To apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you need to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria, file your most recent tax return, wait for an invitation from the federal government, and complete enrollment through Sun Life using your My Service Canada Account. Once enrolled, you receive a member card and can book covered dental appointments immediately.
That five-step summary is accurate – but the details between those steps are where most applicants run into trouble. Some never receive their invitation letter and do not know what to do next. Others complete the application but assume they are covered before their enrollment is processed. And a significant number miss the annual renewal deadline, which ends coverage entirely with no retroactive reimbursement for any appointments in the gap. This guide walks through every step in order, including the phone application route, what to do when things go wrong, and exactly what renewal requires.
Once you have your CDCP member card in hand, The Dental Team can see you for covered services. Call us with your member ID and we will confirm your coverage and book your first appointment with direct Sun Life billing – no upfront payment required for covered services.
Before You Apply: What to Have Ready
The CDCP application moves faster when you have everything prepared before you start. Gather the following before opening your My Service Canada Account or calling Service Canada:
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN): Required for your own application. If you are enrolling dependants, have their SIN available if one exists (mandatory for adults, available for children if issued).
- Your spouse or common-law partner’s SIN: Required if you have a partner, as their income and insurance status are assessed as part of your household eligibility.
- Your most recent Notice of Assessment: The government uses your filed tax return to assess eligibility. You will need to have filed and received your notice. If you have not filed yet, do that first.
- Confirmation that you have no private dental insurance: You will attest to this during the application. Before you do, check your T4 or T4A slip – box 85 on a T4 or box 015 on a T4A indicates whether your employer or pension plan reported that you had access to dental coverage. If one of those boxes shows you had access, you do not qualify – even if you never used the plan.
- Your bank information (if opting for digital communications): Not required for the application itself, but useful if you want to set up electronic access through MSCA.
Before going further, confirm you meet all four eligibility criteria: no access to private dental insurance, adjusted family net income under $90,000, tax return filed and assessed, and Canadian residency. For a full breakdown of what each criterion means in practice – including the opt-out trap and income calculation for two-earner households – see our CDCP eligibility guide.
Step 1: File Your Taxes
Eligibility for the CDCP is assessed automatically using your most recently filed and assessed tax return. If you have not filed, the government has no way to evaluate whether you qualify – and you will not receive an invitation.
Both you and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must have filed your returns and received your Notice of Assessment. Filing alone is not enough – you need the assessment to be complete. CRA typically processes most returns within two weeks for online filers and eight weeks for paper filers, though timelines vary.
If you file late or have outstanding returns from prior years, resolve those first. The government uses your most recent assessed return, so a late filing from a prior year may delay your eligibility assessment even if you file promptly for the current year.
Step 2: Watch for Your CDCP Invitation
Once the government has assessed your tax return and confirmed you meet the eligibility criteria, you receive an invitation to apply. This arrives in one of two ways: by mail to your address on file with CRA, or through your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) if you have set up digital communications.
The invitation includes an application code or client number you will need to complete enrollment. Keep it – you cannot proceed without it.
What Does the Invitation Letter Look Like?
The letter comes from the Government of Canada and is clearly identified as a CDCP invitation. It includes your application code, instructions for completing enrollment through MSCA or by phone, and a deadline for responding. It is not a spam letter or a scam – the CDCP will never ask you to pay to apply or provide banking information to receive coverage.
Watch for scam communications that mimic government letters but ask for payment or credit card details. These are not from the CDCP. If you are unsure whether a communication is legitimate, go directly to canada.ca or call Service Canada to verify.
What If I Never Received an Invitation?
If you believe you meet all four eligibility criteria but have not received an invitation, there are a few likely explanations:
- Your tax return has not been assessed yet. Filing and being assessed are two different things. Check your CRA My Account to confirm your Notice of Assessment has been issued.
- Your mailing address with CRA is out of date. If you moved and did not update your address with CRA, the letter went to your old address. Update your address through CRA My Account and contact Service Canada.
- Your T4 or T4A shows you had access to dental insurance. Your employer may have reported coverage you were not aware of. Check box 85 on your T4 or box 015 on your T4A before assuming you qualify.
- You are in the 18-64 age group and applied before your cohort opened. All eligible Canadians can now apply, but if you attempted to apply before your phase opened, your record may need review.
If none of these apply, contact Service Canada directly at 1-833-537-4342. They can check your eligibility status and confirm whether an invitation has been issued or explain why one has not.
