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Family Sponsorship

Sponsorship: Child or Other Relative

Dependent child (or child you intend to adopt)


You can sponsor a dependent child or a child you plan to adopt for Permanent Residency in the country. At this time, the eligible age for a dependent is 18 or younger, but the government of Canada have been considering to rise the age to 21 or younger in the somewhat future.


You can sponsor in case you are:

  • 18 years of age (at most)
  • A Canadian permanent resident who is living in the country or a Canadian citizen
  • Not bankrupt, in prison, under a removal order (if a permanent resident) or charged with a significant or serious offence

Requirements for the sponsored child

  • Not married, in a common-law relationship and dependent child is 21 years old or younger.
  • If dependent child is 22 years old or older, they need to satisfy one of the following to be considered a dependent:
  • Is suffering from a physical or mental disability and who has been financially dependent on the support of the parents since prior to the age of 22

Requirements for the nature of the relationship

  • The child has not been adopted by another person and is the biological child of the parent
  • OR
  • The child is in fact adopted by the parent

Sponsoring Other Relatives


Please keep in mind that you can sponsor other relatives apart from your immediate family members under certain situations


You can sponsor:


  • Your sister, nephew, brother, grandson, granddaughter or niece who are under the age of 18, not married, in a common-law relationship or orphaned.
  • Another relative in case you do not have a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, or one of the following living relatives shown below (excluding the person you desire to sponsor) which you could alternatively sponsor:
  • o a mother or father
  • o a child
  • o uncle or aunt
  • o nephew or niece`
  • o brother or sister

  • AND:

  • You do not possess any of the relatives mentioned above who:
  • o is a permanent resident, Canadian citizen or Indian – Native, registered under the Indian Act
  • o Possesses an application for permanent residence that is being presently processed

You can sponsor in case you are:


  • 18 years of age (at least)
  • A Canadian permanent resident living in the country, or a Canadian citizen
  • Not bankrupt, in prison, under a removal order – if a permanent resident – or charged with a significant or serious offence