Does Canada fund IVF?

Only Ontario and Quebec fund a cycle provincially — Ontario funds one cycle per lifetime for eligible OHIP holders under 43, and Quebec's RAMQ program covers one cycle for eligible patients aged roughly 18–40. Other provinces offer little to no public funding.

What does Ontario's fertility tax credit cover?

A 25% refundable tax credit on eligible fertility treatment and surrogacy-related expenses, up to $20,000 in expenses per year, for a maximum credit of $5,000 per year, in effect since January 2025.

Does Ontario's funded IVF cycle cover medication and donor sperm?

No — the funded cycle covers the clinical procedure itself, but stimulation medication (commonly $3,000–$8,000) and the purchase, shipping, and storage of donor sperm or eggs are separate out-of-pocket costs, partly offset by Ontario's fertility tax credit if you're eligible.

Does using a clinic affect legal parenthood in Canada?

Yes — in Ontario and BC, conceiving via a clinic (rather than a private known-donor arrangement) is what triggers the automatic presumption that a birth parent's spouse, regardless of gender, is the second legal parent without a court process.

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Guide

IVF in Canada: Ontario and Quebec Funding, Costs & What to Expect

IVF is available across Canada, but public funding is provincial and inconsistent: Ontario and Quebec each fund one IVF cycle for eligible residents regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation, and Ontario adds a 25% refundable tax credit on top — most other provinces offer little to no public funding, so a private cycle commonly costs several thousand CAD.

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Key facts

The Ontario Fertility Program funds one IVF cycle per lifetime for OHIP-eligible Ontario residents under 43, regardless of relationship status, sexual orientation, or the cause of infertility. The funded cycle covers the clinical procedure itself (monitoring, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer) — it does not cover stimulation medication (commonly $3,000–$8,000 on top) or the purchase, shipping, and storage of donor sperm or eggs.
Quebec's Medically Assisted Reproduction Program, administered through RAMQ, covers one complete IVF cycle for eligible patients (generally ages 18–40), reinstated in November 2021 after Quebec briefly restricted funding to natural-cycle IVF only.
Since January 2025, Ontario also offers a 25% refundable Fertility Treatment Tax Credit on eligible fertility expenses — including surrogacy-related costs — up to $20,000 in expenses per year, for a maximum credit of $5,000 per year.
Outside Ontario and Quebec, provincial public funding for IVF is limited or nonexistent — most other provinces offer little to no coverage, so a private cycle is the norm.
A private IVF cycle in Canada commonly costs several thousand CAD before medication, and most patients need more than one cycle to conceive.

Legal considerations

Conceiving via a fertility clinic — rather than a private, DIY known-donor arrangement — is what triggers Ontario's and BC's presumption that a birth parent's spouse, regardless of gender, is automatically a second legal parent without a court process. See the Known Donor guide for how this differs when a known donor is used privately.
Provincial funding programs have specific eligibility windows (age limits, prior treatment history) — confirm current criteria directly with the Ontario Fertility Program or Quebec's RAMQ program before assuming you qualify.

Costs

Ontario and Quebec residents can access one publicly funded IVF cycle each; Ontario also refunds 25% of eligible fertility expenses (up to $5,000/year) via its Fertility Treatment Tax Credit. Outside these two provinces, expect several thousand CAD per private cycle, with most patients needing more than one cycle.

Timeline

Initial fertility assessment and, where eligible, applying for provincial funding (Ontario Fertility Program or Quebec's RAMQ program) before treatment begins.
Each IVF cycle takes several weeks from stimulation to embryo transfer.
Most patients require more than one cycle — plan for several months to over a year depending on response and funding eligibility.

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