Step 3: Complete Enrollment Through My Service Canada Account
Receiving an invitation is not the same as being enrolled. You must complete the enrollment step – this is what activates your coverage and generates your Sun Life member card. Patients who receive an invitation, set it aside, and assume they are covered are not covered until this step is done.
Here is how to complete enrollment online:
- Go to My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Visit canada.ca and sign in to your MSCA using your GCKey or Sign-In Partner (such as your online banking credentials through a participating financial institution).
- Navigate to the CDCP section. Once signed in, look for the Canadian Dental Care Plan option in your MSCA dashboard.
- Enter your application code. This is the code from your invitation letter. Have it ready before you start – you cannot proceed without it.
- Confirm your personal information. Review your name, SIN, address, and household information. Correct anything that is inaccurate before submitting.
- Attest to your eligibility. You will be asked to confirm that you do not have access to private dental insurance. This attestation is legally significant – if it is found to be inaccurate, you can be removed from the plan and required to repay benefits received.
- Add dependants if applicable. If you are enrolling children or other dependants, add them during this step with their SINs and personal information.
- Select your communications preference. Choose “digital” to receive CDCP notifications, renewal reminders, and letters through MSCA rather than by mail. This significantly reduces the risk of missing a renewal deadline.
- Submit your enrollment. After submitting, you receive a confirmation. Your Sun Life member card and welcome package follow by mail, typically within a few weeks.
How Long Does Enrollment Take?
The online enrollment process itself takes approximately 15-20 minutes if you have everything ready. After submitting, allow two to four weeks for your Sun Life member card and welcome package to arrive. Your coverage becomes active once enrollment is processed – but you need your member card to book and bill appointments.
If your card has not arrived after four weeks, contact Sun Life’s CDCP contact centre at 1-888-888-8110 to check the status of your enrollment and request a replacement card if needed.
How to Apply by Phone (No MSCA Required)
Not everyone is comfortable applying online, and the CDCP accommodates that. You can complete the full application process by phone through Service Canada – no My Service Canada Account required.
Call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. Have the following ready before you call:
- Your application code from your invitation letter
- Your SIN and your spouse or common-law partner’s SIN (if applicable)
- SINs for any dependants you are enrolling
- Your mailing address
A Service Canada agent will walk you through the application, confirm your information, and process your enrollment. You will receive the same Sun Life welcome package and member card by mail after your application is processed.
You can also ask a trusted person – a family member, friend, or legal delegate – to help you apply. If you are using a delegate who has legal authority to act on your behalf (such as someone listed on a power of attorney), they must provide proof of that authority to Service Canada before applying on your behalf. That documentation is submitted by mail or in person at a Service Canada office before the call.
Step 4: Receive Your Member Card and Confirm Your Provider
Your Sun Life welcome package arrives by mail after your enrollment is processed. It includes your CDCP member card, your plan details, and information about covered services. This card is what your dental provider uses to bill Sun Life directly for your appointments.
Before booking your first appointment, confirm that your dental provider is registered with the CDCP to bill Sun Life. Not all dental offices have enrolled. If your current dentist is not registered, you have two options: ask them to register, or find a registered provider.
The Dental Team is registered and accepting CDCP patients at all three of our locations in Milton, Mississauga, and Brampton. Call us with your member ID and we will verify your coverage, confirm which services are active under your plan, and book your first appointment. There is no need to pay upfront for covered services – we bill Sun Life directly.
To understand what services your coverage includes and what may require preauthorization before treatment, see our complete guide to CDCP coverage.
Step 5: Annual Renewal – What Most Patients Miss
The CDCP does not renew automatically. Coverage runs on a benefit year cycle, and you must actively renew each year or your coverage ends. This is the most consistently under-covered aspect of the CDCP, and it has real consequences: a missed renewal means your coverage lapses on the last day of the benefit year, and there is no retroactive reimbursement for any appointments you attended during the gap believing you were still covered.
The current benefit year runs from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Renewals for the 2026-2027 benefit year are open now and close June 1, 2026. Missing that date ends your coverage on June 30, 2026. You would then need to re-apply rather than simply renew – a longer process that delays when your next coverage period begins.
How Does CDCP Renewal Work?
Renewal works similarly to the original application. The government reassesses your eligibility based on your most recently filed and assessed tax return. If you still meet all four criteria – no private insurance access, income under $90,000, filed taxes, Canadian residency – your coverage continues for the new benefit year.
You will receive a renewal notification through MSCA (if you selected digital communications) or by mail. You must complete the renewal online or by phone before the deadline. The renewal requires you to re-attest that you still do not have access to private dental insurance – this is not a formality. If your situation has changed and you now have access to employer or private insurance, you are no longer eligible and should not renew.
