How to Apply for the CDCP and Check Your Status (2026)

Step 1 — Check your eligibility

Before applying, confirm you meet all three criteria: (1) Canadian resident with a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). (2) Adjusted net family income under $90,000, as shown on your most recent Notice of Assessment. (3) No private dental insurance that covers the specific services you need — this includes an employer dental plan, an individual plan, or a provincial or territorial dental plan. Children under 18 and adults with certain disabilities may qualify regardless of private coverage for some services. Check Canada.ca for the latest rules before applying, as eligibility conditions are updated annually.

Step 2 — Gather your documents

Before you start the application, have these items ready:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Most recent CRA Notice of Assessment (confirms net family income)
• Confirmation of private dental coverage status — or a statement that you have none
• For dependants: their SIN and proof of relationship if not already on your tax return

Having everything on hand prevents the application from stalling partway through. If you filed your taxes late, wait until the CRA has processed your return before applying.

Step 3 — Apply online through CRA My Account

Visit canada.ca and log into CRA My Account. Navigate to "Benefits and credits," then select "Canadian Dental Care Plan." Follow the prompts to confirm your eligibility details and submit the application. The process typically takes under 15 minutes if your CRA My Account is active and your most recent tax return has been assessed. If you do not yet have a CRA My Account, you must register first — you will need your SIN and the details from your most recent tax return to verify your identity. Registration itself takes a few minutes, but CRA may mail a security code, which adds a few days.

Step 4 — Apply in person (alternative)

If you cannot apply online, visit a Service Canada Centre in your area. Bring your SIN, Notice of Assessment, and any supporting documents. Service Canada staff can guide you through the application form. The toll-free CDCP phone line — 1-833-537-4342 — is also available if you have questions before or during your in-person visit. In-person processing may take longer than the online route, particularly during peak enrolment periods.

Step 5 — Receive your Sun Life member card

Once your application is approved, Health Canada notifies Sun Life Financial — the private insurer that administers the CDCP on behalf of the federal government. Sun Life mails a member card to the address on file with CRA. The card includes your plan number and member ID, which you present at every dental appointment. You can also access your member information, check coverage details, and review claims history through the Sun Life CDCP online portal at sunlife.ca/cdcp. If your mailing address has changed since you last filed your taxes, update it in CRA My Account before your application is processed.

Step 6 — Find a participating dentist

Not all dentists accept the CDCP. Before booking an appointment, confirm the dentist participates in the program. Use the Health Canada participating dentist search tool — go to canada.ca and search "CDCP find a dentist" — or browse Sun Life's provider directory. When you call a dental office, say you are a CDCP member and ask specifically whether they accept CDCP assignment-based billing, meaning the dentist bills Sun Life directly rather than requiring you to pay upfront and claim reimbursement. Dentists are not required to participate, and some who do participate may only accept CDCP for certain procedures.

Step 7 — Use your CDCP coverage at your appointment

At your appointment, present your Sun Life member card. Your dentist submits the claim directly to Sun Life. If your procedure requires pre-authorization — crowns and cast partial dentures are the most common examples (see does CDCP cover crowns and does CDCP cover dentures) — your dentist must request pre-authorization before performing the procedure, not after. You pay any applicable co-pay (the percentage not covered under your income tier) plus any balance billing, which is the difference between your dentist's fee and the amount set by the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid. Even at the 100% income tier, balance billing can result in an out-of-pocket cost if your dentist charges above the Grid fee.

Checking your CDCP status

At any time, log into CRA My Account, navigate to Benefits and credits, and select CDCP. The status field shows one of three values: "Under review" (your application is being assessed), "Approved" (coverage is active), or "Not eligible" (you may appeal or re-apply if your circumstances change — for example, if you lose private dental coverage). You can also check by phone at 1-833-537-4342.

Annual renewal

CDCP eligibility is reassessed each year based on your most recently filed tax return. You may receive a renewal letter, or you may need to confirm your eligibility each year through CRA My Account. If your income rises above $90,000, if you acquire private dental coverage, or if another household change affects your eligibility, you are required to report it promptly. Failing to report changes can result in repayment of benefits received after eligibility ended.

Frequently asked questions

This page summarizes publicly available Government of Canada CDCP program information for research purposes. Real Dental Costs is an independent data publisher not affiliated with the Government of Canada or Sun Life Financial. For official guidance, visit canada.ca/dental.