How to Apply for the Canada Child Benefit as a Newcomer
The Canada Child Benefit for newcomers can help with the cost of raising a child. First, check that your family meets the rules. Then use the CRA’s newcomer route: fill in Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH, and send them to your tax centre.
Check the rules for your family
Start with the CRA’s full list of rules. You must live with a child under 18 and be the person mainly in charge of their care. You must also be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
In addition, you or your spouse or common-law partner must have an eligible status. This may be citizenship, permanent residence or protected-person status. A refugee claimant document alone does not meet this rule.
For temporary residents, two extra rules apply. You must have lived in Canada for the past 18 months and hold a valid, qualifying permit in month 19. However, this wait does not apply to all newcomers. Check the status category that fits your family.
Choose who will apply
Next, read the CRA’s rules on which parent should apply. The rules differ for parents who live together and parents who share care from separate homes. So do not send two copies of the same household request.
If your child spends time in two homes, give the CRA the true care schedule. Also, tell the CRA if that schedule later changes. The dates and living arrangements matter when it works out who can get the benefit.
Prepare the forms and proof
The official steps for applying give newcomers a specific route. Use RC66 for the child benefit request and RC66SCH for status and income details. Download the current versions from the CRA.
- First, make a note of when each parent and child arrived in Canada.
- Next, gather the income details for the periods shown on the forms.
- Then fill in the forms and add the proof the CRA asks for.
- Check names, dates and signatures before you send the package.
- Finally, keep copies and a record of the date you sent it.
If your spouse or partner lived outside Canada for part of a year, also check whether you need Form CTB9. The CRA’s instructions explain when it applies. Do not leave an income field blank just because the income came from abroad.
Check how much you may get
The benefit is a tax-free monthly payment. However, the amount is not the same for each family. It depends on adjusted family net income and the number and ages of eligible children.
Use the CRA’s current benefit amounts for the right payment year. For example, a maximum amount in a headline may be more than your own payment. Wait for the CRA’s decision before you rely on a sum in your budget.
Keep your claim up to date
After you apply, read each CRA letter and reply by its deadline. Also, keep filing the tax returns the CRA needs to work out your family income. A benefit form does not replace those returns.
If a form is unclear, use the CRA’s child benefit guide. It explains income, care and family changes in more detail.
Common questions
Does every newcomer have to wait 18 months?
No. That rule applies to the temporary-resident route. Instead, check the rules for your own status.
Will my child get the benefit just by moving here?
No. You still need to meet the rules and use the correct route to apply.
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