Sponsoring your child for Canadian permanent residence

As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to sponsor your dependent child(ren) for permanent residence.

This article will cover the ins and outs of sponsoring a dependent child, including who is eligible to sponsor and be sponsored, the undertaking commitment, and how to apply.

Who is eligible to sponsor

To apply to sponsor your child, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian.
• *Live, or plan to live, in Canada once your child becomes a permanent resident.
• **Meet the minimum annual income requirement needed to support yourself, the child being sponsored, and any dependents (if applicable).

*Only Canadian citizens can sponsor a dependent child while living outside Canada; permanent residents living abroad cannot.

**There is no minimum income requirement if your dependent child has no dependent children of their own. If your dependent child has dependent children, you can look up the applicable minimum income requirement by completing the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283).

Ineligibility criteria

Even if you meet all of the above requirements, there are certain situations that can make you ineligible to sponsor a dependent (and if applicable, their dependent(s)), including the following:

• Having already applied to sponsor the same dependent, and that application is still being processed;
• *Being behind on payments for an immigration loan, performance bond, or court-ordered family support payment (such as alimony or child support);
• *Having failed to provide financial support as required under a prior sponsorship undertaking;
• *Having declared bankruptcy (and not yet having been discharged);
• Receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability;
• Having been convicted of a violent criminal offence;
• Being in jail, prison, or a penitentiary; or
• Having received a removal order requiring you to leave Canada.

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Who is eligible to be sponsored

To be sponsored, your child must be admissible to Canada and must meet the definition of a dependent.

A child is deemed a dependent if they are the biological or adopted child of you or your spouse or partner (“spouse”), and if they are under the age of 22 and not married or living in a common-law relationship.

Children over the age of 22 may still qualify as dependents if both the following conditions are met:

• They are unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition; and
• They have been financially dependent on their parents since before turning 22.

Age aside, your child must continue to meet all dependency criteria until Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes their application.

The undertaking and sponsorship agreement

As part of your sponsorship application, you’re required to sign an undertaking and sponsorship agreement.

When you sign, you agree to provide financial support for your child for a specific period, known as the “undertaking period.”

During this time, you will be required to pay for their basic needs (such as food, clothing, and shelter), and all health needs not covered by public health services (such as dental and eye care).

You are also responsible for ensuring your child will not need social assistance from the government; if they do, you must repay the full amount and cannot sponsor anyone else until you have done so.

Generally, the sponsorship agreement must be signed by both the sponsor and the sponsored individual. Dependent children under 22, however, are exempt from this requirement.

In Canada, the sponsorship undertaking period for dependent children depends on their age on the date they obtain PR status:

If you wish to withdraw your sponsorship application (and thereby the undertaking agreement), you can only do so before your child becomes a permanent resident—there are no exceptions.

How to apply

To sponsor your child or the child of your spouse, you will need to complete and submit two applications:

1. Sponsorship application: You apply to be recognized as a sponsor.
2. Permanent residence application: The dependent applies to become a permanent resident.

The principal applicant—which in this case is the dependent—will submit both applications together online using the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.

In the application, you will need to demonstrate that the other parent or legal guardian has granted permission for your child to immigrate to Canada.