There is no annual contribution limit for a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), but there is a lifetime maximum of $50,000 per child, and contributions above this may incur penalties.
The real power of an RESP lies in government grants:
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The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) provides a 20% match on contributions (up to $500/year, with a lifetime cap of $7,200 per child).
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Lower-income families may receive additional CESG and can also carry forward unused grant room, allowing up to $1,000/year when catching up.
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In Quebec, families also get the Québec Education Savings Incentive (QESI)—a refundable tax credit of 10% (up to $250/year, maximum $3,600 per child).
To build on this, consider adding a group scholarship plan from the Canadian Scholarship Trust (CST)—a non-profit RESP provider since 1960 offering flexible plans with potential additional benefits parentscanada.com+7cst.org+7reddit.com+7parentscanada.compublications.gc.capublications.gc.ca+2cst.org+2myscholarhq.com+2. They also offer scholarships and bursaries, like the CST Foundation Bursaries and Founders’ Awards, which awarded over $290,000 to students in 2025 newswire.ca+1cst.org+1.
📌 Why plan strategically?
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Max out the $2,500/year contribution to receive the full $500 CESG.
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Use catch-up contributions to recover unused grant room.
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Stay under the $50,000 cap to avoid penalties.
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Consider a CST plan for added flexibility and potential bursaries.
Need help optimizing contributions or exploring CST options?
I can guide you through the best RESP options—whether individual, family, or group—from reputable providers like Experior or CST, and help you tap into every grant, scholarship, and plan available.
📞 Book your free consultation here.