Bring your dependent child to Canada
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be able to sponsor dependent children for permanent residence. This includes biological children and adopted children, but the correct strategy depends on the child's age, marital status, citizenship, custody arrangements, adoption status, and whether the child was declared in past immigration applications.
If you are sponsoring a spouse or partner and the child is part of that family unit, compare this page with Spouse or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship.
Who is a dependent child?
For most current applications, a dependent child is under 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner. A child who is 22 or older may still qualify if they have depended on a parent's financial support since before age 22 because of a physical or mental condition.
Dependent child rules are technical. If a child was not declared or examined in a previous immigration process, the file needs careful review before any sponsorship strategy is chosen.
Sponsor responsibilities
The sponsor must normally:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian
- meet sponsorship eligibility rules
- prove the parent-child relationship
- provide custody, consent, or adoption documents where needed
- sign an undertaking to support the child
- show the child is not inadmissible to Canada
For a dependent child under 22, the undertaking is generally 10 years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
Documents that often matter
Strong child sponsorship files often include birth certificates, adoption orders, custody orders, consent from a non-accompanying parent, school records, medical documents if dependency is based on a condition, passports, photos, and proof of the sponsor's Canadian status.
If the child is temporarily visiting or studying while the sponsorship is prepared, review Visitor Visa and Study Permit rules separately. A temporary approval does not guarantee PR approval.
How Sawubona helps
We review dependency, custody, previous immigration history, civil documents, translation needs, and admissibility risk before filing. For complex family histories, this early review can prevent serious problems later.
Official reference
For current dependent child rules, see IRCC's dependent child guidance.
