Saving for post-secondary education in Canada

Open the plan

Obtain the beneficiary's SIN (via birth registration or Service Canada application)
Choose plan type: family RESP (default for multiple siblings) or individual RESP
Choose a provider: discount brokerage is the usual best path, bank's in-branch RESP works as fallback
Do NOT sign up for a group scholarship plan without reviewing the fee schedule in full
Name primary and successor subscribers
Complete the ESDC Form SDE 0093 CESG application
Make an initial contribution (any amount; even $100 opens the plan and the 36-year clock)
Quebec residents: confirm QESI enrollment at account opening

Request Contribution History and Accumulated Income statement from provider
Confirm child's enrollment in a qualifying program
Obtain enrollment verification letter from the institution
Request first EAP within the first 13 weeks (up to $8,000 under ESDC limit)
Split EAP across multiple tax years to keep student in lowest tax bracket
Let student pay tuition personally to capture tuition tax credits
Draw down EAP first to deplete CESG, CLB, QESI, and BCTESG before plan closes
Subscriber can withdraw Post-Secondary Education (contribution) payments tax-free at any time
Track T4A slips for EAP withdrawals (reported by provider)

If another sibling will attend post-secondary: transfer balance to their share
If plan is 10+ years old and beneficiary is 21+: evaluate AIP rollover to subscriber's RRSP
Confirm subscriber RRSP room for AIP rollover (up to $50,000 lifetime)
Wait if there is any chance the beneficiary will return to school; plans last 36 years
If closing: confirm all grants return to government (automatic on wind-up)
Subscriber receives contribution returns tax-free
Growth (if not rolled to RRSP) is taxed at subscriber marginal rate plus 20% penalty