Sponsoring a Dependent Child for Canadian Immigration

Sponsoring a Dependent Child for Canadian Immigration

For many immigrants and permanent residents in Canada, one of their most urgent goals is to bring their children to join them. Canada's family class immigration allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their dependent children for permanent residence. The process is distinct from other family sponsorship streams in several important ways, and understanding the rules thoroughly can make the difference between a smooth approval and a frustrating delay or refusal.

See also: How to Apply for Canadian Permanent Residence

This guide covers who qualifies as a dependent child under Canadian immigration law, how to sponsor a child, the documents you will need, the differences between biological and adopted children, processing times, common mistakes, and the financial considerations involved.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent Child?

Canadian immigration law defines a dependent child based on age and specific conditions. To be considered a dependent child for immigration purposes, a child must meet one of the following criteria at the time the application is submitted:

Age-Based Dependents

A child who is under 22 years of age and who is not a spouse or common-law partner qualifies as a dependent child. This means the child must be under 22 at the time of application submission. The age is locked in at the time of application, so if a child is 21 when you apply and turns 22 during processing, they remain eligible as a dependent under the "lock-in" rule.

Over-22 Dependents with a Condition

Children who are 22 years of age or older may still qualify as dependent children if they meet both of the following conditions:

• They have been continuously enrolled in and attending a post-secondary institution as a full-time student since before they turned 22 and continue to be enrolled.
• They have been financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22.

This provision is sometimes called the "student exception." It is important to note that the student must have been enrolled continuously, without any breaks that are not authorized by the institution. A gap year or a semester off can jeopardize eligibility.

Physical or Mental Condition Exception

Children who are 22 or older may also qualify if they have been continuously financially dependent on a parent due to a physical or mental condition since before they turned 22.

In all cases, the dependent child must not be a spouse or common-law partner themselves (a married or common-law child, regardless of age, would not qualify as a dependent child for sponsorship, though they might be sponsored separately as a spouse or partner).

How to Sponsor a Dependent Child

Sponsoring a dependent child follows a similar process to other family class sponsorships. The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old. Unlike PGP sponsorship, there is no lottery or intake process; you can apply at any time.

See also: How to Get Your SIN Number in Canada

There is also no minimum income requirement for sponsoring a dependent child (unlike parent and grandparent sponsorship). However, you must be able to meet the child's basic needs and sign a sponsorship undertaking.

The process involves two simultaneous streams: the sponsor's sponsorship application and the child's permanent residence application. Both are submitted together. Here is an overview of the steps:

1. Download the correct application package from the IRCC website. The package will include IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking), IMM 0008 (Generic Application Form for Canada), IMM 5669 (Schedule A), and IMM 5406 (Additional Family Information), among others.
2. Complete all forms carefully, answering every question fully.
3. Gather all required supporting documents (detailed below).
4. Pay the required government fees.
5. Submit the complete package to the appropriate IRCC processing centre.

Required Documents

A complete dependent child sponsorship application typically requires the following documents:

• Sponsor's proof of citizenship (birth certificate, Canadian passport, or citizenship certificate) or permanent residence (Permanent Resident card or COPR)
• The child's birth certificate, showing the names of both parents
• The child's passport (valid and covering at least the expected processing period)
• Custody documents, if applicable: if the child's other parent is not included in the application, you must provide proof that you have legal custody of the child or that the non-sponsoring parent consents to the child immigrating
• Proof of custody arrangements or court orders, if the child is from a previous relationship
• Police clearance certificates for the child if they are 18 or older, from every country where they have lived for six or more months
• Medical exam results, conducted by an IRCC-designated physician (must be completed after receiving instructions from IRCC or within the timeframe specified in the application guide)
• Photos meeting IRCC specifications
• If the child is over 22 and claiming the student exception: official enrollment letters from the post-secondary institution for each year of enrollment, transcripts, and financial records showing dependency
• Statutory declaration of the sponsor and the child, if the child is not already living in Canada

Biological vs. Adopted Children

The sponsorship process differs slightly depending on whether the child is biologically related to the sponsor or has been legally adopted.

See also: Replace Lost PR Card Guide

Biological Children

For biological children, the main document requirements are the birth certificate and proof of the parent-child relationship. If the sponsor is not listed on the birth certificate, additional documentation (such as DNA evidence or a court order establishing parentage) may be required.

Adopted Children

Sponsoring an adopted child involves additional complexity. For a child to be sponsored as a dependent child after adoption, the adoption must:

• Be a legal adoption that created a genuine parent-child relationship.
• Not have been entered into primarily for immigration purposes. IRCC will refuse an application if the adoption appears to have been arranged primarily to confer an immigration benefit rather than to genuinely establish a parent-child relationship.
• Have been finalized before the child was 18 years old (for most cases).

If the adoption has already been finalized in your home country before you sponsor, you must provide the legal adoption order or decree, translated into English or French. If you are looking to adopt a child from another country specifically for immigration to Canada, the process is more complex and involves the provincial government as well as IRCC. See our related post: Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program Guide for more on how family class works broadly.

Processing Times and Fees

IRCC processes dependent child sponsorship applications at its centralized operations in Mississauga, Ontario. Processing times can vary significantly but IRCC targets processing most family class applications within 12 months. Check current processing times at the IRCC processing times page.

Government fees for sponsoring a dependent child include:

• Sponsorship fee: $75 CAD per application (note: as of certain policy years, IRCC has waived the sponsorship fee for dependent children; check the current fee schedule)
• Principal applicant processing fee: $150 CAD per dependent child
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $515 CAD per adult (not applicable to children under 22 who are not married or in a common-law relationship)
• Biometrics: $85 CAD per person

Additional costs include the medical exam (conducted by a designated physician, typically $200-$400 CAD or more depending on location), police clearances, translations, and courier fees.

Common Mistakes Sponsors Make

• Missing the age lock-in window: Waiting too long to apply can result in a child aging out. If your child is approaching 22, you should apply as soon as possible, as the age is locked in at the time of application receipt, not submission.
• Insufficient custody documentation: Applications involving children whose parents are separated or divorced are often delayed because the custody situation is not clearly documented. Include all relevant court orders and parental consents.
• Not declaring all biological children: IRCC requires you to declare all biological and adopted children in every application, whether or not they are accompanying you. Failing to disclose a child can have serious consequences, including refusal and potential bars on future applications.
• Incomplete medical exams: Medical exams have an expiry (generally 12 months). If processing is delayed and the exam expires, a new one must be done. Plan accordingly.
• Applying without resolving custody disputes: If there is a custody dispute over the child, IRCC will not process the application until it is resolved. Obtain a clear court order before applying.

Undertaking Obligations for Dependent Children

When you sponsor a dependent child, you sign an undertaking that obligates you to provide for the child's basic needs and repay any social assistance they receive during the undertaking period. For children, the undertaking period is 10 years from the date of becoming a permanent resident, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. If the sponsored child is already 22 or older when they become a permanent resident, the undertaking period is three years.

Practical Next Step: Download the dependent child sponsorship application guide from the IRCC website and review the document checklist for your specific situation. If your child is approaching age 22, begin the application process immediately to avoid aging out. For questions, contact IRCC at 1-888-242-2100.