Government form, explained · Canada
Form T2201 — the Disability Tax Credit Certificate: what it is and who fills in which part
The T2201 is two forms in one envelope: your part, and your practitioner's part. The CRA decides from their part — so most of what goes wrong with a T2201 happens in Part B.
What the T2201 is
The Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201) is how the CRA determines whether you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Part A is completed by you (or the person claiming on your behalf). Part B is completed and certified by a qualified medical practitioner, who describes how the impairment affects you. Approval is a decision about Part B — a vague Part B is the usual reason a genuine claim struggles.
Who can certify Part B
A medical doctor or nurse practitioner can certify any impairment. Everyone else can certify only within their own area:
| Practitioner | Can certify |
|---|---|
| Medical doctor | All impairments |
| Nurse practitioner | All impairments |
| Optometrist | Vision |
| Audiologist | Hearing |
| Occupational therapist | Walking, feeding, dressing |
| Physiotherapist | Walking |
| Psychologist | Mental functions |
| Speech-language pathologist | Speaking |
Your practitioner may charge a fee for completing Part B. That fee is not covered by the CRA, but it can generally be claimed as a medical expense on line 33099 (for yourself) or line 33199 (for another dependant) of your tax return.
Digital or paper — two routes
The CRA's digital application
You start it and give your practitioner a reference number so they can complete their portion online. The reference number is valid for 12 months and can be used once — if it expires or has already been used, you need a new one.
Paper, by mail to your tax centre
Use version 23e or 23f. Part B must carry the practitioner's handwritten signature. From September 8, 2026 the CRA no longer accepts T2201 versions published before 2023.
Changed July 14, 2026: the CRA accepts DTC applications only through the digital DTC form or by mail. The "Submit documents" feature in CRA accounts can no longer be used for the T2201 — if a guide tells you to upload it that way, that guide is out of date.
Where to get it
Get the current form and the digital application from the CRA's T2201 page. Always take the copy from the CRA rather than a saved or forwarded one — the version rule above is exactly why.
Common mistakes
- ✗Using an old copy of the form — from September 8, 2026 the CRA refuses T2201 versions published before 2023; on paper, use 23e or 23f
- ✗Filling in Part B yourself — only a qualified practitioner can certify it, and the CRA decides eligibility from Part B alone
- ✗Sending a paper Part B without the practitioner's handwritten signature
- ✗Uploading it through "Submit documents" in a CRA account — that route stopped accepting the T2201 on July 14, 2026
- ✗Attaching the T2201 to your annual tax return — it is submitted separately
What happens after you send it
The CRA reviews the application and sends a notice of determination — processing has generally run about 8–16 weeks. If you are approved, the credit can also open the door to related benefits. The full Disability Tax Credit guide walks the whole process, including retroactive claims for earlier years and what to do if you are denied.
Common Questions
What is form T2201?
The Disability Tax Credit Certificate — the CRA form that decides whether you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. It has two parts: Part A, which you complete, and Part B, which a qualified medical practitioner completes and certifies. The CRA decides eligibility from Part B, which is why who fills it in, and how well, matters more than anything else on the form.
Who can fill out the T2201 disability tax credit form?
You complete Part A yourself. Part B must be completed and certified by a qualified practitioner — a medical doctor or nurse practitioner can certify any impairment, while an optometrist (vision), audiologist (hearing), occupational therapist (walking, feeding, dressing), physiotherapist (walking), psychologist (mental functions) or speech-language pathologist (speaking) can certify within their own area. You cannot complete Part B yourself.
How do I submit the T2201 to the CRA?
Through the CRA's digital DTC application, or by mail to your tax centre. Since July 14, 2026, the "Submit documents" feature in CRA accounts can no longer be used for the T2201. Do not send it with your annual tax return — the T2201 is submitted separately.
Which version of the T2201 does the CRA accept?
If you apply on paper, use version 23e or 23f. From September 8, 2026, the CRA no longer accepts T2201 versions published before 2023 — an old copy saved on your computer, or a photocopy kept from a previous application, is the most avoidable reason for a form coming back.
Does the T2201 need a handwritten signature?
On the paper form, yes — Part B must carry the practitioner's handwritten signature. If you apply through the CRA's digital application instead, your practitioner completes their portion online using the reference number you give them.
How long is the digital application reference number valid?
Twelve months, and it can only be used once. If your practitioner does not complete their part within that window, or the number has already been used, you will need a new one.
Applying for the DTC?
Guidepost is not a law firm, a tax advisor, or a medical practitioner. This is general information about the form — the CRA decides eligibility, and your practitioner decides what Part B says. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.