mailing addresses.
- Provide information about dental coverage received through provincial, territorial or federal government social programs, if applicable.
- Confirm that you do not have access to private dental insurance or coverage.
Eligibility
You qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan only if you meet all four federal eligibility requirements: you have no access to private dental insurance or coverage; you and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, have filed Canadian tax returns so the previous year's family income can be assessed; your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000; and you and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, are Canadian residents for tax purposes.
Having access to private dental coverage generally makes you ineligible even if you do not use the coverage, decide not to enrol, must pay a premium, or the plan does not cover all of your dental costs. Private coverage includes coverage through your work or pension plan, a family member's work or pension plan, a professional or student organization, and dental insurance purchased by you or a family member. A specific exception may apply to a retired person who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in.
Dental benefits provided through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program do not automatically disqualify you. If you otherwise qualify for the CDCP, the programs may coordinate coverage to avoid duplication.
How to do it
- Check that you meet all four eligibility requirements. Confirm that you have no access to private dental insurance or coverage, that the required Canadian tax returns have been filed, that your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000, and that you meet the Canadian tax residency requirement.
- Check your access to workplace or pension dental coverage. If you work, review box 45 of your T4 tax slip. If you receive a pension, review box 015 of your T4A. A code of 1 indicates no access through that work or pension plan, while codes 2, 3, 4 or 5 indicate that some form of dental insurance or coverage is offered. Also check your spouse's or common-law partner's tax slips if applicable because their plan may provide access for you or your dependants.
- Make sure the required tax returns are complete. You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed Canadian tax returns for the previous year and received your notices of assessment.
- Prepare the application information. Have the full name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number and home and mailing address for each applicant. A child's SIN is provided if available. Also prepare information about dental coverage through government social programs, if applicable.
- Apply online. Sign in to or create a My Service Canada Account, open the Canadian Dental Care Plan section and select the option to apply for coverage. If you cannot use MSCA, an online Canada.ca application is also available.
- Apply by phone if you cannot apply online. Call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. The TTY number is 1-833-677-6262.
- Keep your application information. After applying online or by phone, keep the application code or later-issued client number because it can be used when checking application status.
- Check your application status. Service Canada provides an online status checker and a telephone option for checking the status of your application and applications for your dependants.
- Wait for confirmation of enrolment before receiving covered care. If you are enrolled, Service Canada sends a letter or digital communication containing your CDCP plan number, member ID, benefit coverage start date and co-payment level.
- Confirm coverage before dental treatment. Do not book an appointment before your benefit coverage start date. Confirm that your coverage is active before receiving treatment and at every appointment.
- Renew coverage each year. CDCP coverage applies for a benefit period ending June 30 and eligibility must be confirmed annually. For the 2026-2027 benefit year, applications are currently open. The 2026 renewal period for existing 2025-2026 members closed on June 1, 2026; people who missed it may submit a new application but can have a gap in coverage.
Who can apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan in 2026
The Canadian Dental Care Plan, commonly called the CDCP, helps reduce eligible dental care costs for Canadian residents who meet federal income, tax residency and insurance requirements. Applications are open for the 2026-2027 benefit year, which runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Eligibility is based on four requirements. You must have no access to private dental insurance or coverage, you and your spouse or common-law partner if applicable must have filed Canadian tax returns so your previous year's family income can be assessed, your adjusted family net income must be below $90,000, and you and your spouse or common-law partner if applicable must be Canadian residents for tax purposes.
What counts as access to private dental insurance
You generally cannot qualify if you have access to dental insurance or coverage through your work or pension plan, a family member's work or pension plan, a professional or student organization, or insurance purchased by you or a family member. Dental health spending accounts are also considered when determining access.
You can be considered to have access even if you have never used the insurance, choose not to enrol, have to pay a premium, or the insurance does not cover the full cost of your dental treatment.
There is a specific exception for some retired people. You may still be eligible if you retired and opted out of dental insurance or coverage through your pension plan before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in.
