Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)

The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) provides grants to Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) contributors until the beneficiaries reach the age of 17.

Delivered by: Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

Eligibility Information

• Parents, relatives and friends of a beneficiary may contribute up to a lifetime limit of $50,000 per child.
• Contributions must be made prior to the end of the calendar year in which the beneficiary turns 17.
• Special conditions exist for beneficiaries aged 16 and 17.
• Other criteria may apply.

In order to receive the CESG, children must meet the following requirements:

• become a beneficiary under an RESP 
• be a Canadian resident at the time the RESP contributions are made
• have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) 
• be 17 years old or under
• other criteria may apply

Application Information

• Information on RESPs and CESG application procedures is available from banks, mutual fund and brokerage companies, insurance and trust companies, companies and foundations that specialize in education savings plans, and other financial institutions.

Financial Information

On the first $500 you save in your child’s RESP, the Canada Education Savings Grant will give you:

• 40 cents per dollar, if your net family income is $37,178 or less
• 30 cents per dollar, if your net family income is between $37,178 and $74,357
• 20 cents per dollar, if your net family income is more than $74,357

No matter what your net family income is, when you save more than $500, the Canada Education Savings Grant will give you 20 cents for every extra dollar, up to $2,500.

The family net income amounts shown are based on 2007 income amounts and are updated each year based on the rate of inflation.

Contact Information

• General Inquiries: 1 888 276-3624
• TTY: 1 800 926-9105

Related Information

• The Government of Alberta provides its own incentive for all children born to or adopted by Alberta residents in 2005 or later.