Your application will be assessed against financial and other criteria which ensures the applicant is eligible for treatment through the program.
The first assessment criterion is financial eligibility. We use the Federal Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO), as published by Statistics Canada, to do this. Financial eligibility depends on family size and the type of area in which you live – the more urban the area, the higher the LICO.
Next, we look at the Personal Statement and Personal Reference. These assist us in assessing how likely your child is to maintain the treatment. We want the orthodontic treatment to succeed, and your child’s motivation and commitment to maintaining good dental health throughout his/her/their treatment will be very important.
Key 2026 Program Dates (estimated):
| MILESTONE (what happens) | KEY DATE (when it happens) |
|---|---|
| Application window opens | January 21, 2026 |
| Application window closes Note: if your application is not completed by this date, it will not be reviewed. | April 30, 2026 |
| Review and verfication of applications by administration | May – July 2026 |
| Review by Regional Committee | August – October 2026 |
| Decision letters sent | Mid-November 2026 |
| Intital consultations with orthodontists | November 30, 2026 – February 28, 2027 |
Deadline to submit administration fee ($600) Note: The fee will be invoiced AFTER the orthodontist confirms a treatment plan. Treatment will begin AFTER the fee is received (even if past the deadline). If initial consultation occurs after December 31, 2026, the administration fee will be due after the consultation date. | December 31, 2026 |
| Treatment begins (earliest date) | November 30, 2026 |
Smiles4Canada improves the smiles and lives of young people with significant orthodontic need who lack the financial means to cover the treatment. We help lower-income families – specifically those whose total after-tax family income (in the previous two years) is below the Federal Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) as published by Statistics Canada. Financial eligibility depends on family size and the type of area in which you live – the more urban the area, the higher the LICO. The LICO criteria is used as a guideline; if you do not meet this criterion threshold, please submit additional information pertinent to your financial situation with your application. The most recent criteria are in the table below:
* The 2024 Federal Low Income Cut-Off has not yet been released as of the 2026 Smiles4Canada Application open date, therefore these numbers
are an estimate. Numbers/LICO criteria may change accordingly once Statistics Canada releases their 2024 LICO thresholds.
| Community Size | Family Size | 2024 Family Income (after tax)* | 2023 Family Income (after tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural areas | 1 person | 17,375 | 16,548 |
| 2 persons | 21,148 | 20,141 | |
| 3 persons | 26,334 | 25,080 | |
| 4 persons | 32,851 | 31,287 | |
| 5 persons | 37,409 | 35,628 | |
| 6 persons | 41,489 | 39,513 | |
| 7 or more persons | 45,567 | 43,397 | |
| Population under 30,000 inhabitants | 1 person | 19,885 | 18,938 |
| 2 persons | 24,204 | 23,051 | |
| 3 persons | 30,136 | 28,701 | |
| 4 persons | 37,598 | 35,808 | |
| 5 persons | 42,814 | 40,775 | |
| 6 persons | 47,481 | 45,220 | |
| 7 or more persons | 52,149 | 49,666 | |
| Population 30,000 - 99,999 inhabitants | 1 person | 22,182 | 21,126 |
| 2 persons | 27,000 | 25,714 | |
| 3 persons | 33,619 | 32,018 | |
| 4 persons | 41,943 | 39,946 | |
| 5 persons | 47,762 | 45,488 | |
| 6 persons | 52,970 | 50,448 | |
| 7 or more persons | 58,176 | 55,406 | |
| Population 100,000 - 499,999 inhabitants | 1 person | 22,464 | 21,394 |
| 2 persons | 27,339 | 26,037 | |
| 3 persons | 34,043 | 32,422 | |
| 4 persons | 42,473 | 40,450 | |
| 5 persons | 48,363 | 46,060 | |
| 6 persons | 53,636 | 51,082 | |
| 7 or more persons | 58,908 | 56,103 | |
| Population over 500,000 inhabitants | 1 person | 26,562 | 25,297 |
| 2 persons | 32,327 | 30,788 | |
| 3 persons | 40,255 | 38,338 | |
| 4 persons | 50,220 | 47,829 | |
| 5 persons | 57,186 | 54,463 | |
| 6 persons | 63,421 | 60,401 | |
| 7 or more persons | 69,656 | 66,339 |
