Canada Child Benefit for Newcomers (July 2026

Key takeaways

July 2026 to June 2027: up to $8,157 a year for each child under 6 and $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17
The amount goes down once adjusted family net income is over $38,237, and faster over $82,847
Permanent residents and protected persons can apply right away; temporary residents from the 19th month in Canada with a valid permit
Newcomers apply by mail with Form RC66 and Form RC66SCH
Both parents must file a tax return every year, or payments stop

What is the Canada Child Benefit?

The CCB is a monthly, tax-free payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It helps with the cost of raising children under 18. It is often the largest federal benefit a newcomer family gets.

The CCB can also include provincial child benefits that the CRA pays for some provinces, such as the BC family benefit and the Ontario child benefit. A child with an approved disability tax credit can add the child disability benefit: up to $3,480 a year ($290 a month) for July 2026 to June 2027. See provincial credits and benefits by province.

Who can get the CCB?

You must meet all of these rules:

You live with a child under 18.
You are primarily responsible for the child’s care, such as daily supervision, medical needs and child care.
You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
You or your spouse or common-law partner has one of the statuses in the table below.

Status (you or your partner)	When CCB can start
Canadian citizen	When you become a resident
Permanent resident	When you become a resident
Protected person (positive decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board)	From the date of protected status. A refugee claimant without a positive decision does not count yet
Temporary resident (worker, student, visitor, permit holder)	From the 19th month, if you lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in month 19
Registered, or entitled to be registered, under the Indian Act	When you become a resident

A permit that says “does not confer status” does not count. If the child lives with two parents, the CRA presumes the female parent is primarily responsible, so she usually applies. The other parent can apply instead with a signed letter from her.

How much is the CCB from July 2026 to June 2027?

The CRA recalculates the CCB every July. For the payment year July 2026 to June 2027, it uses your 2025 adjusted family net income (AFNI). As of October 2026:

Child’s age	Maximum per year	Maximum per month
Under 6	$8,157	$679.75
6 to 17	$6,883	$573.58

The CCB goes down as family income goes up:

Number of children	AFNI $38,237 to $82,847	AFNI over $82,847
1	7% of income over $38,237	$3,123 + 3.2% of income over $82,847
2	13.5%	$6,022 + 5.7%
3	19%	$8,476 + 8%
4 or more	23%	$10,260 + 9.5%

As of October 10, 2026, the CRA’s newcomers page still shows $7,997 and $6,748. Those are the July 2025 to June 2026 maximums. The CRA calculation page and the CRA indexation page both show $8,157 and $6,883 for July 2026 to June 2027, which this page uses.

Worked examples

Example 1: single parent, one child aged 4, AFNI of $45,000. Reduction: 7% × ($45,000 − $38,237) = $473.41. CCB: $8,157 − $473.41 = $7,683.59 a year, about $640.30 a month.

Example 2: couple, children aged 3 and 9, AFNI of $60,000. Maximum: $8,157 + $6,883 = $15,040. Reduction: 13.5% × ($60,000 − $38,237) = $2,938.01. CCB: $12,101.99 a year, about $1,008.50 a month.

Example 3: same couple, AFNI of $90,000. Reduction: $6,022 + 5.7% × ($90,000 − $82,847) = $6,429.72. CCB: $15,040 − $6,429.72 = $8,610.28 a year, about $717.52 a month.

To add the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Canada Workers Benefit, use the benefit estimator.

Which income counts in your first year?

You have no Canadian tax return yet, so the CRA uses the world income you write on Form RC66SCH. You report income for the year you arrived (up to your arrival date) and the year before. If you arrived between January 1 and May 31, you also report the year two years before. Amounts must be in Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada rate.

After your first return is assessed, the CRA uses your Canadian returns. That is why both parents must file every year, even with no income. Your first return asks for the date you became a resident and your partner’s net world income. See your first tax return.

Workers and students: how the 18-month rule works

If neither parent is a citizen, permanent resident or protected person, one of you must have lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months. You must also hold a valid permit in the 19th month.

Example: a worker arrives with a work permit and starts living in Canada on January 1, 2025. Months 1 to 18 run from January 2025 to June 2026. Month 19 is July 2026. If the permit is still valid in July 2026, the family can apply then.

Keep your status continuous. Apply to extend your permit before it expires. If you send RC66 before month 19, the CRA uses it only to register you for the CGEB and other programs. You must apply again for the CCB once you qualify. If you later become a permanent resident, update the CRA.

How newcomers apply

Fill out Form RC66, Canada Child Benefit Application. Answer “no” to the citizenship question or “yes” to the newcomer question, as it applies.
Fill out Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information.
Attach proof of birth for each child and any translations.
Mail everything to your tax centre. The CRA’s CCB page tells newcomers to mail RC66 and RC66SCH.

The CRA says its goal is to issue your notice or payment within 11 weeks of getting a complete paper application. For a field-by-field guide, see the RC66 walkthrough. RC66 also signs you up for the CGEB, so you do not need a separate RC151.

Apply as soon as you qualify. If you apply for a period that began more than 11 months ago, you must send extra proof: residency, custody and immigration status for the whole period.

Payment dates and keeping the CCB

The CCB is paid monthly, usually on the 20th. The last three payment dates in 2026 are October 20, November 20 and December 11. If your yearly total is under $240, you get one lump sum in July instead. If a payment does not arrive, wait 5 working days before you contact the CRA.

File a return every year by April 30, both partners.
Tell the CRA if you move, your marital status changes, custody changes or you leave Canada.
Set up direct deposit to get payments faster.

Other federal benefits for families: Canada Workers Benefit and Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Common questions

Can I get the CCB on a work permit or study permit?

Yes, from the 19th month you have lived in Canada, if you or your spouse lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month. Your status must stay continuous.

Can I apply for the CCB through CRA My Account?

Many parents can. For newcomers, the CRA’s CCB page says to mail Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH to your tax centre.

Is the CCB taxable?

No. The CCB is tax-free. You do not report it as income on your tax return.

Does income earned abroad count?

Yes. For your first year, you report world income on RC66SCH. After that, the CRA uses the net income on your Canadian return, which includes world income for the time you were a resident.

Why does the CRA newcomers page show different amounts?

As of October 10, 2026, that page shows the July 2025 to June 2026 amounts ($7,997 and $6,748). The CRA calculation page shows $8,157 and $6,883 for July 2026 to June 2027.

Refugee claimant: can I get the CCB?

Not as a claimant. The CRA counts you as a protected person only after a positive decision. A temporary resident permit can count under the 18-month rule if it does not say “does not confer status”.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Canada Child Benefit for newcomers: who qualifies, how much, how to apply