What Happens If I Miss the Renewal Deadline?
If you miss the renewal deadline, your coverage ends at the close of the benefit year. Any dental appointments you attend after that date will not be covered, and you cannot claim reimbursement retroactively for services received while your renewal was lapsed. You will need to re-apply when the next benefit year opens.
To avoid this, set a reminder well in advance of the June 1 deadline each year. If you selected digital communications through MSCA, you will receive email notifications about upcoming renewal. If you did not, renewal reminders come by mail – which means there is more risk of missing them.
What to Do If Your Coverage Is Not Showing as Active
Some patients arrive at a dental appointment with their member card only to be told by the provider that their coverage is not showing as active in Sun Life’s system. This is frustrating, but it is fixable. Here is how to handle it:
- Check your MSCA first. Log into your My Service Canada Account and confirm that your enrollment is showing as complete and your coverage is active for the current benefit year. If it is showing as pending, the system may not have fully processed yet.
- Contact Sun Life directly. Call the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110. They can confirm your enrollment status and identify whether there is an issue with your record.
- Contact Service Canada if the issue is eligibility-related. If Sun Life indicates your eligibility is in question – for example, because of a T4 reporting discrepancy – Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 is the right contact to resolve it.
- Reschedule if needed. If the issue cannot be resolved before your appointment, it is usually better to reschedule rather than proceed without confirmed coverage. Dental offices cannot retroactively bill Sun Life for a procedure once it has been performed without confirmed coverage.
Bottom Line
Applying for the Canadian Dental Care Plan takes five steps: file your taxes, receive your invitation, complete enrollment through MSCA or by phone, receive your member card, and renew each year before the June 1 deadline. The steps are straightforward – but the gaps between them, particularly the enrolled vs. eligible distinction and the annual renewal requirement, catch many patients off guard.
Once you have your member card, The Dental Team is ready to see you at our Milton, Mississauga, and Brampton offices. Call us with your member ID, and we will confirm your coverage and get you booked. For a full overview of what the plan covers, visit our CDCP coverage guide. For eligibility questions, see our CDCP eligibility guide. For a plain-language overview of the entire plan, visit our complete CDCP guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
To apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, confirm you meet the four eligibility criteria, file your most recent tax return, and wait for your government invitation. Once you receive your invitation code, complete enrollment through your My Service Canada Account online or by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. After enrollment, Sun Life sends your member card by mail within two to four weeks.
What do I need to have ready before applying for the CDCP?
Before applying for the CDCP, have your Social Insurance Number, your spouse or common-law partner’s SIN if applicable, your most recent Notice of Assessment from CRA, your invitation code from the government letter, and confirmation that you do not have access to private dental insurance. Check your T4 box 85 or T4A box 015 before attesting to your insurance status – those boxes show what your employer reported.
What is the difference between receiving a CDCP invitation and being enrolled?
Receiving a CDCP invitation means the government has assessed your tax return and determined you may be eligible – but you are not covered yet. Being enrolled means you have completed the Sun Life registration process and your member card has been issued. Coverage is not active until enrollment is complete. Patients who receive their invitation and assume they are covered without completing enrollment will find their coverage is not recognized at dental offices.
Can I apply for the CDCP by phone instead of online?
Yes, you can apply for the CDCP by phone instead of online. Call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 and have your invitation code, SIN, and any dependant information ready. A Service Canada agent will walk you through the full enrollment process, and your member card will arrive by mail after processing.
Does CDCP coverage renew automatically each year?
No, CDCP coverage does not renew automatically. You must actively renew before the annual deadline – June 1 each year – or your coverage ends on June 30 with no retroactive reimbursement for any appointments attended during the lapse. Renewal requires re-attesting that you still do not have access to private dental insurance and is completed through MSCA or by phone.
What happens if I miss the CDCP renewal deadline?
If you miss the CDCP renewal deadline, your coverage ends at the close of the benefit year (June 30), and you cannot claim reimbursement for any appointments attended after your coverage lapsed. You will need to re-apply when the next benefit year opens rather than simply renewing, which delays your coverage start date. Set a reminder well before June 1 each year to avoid this.
How long does it take to get my CDCP member card after applying?
After completing enrollment through My Service Canada Account or by phone, your Sun Life member card and welcome package typically arrive by mail within two to four weeks. If your card has not arrived after four weeks, contact Sun Life’s CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110 to check your enrollment status and request a replacement if needed.
