Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)

The CESG provides an incentive for parents, family, and friends to save for a child’s post-secondary education by paying a grant based on the amount contributed to an Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP) for the child, The CESG money will be deposited directly into the child’s RESP.

Who Qualifies for the basic CESG?

No matter what your family income is, Employment and Social Development (ESDC) pays an amount of CESG of 20% of annual contributions you make to all eligible RESPs for a qualifying beneficiary to a maximum CESG of $500 in respect of each beneficiary ($1000 in CESG if there is unused grant room from a previous year), and a lifetime limit of $7200.

Who Qualifies for the additional CESG?

ESDC will also pay an additional amount of CESG for each qualifying beneficiary. The additional amount is based on the adjusted income and can change over time as the adjusted income changes

Canada education savings grant summary chart

Adjusted income for 2022	$50,197 or less	More than $50,197 but less than $100,392	More than $100,392
CESG on the first $500 of annual RESP contribution	20% = $100	10% = $50	Beneficiary is not eligible
Basic CESG on the first $2500 of annual RESP contribution	20% = $500	20% = $500	20% = $500
Maximum yearly CESG depending on income and contributions	$600	$550	$500
Lifetime maximum CESG for which you may qualify	$7200	$7200	$7200

Every child under age 18 who is a resident of Canada will accumulate $400 (for 1998-2006) and $500 (from 2007 and subsequent years) of unused CESG room. Unused CESG room is carried forward and used when RESP personal contributions are made in future years provided that the specific contribution requirements for beneficiaries who attain 16 or 17 years of age are met.