Newcomers Guide

Canada Learning Bond: amounts, income limits and how to apply

By Alex Francisco Updated Oct 11, 2026 Figures checked Oct 11, 2026 8 min read

What is the Canada Learning Bond and how much does it pay?

The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) pays $500 in a child's first eligible year and $100 for each later eligible year up to age 15, a lifetime maximum of $2,000, into the RESP of a child from a low-income family. No contribution is needed. For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, a family with 1 to 3 children qualifies with adjusted income of $58,523 or less, and the bond must be requested before the beneficiary turns 21.

The Canada Learning Bond pays $500 for the first year a child is eligible and $100 for each later eligible year up to and including age 15, to a lifetime maximum of $2,000.
No contribution to the RESP is needed: the bond is paid by the Government of Canada, but it can only be paid into an RESP that names the child as beneficiary.
For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 the adjusted family income level is $58,523 or less with 1 to 3 children, less than $66,036 with 4 and less than $73,577 with 5.
The bond is retroactive: amounts build up for every eligible year until December 31 of the year the child turns 15, even when no RESP was open at the time.
The primary caregiver can request the bond until the day before the child turns 18; from 18, the beneficiary has to request it in their own name, and the deadline is the day before they turn 21.
A bond that is never used for education after high school goes back to the Government of Canada, while the family's own RESP contributions are returned to the subscriber.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Sources

The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is money the Government of Canada deposits into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for a child from a low-income family. The family does not have to contribute anything. The two tables below show what it pays and the income levels for the current period, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

Canada Learning Bond amounts

How to read this table: the first-year amount is paid once. The yearly amount is added for every later year the family is at or under the income level, up to the year the child turns 15.

Payment	Amount	Detail
First year the child is eligible	$500	Paid once, into the RESP
Each later eligible year	$100	Up to and including the year the child turns 15
Lifetime maximum for one child	$2,000	Paid into one RESP only

Canada Learning Bond income levels, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027

How to read this table: adjusted family income is the primary caregiver's income plus a spouse's or common-law partner's, before tax, less certain benefit income (the formula is in the income section below). ESDC publishes the levels for one July-to-June period at a time.

Children in the family	Adjusted family income
1 to 3 children	$58,523 or less
4 children	Less than $66,036
5 children	Less than $73,577
More than 5 children	Not published: call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)

This page is education, not financial advice. Whether a particular child qualifies, and for which years, is decided by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) when the RESP promoter sends in the application.

How much is the Canada Learning Bond?

The bond pays $500 for the first eligible year, then $100 for each eligible year up to and including age 15, and the lifetime maximum for one child is $2,000.

A child whose family is at or under the income level every year from birth reaches that maximum: $500 plus 15 yearly amounts of $100. A child who is eligible for fewer years gets less. For example, a child eligible for 8 years in total would receive $1,200.

Three points make the bond different from most benefits:

No contribution is needed. ESDC’s wording is that no contributions to the RESP are needed to obtain the CLB.
It is retroactive. Amounts build up for each eligible year until December 31 of the year the child turns 15, even when no RESP was open. Opening the plan later collects the earlier eligible years.
It is paid into one RESP only. ESDC pays the bond into a single RESP for each child, even when more than one plan exists.

The bond sits alongside the Canada Education Savings Grant, which is a match on contributions with a lifetime maximum of $7,200 for one child. The RESP guide covers how the grant, contribution limits and withdrawals work.

Who is eligible for the Canada Learning Bond?

Eligibility has two sides: conditions for the beneficiary, and conditions for the primary caregiver. The primary caregiver is the person who is eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) in the child’s name.

Canada Learning Bond eligibility conditions

How to read this table: every beneficiary condition and both primary caregiver conditions have to be met for a year to count. The last row is a separate route for children in care.