How to check your T4 or T4A for dental coverage
Before declaring that you do not have access to dental insurance, check box 45 on your T4 if you work and box 015 on your T4A if you receive a pension. A code of 1 means you do not have access through that work or pension plan. Codes 2, 3, 4 or 5 mean that the work or pension plan offers some type of dental insurance or coverage for you or your family.
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, their workplace or pension coverage can also affect eligibility for you or your dependants. Service Canada may review the information reported on tax slips after an application is accepted.
Can you qualify if you have provincial or federal dental benefits
Dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program does not automatically prevent you from qualifying for the CDCP. If you meet the other eligibility conditions, the programs may coordinate benefits so that coverage is not duplicated.
CDCP income limit for 2026
Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000. The Government of Canada calculates adjusted family net income using family net income and specified adjustments for Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income and repayments.
The federal eligibility guidance identifies family net income using line 23600, subtracts applicable UCCB and RDSP income reported on lines 11700 and 12500, and adds applicable UCCB and RDSP repayments reported on lines 21300 and 23200.
Tax return requirement for the Canadian Dental Care Plan
You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed Canadian tax returns so your family income for the previous year can be assessed. For the application, Service Canada states that the required tax return must have been filed and the notice of assessment received.
What information you need to apply for the CDCP
For each applicant, prepare the Social Insurance Number, date of birth, full name, home address and mailing address. A SIN is provided for a child if available. You must also provide information about dental coverage through government social programs if applicable.
You also need the relevant information for your spouse or common-law partner when applicable. Both partners must have filed the required tax returns and received their notices of assessment.
How to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan online
The CDCP can be applied for online. One option is through My Service Canada Account. Sign in or create an MSCA profile, open the Canadian Dental Care Plan section on the dashboard, select the application option and follow the instructions.
If you cannot use My Service Canada Account, Service Canada also provides an online Canada.ca application. Applicants can choose digital communications to receive email notifications and can access CDCP letters through MSCA.
How to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan by phone
If you cannot use My Service Canada Account or the Canada.ca online application, you can apply by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. The TTY number is 1-833-677-6262.
A trusted person such as a friend, relative, caregiver, translator or interpreter may help you apply by phone if you can clearly consent during the call. A person with legal authority to act for you can apply as a delegate after Service Canada accepts proof of that authority.
Does it cost anything to apply for the CDCP
There is no fee to apply for or renew CDCP coverage. The Government of Canada warns that the program will not ask you to pay an application or renewal fee.
However, CDCP membership does not necessarily make dental treatment free. The amount paid by the plan depends partly on your adjusted family net income, and you can also face additional charges when a provider's fee is higher than the CDCP established fee or when you agree to receive services that the plan does not cover.
How much of your dental costs does the CDCP cover
If your adjusted family net income is below $70,000, the CDCP covers 100 percent of eligible oral health care service costs at the CDCP established fees, although additional provider charges can still apply. For adjusted family net income from $70,000 to $79,999, the CDCP covers 60 percent of eligible costs at established fees and the member co-payment is 40 percent. For income from $80,000 to $89,999, the CDCP covers 40 percent and the member co-payment is 60 percent.
The CDCP established fees may differ from the amount charged by an oral health provider. Ask the provider about costs that will not be covered before agreeing to treatment.
What happens after you apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan
You can check the status of your application and applications for your dependants using the Government of Canada's online status checker or by phone. You generally need the application code or client number and the applicant's SIN. If a child does not have a SIN, the online process can use the child's full name and date of birth as specified by Service Canada.
If Service Canada confirms that you are enrolled, your confirmation includes your CDCP plan number, member ID, benefit coverage start date and co-payment level. Your coverage start date depends on when Service Canada receives the application and completes enrolment.
After eligibility is confirmed, information is shared with Sun Life, which administers claims and sends a welcome package with a physical member card and information about the plan. You do not have to wait for the welcome package before receiving care once your coverage is active, provided you have the information required for your appointment.
