A step-by-step guide to the CRA application process for Form T2201. This page explains how to apply; it does not calculate benefits or judge eligibility.
This is not an eligibility test
Information only, not medical or tax advice. The CRA decides every application. Confirm details on canada.ca using the official links below.
MyEligible cannot tell you if you will qualify. The CRA decides based on what your medical practitioner certifies in Part B of Form T2201. The sections below describe what the CRA assesses so you can prepare for an informed conversation with your practitioner, not so you can score yourself.
Follow these seven steps from orientation through next programs after approval.
What the DTC is
The DTC is a federal tax credit for severe, prolonged impairments. Approval also opens access to RDSP grants and the Canada Disability Benefit.
The disability tax credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit for people with a severe and prolonged impairment. If you are approved, you can claim the credit on your tax return. It can also open access to other federal programs.
Programs you may qualify for after DTC approval
Being approved for the DTC can make you eligible for these programs (or increase what you receive). It does not reduce your other benefits. Each program has its own rules; DTC approval is required first, but it does not guarantee payment.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) grants and bonds
Canada disability benefit
Child disability benefit
Canada workers benefit disability supplement
How the application works
You (or your representative) complete Part A and receive a reference number. Your medical practitioner completes Part B. The CRA reviews the application and sends a notice of determination.
Form T2201 has two parts. Choose either the digital process or the paper process for the whole application. Part A and Part B must use the same method; mixed applications cannot be processed.
1
Part A: You (or your legal representative)
Complete Part A online in CRA My Account (Apply for DTC), by phone with the CRA, or on paper. With the digital form, you receive a reference number valid for up to 12 months and single use. Give that number to your medical practitioner for Part B.
2
Part B: Your medical practitioner
Your medical practitioner completes Part B using the CRA digital form for medical practitioners (or on paper). Applicants cannot complete Part B themselves; if they do, the application will not be processed.
3
Submission
As of July 14, 2025, new DTC applications must be submitted through the digital DTC form or by mail. You cannot upload Form T2201 through the "submit documents" feature in CRA My Account. Scanned or PDF copies of the paper form must be printed and mailed. Digital: Part B submits automatically when the practitioner finishes. Paper: mail Part A and Part B together.
4
CRA review
The CRA reviews your application against the eligibility criteria. They may contact your practitioner for more information (the practitioner has 60 business days to respond). Track status in CRA My Account.
5
Notice of determination
The CRA sends a notice of determination by mail or through CRA My Account. Processing times vary; check the CRA's current targeted processing times for Form T2201. Submit your application before you file your tax return to avoid assessment delays.
Find a qualified medical practitioner, ask about any fee for Form T2201, and prepare to describe functional limitations, not just a diagnosis.
Practitioners may charge a fee to complete the form. You are responsible for paying it, but you may be able to claim it as a medical expense on your tax return.
Many applications struggle because Part B lists a diagnosis without describing functional impact. Help your practitioner document how the impairment affects daily activities.
Describe specific activities (feeding, dressing, walking, mental functions, etc.) and how long tasks take compared with someone of similar age.
Note how often limitations occur (for example, daily, or nearly all the time) and whether they persist even with medication, therapy, or assistive devices.
Bring examples from the past 12 months: school reports, therapy notes, hospital visits, or a symptom journal you kept at home.
If multiple areas are affected, explain how they combine (cumulative effect) even when no single area meets the marked-restriction test alone.
Ask whether your practitioner is familiar with Form T2201 Part B and the functional language the CRA expects.
Only certain practitioners can certify specific impairments on Form T2201. The CRA publishes this list on canada.ca.
Your medical practitioner must certify how your impairment affects daily life. The CRA compares Part B to these criteria. Even if you are unsure, you may still apply; the CRA decides from the practitioner's certification.
Severe and prolonged impairment (generally expected to last at least 12 continuous months).
Marked restriction in a basic activity of daily living: unable to do the activity, or it takes about three times longer than someone of similar age without the impairment, even with therapy, medication, or devices; present about 90% of the time.
Cumulative effect: significant limitations in two or more categories that together equal one marked restriction.
Life-sustaining therapy that supports a vital function.
The CRA states that you may still send an application even if you are not sure you meet the criteria.
Use the same method (digital or paper) for Part A and Part B. Submit through the CRA digital DTC form or by mail. Since July 14, 2025, do not upload Form T2201 through CRA My Account "submit documents."
You may apply at any time during the year. Submit your DTC application before you file your tax return to avoid delays in your assessment.
Form T2201 has two parts. Choose either the digital process or the paper process for the whole application. Part A and Part B must use the same method; mixed applications cannot be processed.
As of July 14, 2025, new DTC applications must be submitted through the digital DTC form or by mail. You cannot upload Form T2201 through the "submit documents" feature in CRA My Account. Scanned or PDF copies of the paper form must be printed and mailed. Digital: Part B submits automatically when the practitioner finishes. Paper: mail Part A and Part B together.
Common reasons applications stall or fail
These patterns come from CRA guidance on incomplete applications and denied decisions. They are tips to prepare, not predictions about your case.
Part B describes a diagnosis but not how daily activities are restricted.
Missing signatures, mismatched reference numbers, or Part A and Part B submitted separately on paper.
Uploading Form T2201 through CRA My Account "submit documents" (not accepted since July 14, 2025), mixing digital and paper parts, or reusing a reference number.
Mandatory fields incomplete (SIN, name, address, date of birth) or illegible handwriting on paper forms.
Duration or frequency of limitations not documented (CRA looks for prolonged, frequent effects).
Filing your tax return at the same time without leaving time for the DTC review first.
If your application is denied
A denial is not necessarily the end. Your notice of determination explains why. Compare it with your copy of Form T2201 and the CRA eligibility criteria.
Request a review or send new information
You may mail a review request with additional medical information that describes how the impairment affects you. Send it to the tax centre that processed your application and keep a copy.
File an objection
You can file an income tax objection within 90 days of the notice of determination if you disagree with the denial or the approval period.
DTC approval may qualify you for RDSP matching grants and bonds and the Canada Disability Benefit for working-age adults.
After DTC approval: RDSP grants and bonds
If you are approved for the DTC, you may be able to open a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and receive matching grants and bonds. Use MyEligible's RDSP estimator to think about grant room, then open a plan with an RDSP issuer at a participating financial institution.
Working-age income support: Canada Disability Benefit
If you are ages 18 to 64 and approved for the DTC, you may also apply for the federal Canada Disability Benefit through Service Canada. Amounts are income-tested, not a flat payment.
The Government of Canada announced in the Spring Economic Update 2026 a proposal to streamline certification for certain long-lasting medical conditions, for taxation years from 2026 onward. That proposal is not the process CRA uses today. Until canada.ca updates its application instructions, follow the current Form T2201 steps above and check official CRA pages for updates.