Applies to	Condition
Beneficiary (the child or young adult)	Resident of Canada before the bond is paid into the RESP
Beneficiary	Has a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Beneficiary	Named as a beneficiary in an RESP
Beneficiary	Born on or after January 1, 2004
Beneficiary	From a family with low income (adjusted family income at or under the level for the number of children)
Primary caregiver	Filed an income tax return for each year the bond is requested for
Primary caregiver	Eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
Children in care	Eligible where a Children's Special Allowance is payable for the child

The person who opens the RESP does not have to be the primary caregiver. ESDC says anyone can be a subscriber: parents, guardians, grandparents, other relatives and friends. The income test still looks at the primary caregiver’s family income, not the subscriber’s.

Because the caregiver has to be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit, the two benefits are closely tied. The Canada child benefit payment dates page covers when that monthly payment arrives.

What is the Canada Learning Bond income limit for 2026 to 2027?

For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 the limit is adjusted family income of $58,523 or less (families with 1 to 3 children). Larger families have higher levels: less than $66,036 with 4 children and less than $73,577 with 5. For families with more than 5 children, ESDC does not publish a figure and asks them to call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).

The income that counts is adjusted family income, which ESDC works out like this:

How adjusted family income is worked out for the Canada Learning Bond

How to read this table: line 23600 is net income on the tax return. ESDC's pages do not agree on which benefit is subtracted: the amounts page, updated August 10, 2026, names the UCCB, and three other RESP pages name the Canada Child Benefit. ESDC applies the test when the request is processed.

Step	Amount used
Start with	The primary caregiver's income before tax (line 23600 of the tax return)
Add	The spouse's or common-law partner's income before tax (line 23600), if there is one
Subtract	Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and RDSP income received, on ESDC's amounts page; ESDC's other RESP pages name the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and RDSP income
Add back	Any of that income repaid to the government in the year

Two things follow from that formula. The primary caregiver has to have filed a tax return for each year the bond is requested for, which is one of ESDC’s eligibility conditions. And the level is checked for each year separately, so a family can be eligible in some years and not in others: only the eligible years add $100.

How do you apply for the Canada Learning Bond?

There is no form to send to the government yourself. The request goes through an RESP promoter, the financial organization where the RESP is opened. ESDC’s steps:

Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for the child, and one for yourself if you do not have one. The SIN application steps explain the documents and routes.
Choose a promoter that offers the bond. Banks, credit unions, certified financial planners and group plan dealers provide RESPs. ESDC says most promoters offer the CLB, which means some do not, so it tells families to ask before opening the plan.
Open the RESP and name the child as beneficiary. Depending on the promoter, this can be done online, over the phone or by mail. ESDC notes that a bank account is not needed to open an RESP.
Apply for the benefits. The promoter helps with the application for the Canada Learning Bond, the Canada Education Savings Grant and any provincial benefit at the same time. ESDC says the signature and SIN of the primary caregiver, or of their cohabiting spouse or common-law partner, are required when requesting certain benefits.
Check the deposit. Eligible amounts are deposited automatically after the application; ESDC says it may take several weeks.

Before opening the plan, ESDC suggests asking the promoter about fees, limits on how often contributions can be made, penalties and the types of plan offered, and getting the answers in writing. Some promoters charge service fees. A group plan usually asks for regular payments over a set period, which matters for a family that wants the bond without committing to contributions.

Wealthsimple is one example of a promoter, and it appears on ESDC’s shortened list of institutions where an RESP can be opened. That list does not say which benefits each one offers. Its RESP is available as a self-directed or managed RESP, and the Wealthsimple RESP guide describes how that account works. ESDC’s point applies to it as to any other institution: confirm that the promoter offers the Canada Learning Bond before the plan is opened.

Who applies at each age, and what is the deadline?

The deadline to claim the bond is the day before the beneficiary turns 21. Who makes the request changes at 18.

Who can request the Canada Learning Bond, by the beneficiary's age

How to read this table: eligible years stop being added at the end of the year the child turns 15. The years from 16 to 20 are only extra time to collect what already built up.

