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The short answer
The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is government money paid into a child's RESP: $500 for the first eligible year and $100 for each later eligible year up to age 15, to a maximum of $2,000. It is for children born on or after 1 January 2004 in lower-income families, and the Government of Canada says you do not have to put any money into the RESP to receive it. For July 2026 to June 2027 the income limit is $58,523 for families with one to three children.
What the bond is and why newcomers miss it
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a savings account for a child's education after secondary school. The CLB is one of the government payments that can go into it. Many Nigerian families who have recently arrived never claim it, either because they have not heard of it or because they assume they must save first. They do not: the government's CLB page (modified 2 July 2026) states that "you and your child do not have to put money into the RESP to receive the CLB".
How much it pays
From the Government of Canada's estimating page (modified 10 August 2026):
- $500 in the first year the child is eligible.
- $100 for each later year of eligibility, up to and including the year the child turns 15.
- A lifetime maximum of $2,000 per child.
Example only: a child born in Canada in 2026 to a family under the income limit every year would receive $500 for 2026 and $100 for each year from age 1 to 15, which is 15 x $100 = $1,500, for a total of $2,000. A child who arrives at age 8 and becomes eligible in 2026 would receive at most $500 plus $100 for each year from age 9 to 15, which is $1,200, assuming eligibility starts in 2026.
Who is eligible
The child must be born on or after 1 January 2004 and have a social insurance number (SIN). Each year's eligibility depends on the family's adjusted income. For the benefit year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 the published thresholds are:
| Number of children | Adjusted family income |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | $58,523 or less |
| 4 | Less than $66,036 |
| 5 | Less than $73,577 |
| More than 5 | Call 1-800-622-6232 |
Income is measured from tax returns, which is why filing matters for newcomers even in a year of low or no Canadian income. The government notes that automatic enrolment relies on the primary caregiver having filed income tax returns and being eligible for the Canada Child Benefit. Our guide to reporting world income for the CCB in your first year explains that filing.
Deadlines
The primary caregiver can request the CLB until the day before the child turns 18. After that, the young person can request it themselves until the day before they turn 21. Money not requested in time is lost, so older children who arrived from Nigeria as teenagers should not wait.
Automatic enrolment from 2028
The government's CLB page says automatic enrolment begins in April 2028 for children born in 2024 or later, where the caregiver has filed returns and is eligible for the Canada Child Benefit. Families will be able to ask to opt out from 2027, and from 2028 children born before 1 January 2024 may be able to request an RESP opening, with details to follow. Until then, you open the RESP yourself.
Why families miss it
- No SIN for the child. Without one the bond cannot be paid.
- No tax return. Eligibility each year depends on adjusted family income, which the government reads from returns.
- Believing a deposit is needed. It is not, although a contribution earns a separate grant, the CESG.
- An RESP that charges fees. Some plans charge enrolment or sales fees. Ask for the fee schedule before signing.
- Missing the deadline. The request window closes the day before age 21.
Steps to claim it now
- Get your child a SIN through Service Canada.
- File your Canadian tax returns, including the first part-year after arrival.
- Open an RESP with a bank, credit union or other provider that offers the CLB. Ask whether it charges fees; a basic plan with no fees keeps all of the bond.
- Ask the provider to apply for the CLB. It is paid into one RESP per child.
- Keep the provider's annual statement showing the bond received.
The CLB and the CESG together
The CLB needs no contribution. The Canada Education Savings Grant is different: it matches money you put in. Families who can save even a small amount gain both. Our guide to how the CESG adds to RESP savings covers the match and its limits.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not offer RESPs. If you are also saving in naira for relatives' school fees at home, Savings Boxes hold Naira in Nigeria, with rates shown in the app, and the Personal Assistant can remind you when fees fall due.
Questions people ask
Do I need to put money in an RESP to get the Canada Learning Bond?
No. The Government of Canada says you and your child do not have to put money into the RESP to receive it.
How much is the Canada Learning Bond?
$500 for the first eligible year and $100 for each later eligible year up to age 15, to a maximum of $2,000.
What is the income limit for the CLB in 2026?
For 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, adjusted family income of $58,523 or less for one to three children, under $66,036 for four, and under $73,577 for five.
Can my child who was born in Nigeria get the CLB?
The published conditions are being born on or after 1 January 2004, having a SIN and meeting the family income test. Birthplace is not listed as a condition.
Sources
- Government of Canada: Estimating RESP amounts, CLB and CESG (modified 10 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Government of Canada: Canada Learning Bond (modified 2 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.