Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Dear valued clients:
In this post, we overview the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness program, including recent updates.
Effective December 31, 2025, the Government of Canada has expanded the list of occupations eligible for the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness program.
This program provides loan forgiveness, with respect to the federal portion of a student loan, to borrowers who work in eligible occupations in eligible communities. Provinces or territories may also offer separate loan forgiveness, administered separately.
Eligible Communities
An eligible community is defined as:
A rural area, or
A population centre with no more than 30,000 people living in it
Eligibility
You can apply for forgiveness while you are in study, in repayment, or in your 6-month non-repayment period. To qualify, you need to meet all the following requirements:
Worked in an eligible occupation
Worked in an eligible community
Been employed in the eligible occupation for 12 consecutive months
10 consecutive months of early childhood educators, psychologists, social workers, and school teachers
Does not apply to residents in family medicine
Provided in-person services for a minimum of 400 hours, and
Have a student loan that is in good standing
Loans that have been converted into a line of credit, private loans, and Ontario Medical Resident Loans are not eligible for forgiveness.
Application Deadline
Upon working in an eligible occupation for 12 months, you must apply for the benefit within 90 days. An application is required each year to remain eligible.
How to apply
An application form, Form SDE0094, and accompanying employment attestation are available through Employment and Social Development Canada. The completed application and attestation should be mailed to the National Student Loans Service Centre.
Disclaimer
The information provided herein is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute accounting, tax, valuation, legal, or other professional advice. The content is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, laws, regulations, and interpretations may change, and no representation or warranty is made as to the completeness or current accuracy of the information.
Readers are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before acting on any information contained herein. No professional-client relationship is created by the provision of this information.