Age of the beneficiary	Who makes the request	Window	What is paid
Birth to 17	The primary caregiver, through the RESP promoter	Until the day before the child turns 18	$500 for the first eligible year, $100 for each later eligible year up to the year the child turns 15
18, 19 and 20	The beneficiary, in their own name (this can include opening their own RESP)	From the 18th birthday until the day before the 21st	Amounts already built up from eligible years up to age 15; no new years are added
21 and over	No one	Closed	An unrequested bond can no longer be claimed

The adult-beneficiary rule. At 18, an eligible beneficiary has to apply for the bond personally. ESDC says the steps can include opening an RESP of their own, with themselves as both subscriber and beneficiary. This is the route for a young adult whose family never opened a plan: someone born on or after January 1, 2004 whose family was under the income level during childhood can still collect, as long as the request is made between the 18th birthday and the day before the 21st.

A beneficiary who turns 21 without a request loses the bond. Nothing is paid out later.

What happens to the Canada Learning Bond if the child does not study?

An unused bond is returned to the Government of Canada. ESDC’s rule is that the CLB can only be used by an eligible beneficiary for education, so it cannot be moved to a sibling or withdrawn by the family.

What happens to the bond and to the family's contributions

How to read this table: the bond and the family's own contributions are treated separately. Contributions always belong to the subscriber.

Situation	Canada Learning Bond	Money the subscriber put in
The beneficiary studies full time or part time at an eligible school, in Canada or abroad	Paid out to the student as part of an Educational Assistance Payment	Can be used by the student or returned to the subscriber, tax-free
The beneficiary does not continue their education after high school	Returned to the Government of Canada	Returned to the subscriber
The RESP is closed	Returned to the Government of Canada	Returned to the person who opened the RESP, not taxed
RESP earnings are rolled over to an RDSP	Any remaining bond must be repaid	Returned to the subscriber
A family plan holds a sibling who was not eligible for the bond	Stays with the eligible child; it cannot be shared	Not affected

Using the bond does not require a university degree. To take money out for education, the beneficiary has to enrol in full-time or part-time studies at an eligible school, in Canada or abroad, and the program has to meet minimum weeks and hours. The subscriber asks the promoter for an Educational Assistance Payment, and the student gives the promoter proof of enrolment. That payment includes the bond and is taxed as the student’s income.

A family that only ever received the bond, and never contributed, has nothing of its own at stake if the child does not continue after high school: the bond simply goes back.

RESP for newcomers: how does the Canada Learning Bond fit?

Newcomers qualify on the same conditions as everyone else; there is no separate newcomer rule. In practice, four of the conditions take time to line up after arrival:

Residency. The child has to be a resident of Canada before the bond is paid.
A SIN for the child. The beneficiary has to have a SIN, and getting one is ESDC’s first step before opening the RESP.
Canada Child Benefit eligibility. The primary caregiver has to be eligible for the CCB. The guide to the Canada child benefit for newcomers covers that application.
Tax returns. The caregiver has to have filed a return for each year the bond is requested for. The guide to a first Canadian tax return as a newcomer walks through that filing.

A child who arrives in Canada partway through childhood can still receive the first-year amount of $500 and then $100 for each later eligible year, as long as the eligible years fall before the end of the year the child turns 15.

What changes next for the Canada Learning Bond?

Two things are scheduled. The published income levels run to June 30, 2027, so a new set applies from July 1, 2027, and automatic enrolment begins in April 2028.

Canada Learning Bond automatic enrolment

How to read this table: ESDC says more details will follow. Until automatic enrolment starts, the bond is only paid when an RESP is opened and the request is made through a promoter.

