Bring your biological or adopted children to live with you in Canada as permanent residents through the family sponsorship program.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
You may sponsor a dependent child if the child meets IRCC’s definition of dependency:
● Children Under 22 Years Old:
○ Must be under the age of 22, and
○ Not married and not in a common-law relationship
● Children Aged 22 or Older:
Can still qualify as dependents if they:
○ Are unable to financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition, and
○ Have been financially dependent on their parents since before the age of 22
This includes:
● Biological children
● Adopted children
● Stepchildren or children of your spouse/partner (if included in your spousal sponsorship application)
Who Can Sponsor?
You may sponsor your dependent child if:
● You are at least 18 years old
● You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
● If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, you must show proof of intention to return to Canada
● Permanent residents must be living in Canada to submit a sponsorship
● You are not receiving social assistance, unless for disability
● You can financially support the child and meet basic needs
● You are not under a removal order, not bankrupt, and not charged with a serious offence
Application Process
1. Confirm Eligibility – Ensure both sponsor and child meet IRCC criteria
2. Gather Supporting Documents – Identity documents, birth/adoption certificates, proof of relationship, etc.
3. Submit Application – Through IRCC’s sponsorship portal (online submission)
4. Medical Exam – Required for the child as part of admissibility review
5. Processing – IRCC will assess eligibility, relationship, admissibility
6. If Approved – The child becomes a permanent resident of Canada
Processing Times & Notes
● Processing Time: ~10 to 12 months on average
● No minimum income requirement, unless sponsoring adopted children through the intercountry process or through Quebec’s provincial sponsorship
Only Canadian citizens can sponsor from outside Canada — and must prove intent to return. Permanent residents must be living in Canada.
Yes, if they qualify as a dependent and you include them in your sponsorship application (e.g., as part of a spousal sponsorship).
Yes, but intercountry adoptions follow specific processes and may involve both IRCC and provincial authorities.
Yes. You may include all eligible dependent children in one sponsorship package. Each child must meet IRCC’s dependency definition.
They will still be considered a dependent if they met the criteria at the time the application was submitted.
Bring Your Child to Canada Through Sponsorship
Our RCIC-led team will guide you through the full sponsorship process — from eligibility assessment to document preparation — to help reunite you with your children in Canada.