Canadian Dental Care Plan: who qualifies and how to apply
Quick summary
To qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, your adjusted family net income must be under $90,000, you cannot have access to private dental insurance, you must have filed taxes last year and you must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes. There is no fee to apply or renew, and applications are open for 2026 to 2027. Your income is based on your tax return, so see how the Canada Child Benefit uses it too.
Checked November 4, 2026. Main source: Canada.ca: Canadian Dental Care Plan, who qualifies (modified Sept. 22, 2026). See all 3 sources.
Key facts
- Family income limit
- Adjusted family net income under $90,000
- Source: Canada.ca, modified Sept. 22, 2026
- Private dental coverage
- You cannot have access to it, even if you do not use it or pay a premium for it
- Source: Canada.ca, modified Sept. 22, 2026
- Cost to apply or renew
- No fee
- Source: Canada.ca, modified Oct. 19, 2026
- Apply by phone
- Service Canada, 1-833-537-4342
- Source: Canada.ca, modified Sept. 24, 2026
- Current period
- Applications open for 2026 to 2027
- Source: Canada.ca, modified Oct. 19, 2026
Who qualifies
Canada.ca says you must meet all four of these:
- Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000. This adds your income and your spouse's or common-law partner's.
- You do not have access to private dental insurance or coverage. Health spending accounts that cover dental costs count as access. Coverage you do not use, or pay a premium for, still counts as access.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner filed tax returns in Canada for the previous year.
- You and your spouse or common-law partner are Canadian residents for tax purposes.
You must confirm your eligibility every year. To check access to coverage, look at box 45 on your T4 or box 015 on your T4A. A 1 means no access.
How to apply
- Gather each applicant's name, date of birth, address and social insurance number (for children, if they have one).
- Apply online through My Service Canada Account, or through the Canada.ca application if you cannot use that.
- Or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. TTY users can call 1-833-677-6262.
- Your spouse or common-law partner must send their own application.
- A trusted person can help you, with your consent.
There is no fee to apply or renew. Be careful of anyone who asks for your personal, banking or credit card information.
What we could not confirm
- Age rules and start dates for coverage. The pages we read do not list them.
- Which services are covered and what you pay at each income level. That is on a separate Canada.ca page we did not read.
- Whether the plan is open the same way next year. Canada.ca says applications are open for 2026 to 2027.
Questions people ask
What is the income limit for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Canada.ca says your adjusted family net income must be under $90,000.
Can I get it if I have dental insurance through work?
No, not if you have access to private dental coverage. Canada.ca says even coverage you do not use counts as access.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Canada.ca says there is no fee to apply or renew.
Does my spouse need to apply too?
Yes. Canada.ca says your spouse or common-law partner must submit their own application.
Does your province have its own rules?
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