Point	What ESDC has said
Start	As of April 2028, the Government of Canada opens an RESP and deposits the bond without an application
Which children	Born in 2024 or later, with a valid SIN, not already named in an RESP by age 4, and at or under the income level
What the primary caregiver needs	Tax returns filed, and eligibility for the Canada Child Benefit
Children born before January 1, 2024	Starting in 2028, a caregiver can ask the Government of Canada to open the RESP
Opting out	Requests accepted starting in 2027, not before
Choosing a provider anyway	A caregiver can still open an RESP at an institution of their choice; the bond is paid into only one RESP for each child

A family that receives a letter confirming a child’s eligibility for automatic enrolment does not need to do anything, according to ESDC, but can still open an RESP at an institution of its choice and have the bond deposited there.

What if the bond is missing or the request is refused?

Start with the promoter, because the promoter sends the application and holds the plan.

Allow several weeks after the application for the deposit.
Ask the promoter whether the request was sent with the primary caregiver’s details, and whether ESDC returned it.
Check the tax returns. The primary caregiver has to have filed a return for each year the bond is requested for.
Check for a second RESP. The bond is paid into one plan only, so it may have gone to another RESP that names the same child.
Call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232), TTY 1-800-926-9105, or visit a Service Canada office for general questions about the bond.

Common mistakes with the Canada Learning Bond

Assuming an RESP needs savings. The bond needs a plan, not a contribution.
Not filing a tax return because income was low. ESDC requires a filed return from the primary caregiver for each year the bond is requested for.
Opening the plan with a promoter that does not offer the bond. ESDC says most do, not all.
Waiting for a letter. Automatic enrolment does not start until April 2028, and it begins with children born in 2024 or later.
Missing the handover at 18. From the 18th birthday the caregiver can no longer make the request; the beneficiary has to.
Letting the 21st birthday pass. After the day before it, an unclaimed bond cannot be requested.
Expecting to keep an unused bond. It goes back to the Government of Canada if it is not used for education.

Families comparing where to hold the plan can use the RESP providers comparison. A child who qualifies for the disability tax credit may also have access to bonds and grants through an RDSP, which is a separate plan with its own rules.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Canada Learning Bond?

The Canada Learning Bond pays $500 into the RESP for the first year the child is eligible, then $100 for each later eligible year up to and including age 15. The lifetime maximum is $2,000 for one child. Employment and Social Development Canada sets the amounts, and they do not depend on how much the family saves: a child in an RESP with no contributions at all receives the same bond.

Who is eligible for the Canada Learning Bond?

The beneficiary has to be a resident of Canada, have a Social Insurance Number, be named in an RESP, be born on or after January 1, 2004, and come from a family with low income. The primary caregiver has to be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit and to have filed a tax return for each year the bond is requested for. Children in care for whom a Children's Special Allowance is payable are also eligible.

What is the income limit for the Canada Learning Bond in 2026?

For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the adjusted family income level is $58,523 or less for a family with 1 to 3 children, less than $66,036 with 4 children and less than $73,577 with 5 children. Employment and Social Development Canada does not publish a level for larger families; it asks families with more than 5 children to call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).

Do you have to put money into an RESP to get the Canada Learning Bond?

No. Employment and Social Development Canada states that no contributions to the RESP are needed to obtain the Canada Learning Bond. An RESP still has to be opened with the child named as beneficiary, because the bond can only be deposited there. Contributions matter for a different benefit, the Canada Education Savings Grant, which is paid as a match on money the subscriber puts in.

How do I apply for the Canada Learning Bond?

The application goes through an RESP promoter, the financial institution that holds the plan. Get a Social Insurance Number for the child, choose a promoter that offers the bond, open the RESP with the child as beneficiary, and the promoter helps with the application for the bond and the other education savings benefits at the same time. Eligible amounts are then deposited automatically, which can take several weeks.

Can I apply for the Canada Learning Bond for myself as an adult?

Yes, between the 18th birthday and the day before the 21st. At 18 an eligible beneficiary has to request the bond in their own name, which can include opening an RESP of their own. The amount is whatever built up from the eligible years up to age 15; no new years are added after that. The beneficiary still has to be born on or after January 1, 2004.

What is the deadline to claim the Canada Learning Bond?

