Child or Other Dependant Sponsorship

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 to be a dependent if they are not married or in a common-law relationship and are under the age of 22. A child over the age of 22 will be considered a dependent if they suffer from a physical or mental condition that prevents them from being able to support themselves.

Dependent Child Sponsorship Requirements

As with all family sponsorship streams, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must meet eligibility requirements in order for the child to be granted permanent residence. Parents wishing to sponsor their child must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Not be in prison, charged with a serious offense, or bankrupt

Parents will also be required to provide proof of the relationship with the child, be it through birth or adoption certificate. For parents in the end stages of an adoption process, they may sponsor the adopted child before the adoption has been finalized. In addition to meeting the definition of a dependent child, the sponsored person must either be the biological child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse, or the adopted child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse.

Sponsoring a Dependent Child in Quebec

If the Canadian sponsor resides in the province of Quebec, will need to commit to a financial undertaking to support the family member they are sponsoring. The duration of the undertaking depends on the nature of the relationship. If the dependent child is under the age of 16, the sponsor must commit to financially support them for 10 years, or until the child is 18, whichever is longer. If the dependent child is 16 or older, the sponsor must commit to financially support them for three years, or until the child is 25, whichever is longer.

Dependent Child Sponsorship Minimum Necessary Income

Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are sponsoring the dependent children are not required to meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), provided that the dependent child does not have any children of their own. If the dependent child being sponsored has dependent children of their own, the sponsor must meet the MNI required for their family unit size.

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