Canada Apprentice Loan Basics

The Canada Apprentice Loan is available to help registered Red Seal apprentices cover the cost of their training.

What you need to know

• The Government of Canada offers apprentices registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program up to $4,000 per period of technical training.
• You can get Canada Apprentice Loans for up to 5 periods of technical training.
• Your loan will be payment-free for up to 312 weeks/6 years as long as you are confirmed as being registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program.
• You do not have to make any loan payments as long as your loan is in active apprenticeship/payment-free status.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet all of these criteria:

• be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person;
• be registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program that is designated by the province or territory where you are registered as an apprentice;
• be enrolled in block release technical training or the equivalent full-time technical training with an approved technical training provider; and
• pass a credit check (required if you are applying for the first time).

You are not eligible if you:

• are a high school student;
• are an apprentice registered in the province of Quebec;
• are receiving a Canada Student Loan for the same technical training;
• have been told that you are restricted from receiving a Canada Apprentice Loan or a Canada Student Loan;
• have already received funding for 5 periods of technical training; or
• have already received 312 weeks/6 years of payment-free status.

Find out more

• Applying for a Canada Apprentice Loan.
• Maintaining your Canada Apprentice Loan.
• Repaying your Canada Apprentice Loan.