The Canada Learning Bond: What Families Should Know

You do not need to contribute your own money to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to receive the Canada Learning Bond. If your child qualifies, the Government of Canada will deposit the funds directly into it, even if you have not been able to make your own contributions yet.

This guide explains how the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) works, who may qualify, how much it can add, and the simple steps to get it. We will also show how the CLB is different from the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). At Embark, we apply for any government grant you may be eligible for, including the Canada Learning Bond. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Quick Answers

• You do not need to contribute to an RESP to get the CLB.
• Eligible children can receive up to $2,000 in total through the CLB.
• The CLB is based on adjusted net family income and family size.
• Eligible young adults (ages 18 to 20) may still be able to request it.
• The CLB is paid into an RESP, so you will need to open one.

Key Takeaways

• If your child is eligible, you do not need to contribute a single dollar of your own money to receive the Canada Learning Bond — the government deposits it directly into an RESP whenever your child qualifies.
• Eligible children can receive up to $2,000 in total: $500 in the first eligible year, plus $100 for each additional year they qualify, up to age 15.
• Eligibility is based on adjusted net family income and family size, the child having a SIN, being named in an RESP, and the primary caregiver’s Canada Child Benefit eligibility.
• The CLB is retroactive — a caregiver can apply up until the day before the child turns 18, and young adults can apply for themselves between ages 18 and 20 (the deadline is the day before their 21st birthday).

What is the Canada Learning Bond?

The Canada Learning Bond is a federal benefit paid directly into an RESP for children from lower-income families, designed to help them start saving for post-secondary education before they ever set foot on a campus. Over time, it can add up to $2,000 per child.

Do You Need to Contribute to Get the CLB?

No. You do not need to add any of your own money to receive the Canada Learning Bond — the government deposits it directly into the RESP whenever the child qualifies. That is what sets the CLB apart from the CESG, which only matches contributions you make. The CLB asks for nothing in return.

If you have wondered how the government adds money to an RESP, the CLB is one of the most helpful options for families who are not ready to save yet.

Who May Qualify for the Canada Learning Bond?

A child may qualify for the CLB if all of these are true:

• The child was born in 2004 or later.
• The child has a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
• The child is named in an RESP.
• The child is a resident of Canada at the time of the payment request.
• The family is in a lower-income range, based on family size.
• The primary caregiver has filed taxes and is (or was) eligible for the Canada Child Benefit.

For the July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, period, families with 1 to 3 children could qualify if their adjusted income is up to $57,375. The amount goes up for larger families. These numbers can change each year, so always check the Government of Canada page for the latest details.

How Much Money Can the CLB Add?

The Canada Learning Bond can add up to $2,000 per child:

• $500 for the first year the child is eligible.
• $100 for each year after, up to age 15, when the child still qualifies.

As long as the child continues to qualify, the payments keep coming in — and you do not need to reapply every year.

Is the CLB Retroactive?

Yes. Years a child was eligible for in the past can still be claimed later, which is helpful for families who only hear about the CLB when their child is older. A parent or caregiver can apply at any point up until the day before the child turns 18. After that, the young adult can apply on their own behalf between ages 18 and 20, with the deadline being the day before their 21st birthday. If you missed it earlier, you may still be able to open an RESP at age 18 and request past years.

How to Get the CLB Through an RESP

Here are the three main steps:

1. Get a Social Insurance Number for the child (or for yourself if you are 18 to 20).
2. Open an RESP with a provider like Embark.
3. Apply for the CLB through your RESP provider. They will help you fill out the right forms.

You do not need to put any of your own money in to begin. Once the RESP is open and the application is approved, the CLB can be paid in. New to RESPs? Read our article on how an RESP works.

CLB vs CESG: What is the Difference?

The CLB and the CESG are both education grants offered by the Government of Canada, but they operate in fairly different ways. You can also see how they compare to other available grants for education savings.

Feature	CLB	CESG	Notes
Need to contribute?	No	Yes	CESG matches 20% of your savings with annual caps
Based on family income?	Yes	Not for the basic match	Additional CESG (ACESG) may be income-based
How much, total?	$500 in year 1, $100 in subsequent years, up to $2,000 lifetime	Up to $500 per year, up to $7,200 lifetime	Annual and lifetime caps per child
When is it added?	Each year a child qualifies	When you contribute to the RESP	Both go into the RESP

Many families may qualify for both. To learn how the RESP government match can support your plan, an Embark specialist can walk you through the details.

What if You Never Opened an RESP Because You Could Not Afford To?

You are not alone, and it may not be too late. Many families assume they need savings of their own before opening an RESP, but with the Canada Learning Bond that is not the case. If your child still qualifies, an RESP can be opened without any deposit from you, and the CLB can be paid in once the application is approved. Read more about how the Canada Learning Bond can kick-start your child’s RESP, and why saving for education can feel simple with the CLB.

A Helpful Next Step for Families

The Canada Learning Bond is one of the most helpful supports available for families who want to plan ahead for their child’s education, even without spare money to set aside right now. You do not need to contribute, and the funds are available for every child who qualifies. In many cases, there is also still time to claim past years. If you would like help opening an RESP and applying for the CLB, Embark’s team can walk you through each step.