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Biological or Adopted Child
The child may be the biological or legally adopted child of the sponsor or of the sponsor's spouse or partner.
FAMILY
Dependent Child Sponsorship
Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor qualifying dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada.
Assess Your Child Sponsorship CaseDEPENDENT CHILD SPONSORSHIP
Who Qualifies as a Dependent Child?
Canada's family sponsorship program allows eligible sponsors to bring qualifying dependent children to Canada as permanent residents.
A dependent child may be the sponsor's biological or adopted child, or the biological or adopted child of the sponsor's spouse or partner.
In most cases, a child qualifies as a dependant if they are under 22 years old and do not have a spouse or common-law partner.
A child who is 22 years of age or older may still qualify in limited circumstances if they have depended financially on their parents since before age 22 and cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
ELIGIBILITY
Basic Dependent Child Requirements
The child's age, relationship to the sponsor and family status are central to determining whether they qualify as a dependant.
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Generally Under 22
A child normally qualifies as a dependant when they are under 22 years old on the applicable age lock-in date.
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Not Married
A dependent child under 22 must not have a spouse.
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Not Common-Law
A dependent child under 22 must not have a common-law partner.
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Admissibility
The child must meet Canada's applicable immigration admissibility requirements.
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Continue to Qualify
Except for age after it has been locked in, the child must continue to meet the applicable dependency requirements until processing is complete, including the applicable spouse or common-law partner requirement.
AGE LOCK-IN
What Happens If the Child Turns 22 During Processing?
Immigration applications use an age lock-in date to determine the child's age for dependency purposes.
This means a child who meets the age requirement on the applicable lock-in date does not necessarily lose dependent status simply because they turn 22 while the application is being processed.
However, other requirements continue to apply. For example, an under-22 dependant generally must continue not to have a spouse or common-law partner during processing.
Age Can Be "Locked In"
IRCC uses the child's age on the applicable lock-in date rather than simply looking at their age on the day the application is finalized.
Review My Child's AgeDEPENDANTS AGE 22 OR OLDER
Can an Adult Child Still Qualify as a Dependant?
In limited circumstances, a child who is 22 years old or older may continue to qualify as a dependent child.
The child must generally have depended on their parents for financial support since before reaching the age of 22.
They must also be unable to financially support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
Both requirements must be satisfied.
Being Financially Dependent Alone Is Not Enough
For an applicant age 22 or older, financial dependence must generally be connected to an inability to support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
Discuss Adult DependencyAPPLICATION SITUATION
Sponsoring a Child Without Sponsoring the Other Parent
A dependent child can sometimes be sponsored as the principal applicant even when the sponsor is not sponsoring the child's other parent.
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Child as Principal Applicant
If only the child is being sponsored, the child is generally identified as the principal applicant in the permanent residence application.
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Other Parent Information
Documentation involving the child's other parent, custody arrangements or permission for the child to immigrate may be relevant depending on the situation.
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Family Composition
The child's complete family situation should be accurately disclosed in the application.
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Relationship Evidence
Birth certificates, adoption records and other documents may be required to establish the parent-child relationship.
PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
Biological and Adopted Children
Different documentation may be required depending on how the parent-child relationship was established.
01
Biological Children
Civil-status records such as birth certificates may be used to establish the biological parent-child relationship.
02
Adopted Children
Adoption cases require documentation demonstrating that the adoption meets the applicable legal and immigration requirements.
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Intercountry Adoption
Sponsoring a child through an intercountry adoption can involve a separate process and additional provincial, territorial and international requirements.
SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY
Who Can Sponsor a Dependent Child?
The sponsor must meet Canada's general family sponsorship requirements.
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At Least 18 Years Old
The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
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Eligible Canadian Status
The sponsor must generally be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Indian Act.
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Residence Requirements
Permanent residents generally must live in Canada. Canadian citizens living abroad may be able to sponsor if they demonstrate plans to live in Canada when the sponsored child becomes a permanent resident.
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Sponsorship Undertaking
The sponsor agrees to provide the sponsored child with financial support for the applicable undertaking period.
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Sponsorship Eligibility
Certain financial defaults, previous sponsorship issues, criminal matters and other circumstances can affect eligibility.
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Income Requirements
In most dependent child sponsorship cases, there is no standard minimum income requirement. An income requirement applies if the dependent child being sponsored has one or more dependent children of their own.
SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY
How Long Is the Sponsor Financially Responsible?
For a dependent child who is under 22 on the day they become a permanent resident, the undertaking generally continues for 10 years or until the child reaches age 25, whichever happens first.
For a dependent child who is 22 or older on the day they become a permanent resident, the undertaking generally lasts for three years.
Under 22: Up to 10 Years
For most dependent children under 22, the sponsor's responsibility lasts 10 years or until the child reaches 25, whichever comes first.
Understand My ResponsibilitiesAPPLICATION PROCESS
How Dependent Child Sponsorship Works
The exact documentation depends on the child's age, family circumstances and relationship to the sponsor.
1
Confirm Dependency
Review the child's age, marital status and any special dependency circumstances.
2
Confirm Sponsor Eligibility
Review the sponsor's Canadian status, residence and sponsorship eligibility.
3
Prepare Family Documents
Gather birth, adoption, custody and other relevant documents supporting the application.
4
Submit the Application
Prepare and submit the sponsorship and permanent residence application through IRCC's applicable process.
5
Complete Processing
Complete any applicable medical, biometrics, background or additional documentation requirements.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Age Is Important, But It Is Not the Only Requirement
A child being under age 22 does not automatically mean that every family sponsorship requirement has been met.
The parent-child relationship, marital or common-law status, admissibility, sponsor eligibility and complete family circumstances can all affect the application.
Cases involving custody, adoption, a non-accompanying parent, adult dependency or complicated family histories should be reviewed carefully before an application is submitted.
Want to Bring Your Child to Canada?
AddPlus Immigration Solutions Inc. can review your child's age, family circumstances and supporting documentation to help you understand the appropriate sponsorship process.
Contact UsKEEP YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER
Build Your Family's Future in Canada
Tell us about your child, their age, where they currently live and your Canadian immigration status, and let our team help you understand the next steps.
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