Fill Form RC66 online
Canada Child Benefit Application (includes federal, provincial, and territorial programs)
or choose your own copy:
- ✓ Official current version
- ✓ Free download, no account
- ✓ No card, no trial
- ✓ Never uploaded
Form RC66 in short
Form RC66 is the paper application for the Canada child benefit (CCB). The CRA also uses it to work out eligibility for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) and related federal, provincial and territorial programs. Most parents can apply faster online through their CRA account or when they register a newborn's birth, so the paper form is for people who cannot use those options.
| Issued by | Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) |
|---|---|
| Current version | 2026 version (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | The person who is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child. When a child lives with a female parent, she is usually presumed to be that person; the other parent can apply only with a signed letter from her. For same-sex parents, one parent applies for all the children in the home. You can also use it when a shared-custody arrangement starts. |
| Who receives it | The Canada Revenue Agency, at the tax centre that serves your province or territory. |
| Where to send it | Mail it to your tax centre. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan or Yukon: Winnipeg Tax Centre, Post Office Box 14005, Station Main, Winnipeg MB R3C 0E3. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario or Prince Edward Island: Sudbury Tax Centre, Post Office Box 20000, Station A, Sudbury ON P3A 5C1. Quebec: Jonquière Tax Centre, 2251 René-Lévesque Boulevard, Jonquière QC G7S 5J2. |
| Deadline | Apply as soon as you are eligible, for example when a child is born, starts living with you, or a shared-custody arrangement begins or changes. If you apply for a period that began more than 11 months ago, you must send extra documents. The form says the CRA aims to issue a notice or payment within 11 weeks of receiving a complete paper application. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
The 2026 version (RC66 E (26)) refers to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, formerly the GST/HST credit, instead of the GST/HST credit. The CRA form page was dated 2026-08-25 when checked.
How to fill out Form RC66, line by line
| Step 1 | Your information Your social insurance number (or temporary tax number if you cannot get a SIN), name, date of birth, language of correspondence and phone numbers. |
| Step 2 | Your address Your mailing address and home address. Say whether you moved from another province or territory in the last 12 months and, if so, when. |
| Step 3 | Your marital status Tick one status and enter the date it began. If you are married or living common-law, add your spouse or partner's SIN, name and date of birth. The form defines each status, for example separated means living apart for at least 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship. |
| Step 4 | Your citizenship status Say whether you, and your spouse or partner, have been Canadian citizens for the last 12 months. If either answer is no, you have to fill out Form RC66SCH. |
| Step 5 | Newcomer or returning resident Say whether you or your partner became a newcomer to Canada or returned after at least six months away in the last two years. If yes, you have to fill out Form RC66SCH. |
| Step 6 | Information about the child(ren) For each child: name, gender, date of birth, city and province or country of birth, and how much of the time the child lives with you (more than 60%, 40% to 60% shared custody, or less than 40%). Use Form RC66-1 for more than two children. |
| Step 7 | Signature Sign and date to certify that the information is correct and complete. The form states that making a false statement is a serious offence. |
| Page 5 | What to attach Proof of birth if the CRA has never paid benefits for the child, Form RC66SCH if Step 4 or 5 applies, and extra proof of residence, care and status if you apply for a period that began more than 11 months ago. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending RC66 after already applying through your CRA account or through birth registration. The form says not to fill it out in that case.
- Leaving out proof of birth when the CRA has never paid benefits for the child.
- Not including Form RC66SCH when you or your partner are not long-term citizens or are newcomers or returning residents.
- The non-female parent applying without a signed letter from the female parent in the home, which the form requires.
- Applying for more than 11 months back without the extra documents: proof of birth, at least three proofs of residence, at least three proofs of primary care, and proof of status.
- Sending documents in another language without an acceptable English or French translation.
- Choosing the wrong custody percentage. Less than 40% of the time means you are not eligible for that child; 40% to 60% is shared custody.
- Not filing tax returns each year. The form says payments stop if you, and your spouse or partner, do not file every year.
Questions about Form RC66
Can I apply for the Canada child benefit online instead?
Yes. The CRA says you can apply in your CRA account (My Account) under Benefits and credits, or through your province or territory when you register your newborn's birth (not available in Nunavut). The CRA says to use Form RC66 by mail only if you cannot use those options.
Who should apply if both parents live with the child?
The person primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing. The law presumes this is the female parent when the child lives with her. The other parent can apply with a signed letter from her. For same-sex parents, one parent applies for all the children.
How long does a paper application take?
The form says the CRA aims to issue your notice or payment within 11 weeks of receiving your completed paper application. Missing documents can delay it.
What is Form RC66SCH?
Status in Canada and Income Information. You attach it if you or your spouse or partner have not been Canadian citizens for the last 12 months, or became newcomers or returning residents in the last two years.
Do I need to file taxes to keep getting the CCB?
Yes. The form says you need to file a tax return every year, even with no income, and your spouse or partner must too. If you do not, payments stop.
I have more than two children. What do I do?
Use Form RC66-1, Additional Children, or attach a separate sheet with the same information asked for in Step 6.
Related forms
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the Canada Revenue Agency or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/forms/rc66.html
- https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pbg/rc66/rc66-fill-26e.pdf
- https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-apply.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/transparency/terms.html