When can you book your first dental appointment
Do not book an appointment before the benefit coverage start date shown in your enrolment confirmation. Only eligible care received after your coverage start date can be covered. Confirm that your coverage is active before receiving treatment and at every appointment.
CDCP reimbursement is made to oral health providers rather than directly to patients. You should not pay the full cost upfront expecting reimbursement from the plan. Ask your provider in advance whether they will accept you as a CDCP patient, bill the plan directly and whether you will have any co-payment or additional charges.
Can Service Canada review your eligibility after approval
Yes. The CDCP is an attestation-based program and eligibility may be reviewed after an application is accepted. Service Canada and Health Canada may compare your declaration about access to dental insurance with information such as T4 and T4A tax records.
If selected for an eligibility review, follow the instructions and deadline in the letter you receive. You may be asked for a CDCP Member Eligibility Review Form or a letter from your work or pension plan confirming why dental coverage is not available to you. If you are found ineligible, you may be removed from the plan and may have to repay amounts claimed for services received while you were ineligible.
Do you need to renew the Canadian Dental Care Plan every year
Yes. CDCP coverage is based on annual benefit periods ending June 30, and members must confirm their eligibility each year. The renewal period for 2025-2026 members closed on June 1, 2026. If you had coverage and missed that renewal deadline, you can submit a new application for the 2026-2027 benefit year, but there may be a gap in coverage. Dental services received during a coverage gap are not covered retroactively. Renewals for the 2027-2028 benefit year are expected to open in spring 2027 according to current federal guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the Canadian Dental Care Plan in 2026?
You must meet all four requirements: have no access to private dental insurance or coverage, have the required Canadian tax returns filed for the previous year, have adjusted family net income below $90,000, and meet the Canadian tax residency requirement. The rules also apply to your spouse or common-law partner where specified.
What is the income limit for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000 to qualify.
Can I apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan online?
Yes. You can apply online through My Service Canada Account. Service Canada also provides a Canada.ca online application for people who cannot use MSCA.
Can I apply for the CDCP by phone?
Yes. If you cannot apply using MSCA or Canada.ca, you can call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. TTY service is available at 1-833-677-6262.
Is there a fee to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
No. There is no fee to apply for or renew CDCP coverage.
Can I qualify if my employer offers dental insurance but I did not enrol?
Generally no. The CDCP considers you to have access to private dental coverage even if you decide not to enrol, do not use the coverage, have to pay a premium or the coverage does not pay all dental costs.
Can I qualify if my spouse has dental insurance through work?
Not if your spouse's plan gives you or your dependants access to dental coverage. Applicants should check the dental coverage information on their spouse's or common-law partner's T4 or T4A where applicable.
Can I qualify if I have dental benefits from a provincial government program?
Possibly. Coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program does not automatically disqualify you. If you meet the CDCP eligibility requirements, the programs may coordinate benefits.
What information do I need for a CDCP application?
Service Canada asks for information including each applicant's full name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number, home and mailing address, and details of dental coverage through government social programs if applicable. A SIN is provided for a child if available. The required previous-year tax returns must have been filed and notices of assessment received.
Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan pay 100 percent of dental costs?
Not necessarily. At adjusted family net income below $70,000, the CDCP covers 100 percent of eligible services at CDCP established fees, but additional provider charges can still apply. The plan covers 60 percent at established fees for income from $70,000 to $79,999 and 40 percent for income from $80,000 to $89,999.
How long does a CDCP application take?
Service Canada does not publish one fixed processing time that applies to every CDCP application. You can check your application status online or by phone. If approved, your enrolment confirmation states your benefit coverage start date.
Can I go to the dentist as soon as I apply for the CDCP?
You should not book an appointment before your confirmed benefit coverage start date. Confirm that your coverage is active before receiving treatment and at every appointment.
Do I have to renew Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage every year?
Yes. CDCP eligibility must be confirmed annually. The 2026 renewal period for people covered in 2025-2026 closed on June 1, 2026. A person who missed the renewal can submit a new application for 2026-2027 but may experience a gap in coverage.