Use an FHSA to buy a home

Where to begin

1. Check the withdrawal-specific first-time-buyer and residency conditions.
2. Confirm the written purchase or building agreement and the acquisition timing meet CRA’s requirements.
3. Confirm you will occupy or intend to occupy the home as your principal residence within the required period.
4. Complete RC725 and give it to your FHSA issuer; keep the agreement and withdrawal confirmation.
5. Check for any excess FHSA amount before withdrawing: a qualifying withdrawal does not correct an excess.

Before you open the official service

• Purchase agreement and acquisition dates.
• Ownership, residency and transaction records.

Keep your actual documents and account details off this website. Use the official service’s current checklist before applying.

What to check for your situation

A qualifying withdrawal does not need repayment. An ordinary non-qualifying withdrawal is generally taxable; do not treat every home-related withdrawal as qualifying.

Fees, processing times and document rules can change. This page helps you navigate; it does not confirm eligibility or replace the government’s instructions.

Forms and checklists

• canada.ca · Official formRequest to make a qualifying withdrawal from an FHSAUse with the FHSA issuer after checking the qualifying-withdrawal conditions.Checked Nov 3, 2026

Official sources

• canada.ca · Official websiteCRA — FHSA withdrawals and transfersQualifying withdrawal requires a written agreement to acquire or finish building a Canadian home before October 1 of the year following withdrawal; the home cannot have been acquired more than 30 days before withdrawal. Canadian residence must continue from the first qualifying withdrawal until acquisition or, if earlier, death. Occupy or intend to occupy the home as the principal residence within one year of purchase or completion. Qualifying withdrawals do not require repayment and do not reduce an excess FHSA amount.Checked Nov 3, 2026
• canada.ca · Official websiteCRA — RC725 qualifying-withdrawal form and eligibility checklistFor the withdrawal first-time-buyer test, the holder must not have occupied a home they owned or jointly owned as their main residence from January 1 of the fourth preceding year through 31 days before withdrawal. This includes homes outside Canada. Complete one RC725 per withdrawal. Fill Part A eligibility and Part B request; give it to the issuer for Part C and keep a copy. The completed form is not sent to CRA.Checked Nov 3, 2026

Prepared by Active K Digital from the linked public guidance. Read our source approach.

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