Verified: October 2026 — General answers apply across Canada; provincial differences are noted.
No. Single people can be approved as foster parents in every province. What matters is stability and the support network around you.
No. Renters are accepted. You need a stable, safe home with enough space for the child (usually a dedicated bedroom or space, depending on age).
No. Many foster parents have no biological children. The assessment is about your ability to meet a child's needs, not your parenting history.
18 or older everywhere in Canada. There's generally no maximum age as long as your health lets you take on the role.
Allow 3 to 6 months from first call to approval: home assessment, background checks, PRIDE training (27 to 35 h). Timelines vary by region.
You receive amounts to cover the child's expenses, not a salary. Quebec: $34.71/day basic (from April 2026). Alberta: $25.91 to $38.88/day. Newfoundland: $395 to $680/month. See the comparison table. These amounts are generally tax-free.
Generally no: paragraph 81(1)(h) of the Income Tax Act excludes amounts paid for the upkeep of a placed child. In Quebec, RTF compensation under the collective agreement is not taxable. Confirm with a tax professional for your situation.
PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) is the pre-service training program used in most provinces: 27 to 35 hours on attachment, grief, positive discipline, and working with birth families.
Yes, in most cases — except for fostering very young children or those with special needs, where more availability is required. Discuss it with your worker based on the type of care.
Background checks are mandatory for all adults in the home. A record isn't automatically disqualifying: it depends on the nature, severity, and age of the offence. Be upfront from the start.
Yes. During the assessment you state your preferences and limits (age, number of children, special needs). Matching takes into account what you can genuinely offer.
It happens, and it's not a failure. You work as a team with social workers: support can be adjusted, the match changed, or you can take a break. Respite exists precisely to prevent burnout.
Fostering is temporary: the primary goal is the child's return to their family when possible. Adoption is permanent. In Quebec, the banque mixte program bridges the two.
A Quebec program: you foster a child with the possibility of adopting them if they become eligible for adoption. See our Quebec guide.
Yes. The federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families prioritizes placement with extended family and community. Indigenous organizations exist (e.g., Delegated Aboriginal Agencies in B.C., Authorities in Manitoba), and customary care is recognized, notably in Ontario.
Respite (temporarily caring for another foster family's children) is a great way to discover the role without long-term commitment. The no-commitment information session is the real first step.
It depends on the province, your home's size, and your assessment — generally 2 to 4 children plus your own, with exceptions to keep siblings together.
Ressource de type familial: Quebec's legal term for foster families. See the glossary.
Use our area lookup tool: it gives you the official body, contacts, and published amounts for your province — and for Quebec and Ontario, the exact local body.
Every page carries a verification date. We re-verify amounts and processes quarterly against official sources. But rules change: always confirm with your area's body before making a decision.