The bond must be claimed before the beneficiary turns 21. A primary caregiver can request it until the day before the child turns 18. After that the beneficiary has to make the request personally, and has until the day before the 21st birthday to take the steps. Because the bond is retroactive, a late request still collects every eligible year up to the year the child turned 15.

What happens to the Canada Learning Bond if my child does not go to school?

A bond that is not used goes back to the Government of Canada. It can only be used by the eligible beneficiary for education after high school, so it cannot be handed to a brother or sister or kept by the family. The money the subscriber put into the RESP is returned to the subscriber. Full-time and part-time studies at an eligible school, in Canada or abroad, both count as using it.

Is the Canada Learning Bond retroactive?

Yes. Bond amounts accumulate for each year of eligibility until December 31 of the year the beneficiary turns 15, whether or not an RESP existed in those years. When the RESP is opened and the bond is requested, the amounts for the earlier eligible years are paid in. The primary caregiver has to have filed a tax return for each year being requested.

Can a child get both the Canada Learning Bond and the Canada Education Savings Grant?

Yes. They are separate benefits paid into the same RESP, and the promoter applies for both at the same time. The bond needs no contribution and is worth up to $2,000. The Canada Education Savings Grant is a match on contributions with a lifetime maximum of $7,200 for one child. A family can collect the bond first and start contributing for the grant later.

Will the Canada Learning Bond be paid automatically?

From April 2028, the Government of Canada plans to open an RESP automatically and deposit the bond for eligible children born in 2024 or later who have a valid SIN and are not already named in an RESP by age 4. Starting in 2028, caregivers of eligible children born before January 1, 2024 can ask the government to open the RESP. Until then, the bond has to be requested through a promoter.

Can the Canada Learning Bond be paid into more than one RESP?

No. Employment and Social Development Canada pays the bond into only one RESP for each child or beneficiary, even when more than one plan has been opened. In a family plan with several children, the bond can only be paid to the children who are eligible, up to $2,000 each, and it is not shared among the other beneficiaries.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 30, 2026
Next scheduled check: December 31, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Canada Learning Bond — amounts, eligibility, how to request it, deadlines and unused bonds (July 2026 to June 2027)	July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027	October 11, 2026
RESP rules and government grants (CESG, CLB, provincial) — 2026	January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026	September 30, 2026

Official sources

How much money benefits could add to the RESP — Canada.ca (CLB amounts) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Open an RESP and apply for benefits — Canada.ca (the promoter applies) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Managing the RESP, taxes and transfers — Canada.ca (unused CLB) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Pay for education using the RESP — Canada.ca (full- or part-time studies) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada Learning Bond — Automatic enrolment — Canada.ca (start date) — Employment and Social Development Canada
Determining the QESI Amount — Revenu Québec (basic amount) — Revenu Québec
B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant — Government of British Columbia — Government of British Columbia
RESP contributions — Canada.ca (lifetime limit) — Canada Revenue Agency
How a Registered Education Savings Plan works — Canada.ca (31st and 35th anniversary) — Canada Revenue Agency
Payments from an RESP — Canada.ca (refund of contributions) — Canada Revenue Agency
RESP at Wealthsimple — wealthsimple.com

How we check figures: our methodology and editorial policy.

General information for education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change — confirm anything you act on with the official source or a licensed professional (for immigration, a lawyer or a licensed consultant registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).

What is the Canada Learning Bond and how much does it pay?

How much is the Canada Learning Bond?

Who is eligible for the Canada Learning Bond?

What is the Canada Learning Bond income limit for 2026 to 2027?

How do you apply for the Canada Learning Bond?

Who applies at each age, and what is the deadline?

What happens to the Canada Learning Bond if the child does not study?

RESP for newcomers: how does the Canada Learning Bond fit?

What changes next for the Canada Learning Bond?

What if the bond is missing or the request is refused?

Common mistakes with the Canada Learning Bond

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Rules, rates and sources