How to apply for the Canada Child Benefit: steps and documents

• At birth registration, when you register your newborn with your province or territory. The CRA says this is not available in Nunavut, and lists online registration in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.
• In your CRA account. Sign in, choose your Individual account, pick Benefits and credits, and add the child under Child information.
• By mail, using Form RC66, if you cannot use the other ways.

The CRA says to apply once you or your spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility rules and one of these happens:

• Your child is born.
• A child starts living with you, or returns after a stay elsewhere.
• A shared custody arrangement starts, ends or changes.
• You get custody of a child.

• Proof of birth, if the CRA has never paid benefits for the child and you apply online or by mail. Not needed through birth registration.
• A signed letter from the female parent, if you are the other parent and mainly responsible for the children in the home.
• More documents if the child started living with you more than 11 months ago: proof of citizenship, proof of residence in Canada, proof of birth and proof of primary care.
• Schedule RC66SCH if you are a newcomer or returning resident.
• Translations of any original documents that are not in English or French.

You can follow your application in your CRA account, and the CRA website shows current processing times. The CCB is based on your tax return, so file every year.

• benefit payment dates for 2026
• Provincial child benefits

• Who can apply. The page we read sends you to a separate eligibility page.
• How far back payments can go. The page only says older applications need extra documents.