canada child benefit

[popolipo]

Hi there,

We're in Canada at the moment and expecting a baby anytime soon. We applied for Permanent Residency in December 14th 2016 and waiting, waiting for any changes.
Regarding the Canada child benefit, these are the conditions to be eligible :

To be eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB), you must meet all of the following conditions:

You must live with the child, and the child must be under 18 years of age.
You must be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child.
You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
You or your spouse or common-law partner must be:
a Canadian citizen
a permanent resident
a protected person
a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months, and who has a valid permit in the 19th month
an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act

source http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/ccb/bfrppl-eng.html

We first arrived to Canada in March 2015 and stayed 1 year on a Tourist Visa, we went to Europe for a month and came back in April 2016, obtaining a work permit at the airport for both of us.

The question is, are we able then to apply for the child benefit ? i'm just not sure if they mean to be for continuous 18 months in the country ? and could a valid permit be tourist visa or has to be work permit ?

Thanks for your help anyone

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi

Your time as a visitor does not count towards the required 18 months. Only those with study or work permits fall into that category.

As you've been here on a work permit since April 2016, you would not be eligible until October or until you become PRs, whichever happens first.

 

[popolipo]

Thanks, that's what i thought but wanted to make sure.

Well, just have to hope PR will come soon.

Thanks again