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FinancialFebruary 18, 202611 min read

How to Complete the RC66 Canada Child Benefit

By WelcomeAide Team

Parent with young child filling out the RC66 Canada Child Benefit application form

What Is the Canada Child Benefit?

Quick tip: download the official RC66 first, then fill it while following this guide: Download RC66 form (official CRA).

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. It is one of the most generous child benefit programs in the world and is available to newcomers who meet the eligibility criteria.

For the July 2025 to June 2026 benefit period, the maximum annual amounts are:

  • $7,787 per child under 6 years old
  • $6,570 per child aged 6 to 17

The actual amount you receive depends on your adjusted family net income. Families with lower incomes receive the maximum benefit, and the amount decreases as income rises.

Who Is Eligible?

To receive the CCB, you must meet all of the following conditions:

  • You live with a child who is under 18 years of age
  • You are primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child
  • You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes
  • You (or your spouse/common-law partner) must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 consecutive months and has a valid permit, or an Indigenous person

Newcomer tip: Permanent residents are eligible immediately upon landing. If you're on a temporary visa (work permit or study permit), you're eligible after 18 consecutive months of living in Canada with a valid permit in the 19th month. However, some provinces have their own child benefits with different rules.

What Is Form RC66?

Form RC66, the Canada Child Benefits Application, is the form you use to apply for the CCB and related provincial/territorial child benefit programs. You fill it out once, and the CRA uses the information to determine your eligibility and calculate your payments.

Download Form RC66 from canada.ca/forms/rc66.

Stack of Canadian bills representing monthly Canada Child Benefit payments

Step-by-Step: Completing Form RC66

Part 1: Your Information (The Applicant)

  • Last name and first name: As shown on your official Canadian ID
  • Social Insurance Number (SIN): Your 9-digit SIN is required
  • Date of birth
  • Mailing address: Your current Canadian address
  • Marital status: As of the date of the application
  • Female or Male: The CRA uses this to determine who the presumed primary caregiver is. In cases where both parents live in the same home, the CRA presumes the female parent is the primary caregiver unless otherwise indicated.

Note: If you are the male parent and are the primary caregiver, you can absolutely apply — but you may need to include a letter explaining that you are the primary caregiver.

Part 2: Information About Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner

If you are married or living common-law, provide:

  • Spouse's name, SIN, and date of birth
  • Date of your marriage or when your common-law partnership began

Newcomer tip: If your spouse is not yet in Canada or does not yet have a SIN, you can still apply. Include their information and note that they are abroad. Once they arrive and get a SIN, update the CRA through My Account or by calling.

Part 3: Information About All Children in Your Care

For each child under 18, provide:

  • Child's full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Relationship to you (natural/biological, adopted, stepchild, grandchild, etc.)
  • Whether the child lives with you
  • Whether you have shared custody (the child lives with another person some of the time, such as a separated co-parent)

If you have shared custody (the child lives roughly equally with both parents), each parent receives 50% of the CCB amount.

Part 4: Residency Status

This is especially important for newcomers. You'll indicate:

  • Whether you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or temporary resident
  • The date you became a resident of Canada
  • Your immigration document number

Part 5: Certification

Sign and date the form. You are certifying that all information is accurate.

Schedule RC66SCH — Status in Canada

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you must also complete Schedule RC66SCH — Status in Canada and Income Information. This schedule asks for:

  • Your immigration status (permanent resident, refugee, work permit holder, etc.)
  • Your date of entry to Canada
  • Your world income for the 12 months before your date of entry (converted to Canadian dollars)
  • Your spouse's world income for the same period

Newcomer tip: The income information helps the CRA calculate your benefit amount. Lower income means higher CCB payments. If you had no income in the 12 months before arriving, enter zero.

Newcomer reviewing RC66SCH schedule showing immigration status section

Documents to Include

Along with Form RC66 (and RC66SCH if applicable), include copies of:

  • Proof of birth for each child (birth certificate or equivalent)
  • Proof of your immigration status (Confirmation of Permanent Residence, Record of Landing, work/study permit, refugee claim documentation)
  • Proof of the child's immigration status (if the child was born outside Canada)

Do not send originals — send photocopies. Keep originals for your records.

How to Submit

You can submit the RC66 in several ways:

  • By mail: Send to the CRA tax centre for your province
  • Online (in some cases): If you already have CRA My Account access and your child was born in Canada, you may be able to apply online through the Automated Benefits Application (ABA) at the time of birth registration
  • Through a CVITP tax clinic: Volunteers can help you complete and submit the form

Processing Time and First Payment

After the CRA receives your application:

  • Processing typically takes 8 to 11 weeks
  • If approved, your first payment will include any retroactive amounts you were eligible for (up to 11 months back from the date they receive your application)
  • Payments are made on the 20th of each month (or the last business day before if the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday)

Newcomer tip: Apply as soon as you're eligible. If you wait 6 months after arriving, you may miss out on several months of payments that you were entitled to. Retroactive payments go back a maximum of 11 months from the month the CRA receives your application.

Keeping Your CCB Active

To continue receiving the CCB, you must:

  1. File your T1 tax return every year (and your spouse must too, if applicable). The CRA recalculates your benefit every July based on the previous year's tax return.
  2. Keep your personal information up to date — notify the CRA of any changes to your address, marital status, number of children, or custody arrangements.
  3. Continue to be eligible — remain a Canadian resident and primary caregiver.

How Much Will You Receive? Examples

  • Family with one child under 6, income of $35,000: Approximately $7,437/year ($619.75/month)
  • Family with two children (ages 3 and 8), income of $50,000: Approximately $11,774/year ($981.17/month)
  • Single parent with one child aged 10, income of $25,000: Approximately $6,570/year ($547.50/month)

Use the CRA Child and Family Benefits Calculator for a precise estimate.

Related Provincial Benefits

When you apply for the CCB, the CRA also assesses your eligibility for provincial/territorial child benefits, including:

  • BC Family Benefit
  • Ontario Child Benefit
  • Alberta Child and Family Benefit
  • Quebec Family Allowance (administered by Retraite Québec — separate application required)

These are automatically calculated based on your tax return, except in Quebec, where you need to apply separately.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Waiting too long to apply: Apply as soon as you arrive or become eligible. Retroactive payments are limited.
  2. Not filing annual tax returns: If you or your spouse don't file, your CCB payments will stop.
  3. Not reporting a change in marital status: Getting married, separating, or starting a common-law relationship changes your benefit calculation.
  4. Forgetting to include all children: Make sure every child under 18 in your care is listed.
  5. Applying before you're eligible (temporary residents): If you're on a work or study permit, you must wait until 18 months of continuous residence before applying.

The Canada Child Benefit can make a significant difference for newcomer families. With payments of up to $7,787 per child per year, it provides crucial support during your settlement period. Take the time to complete form RC66 correctly and submit it promptly — your family deserves this support.

Download This Form

Before you submit anything, download the latest official file here: Download RC66 form (official CRA). Always use the latest version.

Related internal guides

Official external resources

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