Government of Canada — Employment and Social Development Canada
Up to $4,000 interest-free per training period and $20,000 in total for registered Red Seal apprentices outside Quebec. No interest until you finish.
Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026
The Canada Apprentice Loan is the Government of Canada's primary financial support for apprentices in the skilled trades — providing up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training, with cumulative access up to $20,000 across the duration of your apprenticeship. The money covers tuition, tools, equipment, living expenses, foregone wages while you're in technical training, and family support. Critically, you do not have to make payments on the loan, and no interest accrues, until after you complete or leave your apprenticeship training program. This makes it functionally a deferred-interest loan: you borrow during training, then begin repayment with interest only once you finish or leave. Available in every province and territory EXCEPT Quebec — Quebec has its own provincial apprenticeship aid through the AFE Programme de prêts et bourses. Apply as early as 3 months before your technical training begins; you can receive funding as early as day one of training while your Employment Insurance claim is processed for payment. The loan was made more central to federal apprenticeship support after the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) and Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) closed on March 31, 2025 — apprentices outside Quebec now rely primarily on the Canada Apprentice Loan, EI benefits during technical training, and any provincial trades aid.
You qualify for the Canada Apprentice Loan if you (1) are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person; (2) are registered as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade with your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority; and (3) are not a Quebec resident (Quebec apprentices use the AFE Programme de prêts et bourses through afe.gouv.qc.ca instead). Both new and ongoing apprentices may apply, as long as you have technical training periods remaining in your apprenticeship program. The Red Seal trade requirement is critical — non-Red-Seal trades (some provincially-regulated trades) are not eligible for this program; check the Red Seal Program list on canada.ca to verify your specific trade is eligible.
This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.
Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.
We don't have a confirmed deadline for this one. Check the award's official page for this year's date.
No. You need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
FundMyCourse.ca · checked Aug 31, 2026
Up to $4,000 interest-free per period of technical training (cumulative up to $20,000)
fundmycourse.ca/scholarships/canada-apprentice-loan