Dependent child sponsorship
Under this program Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents can sponsor their dependent and adopted children to join them in Canada. The Canadian Government has a strong commitment to keeping families together whenever possible. Because of this, processing of Family Class applications is a high priority at Canadian Visa Offices. In order to be eligible for this program, both the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (the sponsor) and their child abroad (the sponsored person) must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order for the sponsored person to receive a visa.
Definition of a Dependent Child
To be eligible for sponsorship, children must meet the definition of a dependent child. Whether they are the biological or adopted child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, a child is considered as a dependent if they are not married or in a common-law relationship and are under the age of 22.
EXCEPTION: Children who are 22 years of age or older may qualify if they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition AND they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22
**You can’t sponsor someone who is inadmissible to Canada.
Requirements to sponsor a dependent child
To sponsor a child from another country for adoption, the sponsor must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident (if you do not currently reside in Canada, you must do so when the adopted child becomes a permanent resident).
- Live in Canada
- Be at least 18 years old.
Sponsors may not be eligible to sponsor in some cases, such as:
- If sponsor(s) did not meet the requirements of a previous sponsorship agreement.
- If sponsor(s) defaulted on a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support.
- If sponsor(s) have been convicted of a violent criminal offence – depending on the nature of the offence, when it occurred and whether a record suspension was granted